NORTH AUGUSTA — Last week's Extreme STEAM Day was months in the making at North Augusta Middle School.
STEAM - an educational focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math - was on display with companies from around the CSRA showing how they use STEAM principals in daily life.
"It started off with people we knew who had careers related to STEAM," said Principal Phyllis Gamble. "The big change came when we decided that everything is related to STEAM, and we started asking for anyone to come and share with our students."
Responding to the call from North Augusta Middle School were companies that make desserts, create ice sculptures, use 3-D printers, respond to trauma cases and protect our freedom.
"The genetics van from Greenwood was kind of our focal point; we knew we were going to get that today," Gamble said May 28 during the event. "We reached out to Fort Gordon, and they sent a satellite team and fiber optics team out to help us. ... We also have Small Cakes, an ice sculptor, Carpenter's, Butler Automotive - I'm sure I've missed quite a few. We have a lot of different things."
NAMS hosted a sixth-grade STEAM night earlier in the school year, which grew into Extreme STEAM Day, Gamble said.
"I wanted every kid to be able to participate, not just one grade level," Gamble said. "Extreme STEAM Day just took wings from there. The students have to figure out what are the components of STEAM in the different events they went to. They also have activities to show what they learned, like writing a thank-you note or creating a skit about what they learned. We just want them to know that STEAM is in everything - you don't have to go to college to be an engineer; there are many more things involved with engineering and technology."
For more information on North Augusta Middle School, visit www.naugm.acps.schoolfusion.us.