On Wednesday evening, RYNJ hosted a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) night for fifth graders and their parents. The STEM Night was held to facilitate parents and students participating in engaging hands-on STEM activities. Parents and students made their way from station to station in the RYNJ Felman Athletic Center gymnasium, to participate in different challenges.

Stations at the event included websites for computer programing and coding. One included learning the concepts of computer science with drag and drop programming through an Angry Birds game. Students also took turns learning how engineers build chutes that are strong, stable and compact, and then designed and tested their own parachutes in a virtual wind tunnel.

Other stations at the event included coding Ozobots, measuring the atmosphere with LittleBits circuits and taking a virtual reality tour of the International Space Station using Google Cardboards.

At another station students worked to create a “Mars Landing System” by taping, tying and gluing balloons and other materials to secure their cup capsules for landing. The landing systems were then tested from a five foot drop. It was exhilarating to watch the RYNJ students involved in such a wonderful event.