Westwood Elementary (WWE) was positively electrified with curiosity.
An electromagnet demonstration and hands-on STEM activities brought science, technology, engineering and math to life as volunteers from GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions team connected classroom learning with real-world careers.
SBISD thanks GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions team and its volunteers for investing in Westwood’s students and supporting STEM education. When our business community and educators come together, they help open doors to possibilities for Every Child.
The experience was designed for approximately 200 students in third through fifth grades. Students rotated through stations featuring STEM challenges, engineering tools and a career Q&A, giving them opportunities to explore how the concepts they learn in school help professionals solve problems.
Enriched instruction like this gives students a compelling reason to ask questions, test ideas and keep trying. Hands-on challenges make abstract concepts tangible, while encouraging creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.
“We believe education can change the trajectory of a child’s life. STEM experiences help our students see themselves as problem-solvers, innovators and future leaders while they are still in elementary school,” said Westwood's principal Criselda Chavez.
“As SBISD’s only Project Lead The Way elementary campus, we introduce students to careers and possibilities they may not have imagined. We want them to know that where they come from does not have to determine where they are going and that they have a place in the world of STEM.”
Connecting activities to classroom lessons also helps students deepen their understanding and see a purpose for what they are learning.
Just as valuable was the opportunity to connect with people who use STEM in their work. Conversations with business partners help students discover careers, imagine new possibilities and begin to see a pathway from their classroom to the workforce. For an elementary student, that first spark of interest can open the door to a future they had never considered.
These partnerships support teachers, too. By sharing their time, expertise and enthusiasm, community volunteers extend classroom instruction and reinforce the work educators do every day to engage and inspire students.
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