Wider Horizons School in Spring Hill, started their Technology Fair about five years ago because technology is rapidly innovating. Modern students also take a keen interest in learning about technology, so it was a welcome addition to the educational fairs they put on each year.
“It’s also a chance for students to show off the technology they have learned at home or outside of school. Our technology fair is a little different than the other educational fairs since students complete it on their own time, outside of school,” explained Julie T. Maglio, Wider Horizons Director. For the science fair and biography fair, there is much class time spent preparing and finalizing their projects and presentations, but the Technology Fair is less formal. Additionally, unlike the science fair, biography fair, and cultural fairs, students aren’t required to complete a technology fair project. If students have knowledge of a technical subject matter, the technology fair is a way to encourage them to share that knowledge with their peers.
Along with students’ personal projects, Primary and Lower Elementary classes had technology projects for everyone to do in class. Students Leah and Yegorii enjoyed building 3D homes with straws and tape.
There were a wide variety of personal projects shared on Technology Day.
Fourth-grader Beatrice showed her classmates the cardboard engineered robot she built over the summer. Paper engineering is popular in books, greeting cards, and many other places. Student Robert demonstrated his robotic arm for the Primary class students. Zarah, a tenth-grade student, presented how a regenerative thermal oxidizer works to clean the air.
All of the students enjoyed Technology Day and participating in the various class projects; even the teachers had a great time.
Upper Elementary teachers Mrs. Gutierrez, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Bianco, Ms. Sanchez commented, “On Wednesday our students were able to share their interests in technology or engineering by demonstrating their projects. We would like to thank Aiden, Beatrice, Hayley, Robert, Patrick Bingham, Asa, Igor, Gia, and Julie for participating in this year’s Technology and Engineering Day.”
Lower Elementary teachers Mrs. Urbanek and Mrs. Pascalli stated, “The annual Technology/Engineering Day provided our students with opportunities to learn about different ways things are created and how to make it themselves. We had different stations set up for each student to rotate from one to the next one.”
Finally, Primary teachers Mrs. Youse and Ms. Bandini said, “Technology and Engineering Day was very educational. The children enjoyed walking through the other classrooms and learning about various inventions their older peers have crafted.”
