Much to their delight, a group of Greendale Elementary School kindergarten students turned into carpenters last Friday - pretty cool for a bunch of 5- and 6-year-olds.
During the schoolwide STEM event, Home Depot staffers brought materials to the kids they could use to build heart or tool boxes. For that matter, the boxes can be used to hold just about anything, such as small toys, pencils and flowers. The employees showed the children how they can carefully hold a hammer to drive small nails in the materials.
"We do workshops all the time at Home Depot and off-site workshops also," said employee Hillarie Cook. "They can keep these boxes or give them to their parents."
The project was thrilling for the kids, said teacher Michelle Gillam.
"They've been looking forward all year to get these tools," she said. "It's all hands-on, learning through the tools and manipulatives."
"Greendale is always searching and planning for new activities that will strengthen our students' understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We believe that it is our job to provide them with a strong STEM foundation to prepare them for the next level," said Principal Sonya Colvin.
Guests during the day gave children hands-on opportunities in a variety of ways.
Nonica Livingston, owner of Brick4Kids, brought Lego activities to children. Kimberly-Clark staffers showed students how they could make paper and take a sparkly sheet home with them.
"We like to give back to the community," said staffer Christy Park. "We enjoy going out and getting kids interested in science."
Kim Mitchell, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions' education outreach coordinator, brought beetles so the children could learn more about them. Shirley von Beck talked about the MOX project at the Savannah River Site, while Andrew Cox, the Aiken County School District's technology director, brought his own drone to the program.
Sean Poppy, the Savannah River Ecology Lab's education outreach specialist, has been a fixture in the District schools for many years. He brought a baby alligator, an owl, a coyote and other animals to Greendale.
Poppy explained how the alligator has little teeth that can help him make sure that food doesn't get away. He has a flap at the back of his mouth that allows him to keep his throat shut when he goes underwater, so that he doesn't drown.
Not surprisingly, the kids were fascinated by the coyote, three-year-old Scooter. While he is a wild animal, Scooter has been around people for most of his life. Still, "He's really scared right now," Poppy told the kids as he held Scooter. "I can feel his heartbeat ... He (instinctively) fears people and that's good."
Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter.