Rahway Public Schools STEM Summer Camp Takes Students on a Hands-On Journey Around the World

This summer, Rahway Public Schools' 5th and 6th Grade STEM Summer Camp transformed the classroom into a passport for adventure as students explored the world through engaging, hands-on STEM experiences. Led by teachers Jerriann Litterer, Ken Betros, and Lindsey Lerner Barrett, the camp blended science, engineering, literacy, and creativity while introducing students to diverse cultures and global challenges.

Throughout the program, students explored destinations including Brazil, Australia, Italy, and Kenya, along with U.S. landmarks, the Egyptian pyramids, and French cuisine. In Brazil, students examined the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and its role in sustaining life around the globe, creating posters encouraging others to protect this vital ecosystem. In Australia, campers studied unique biomes and learned how native animals adapt to their environments, creating biome paintings while exploring ecosystems, food webs, and animal adaptations.

In Italy, students explored architectural history before designing and building model bridges inspired by the proposed Strait of Messina Bridge. Their structures were tested against weight, wind, and simulated earthquakes, allowing them to apply the engineering design process. In Kenya, students investigated the importance of access to clean drinking water and designed and tested water filtration systems, applying engineering concepts to address real-world challenges.

At the end of each day, students earned stamps in their personalized passport books, celebrating their learning. The program concluded with a student-choice capstone project, where student groups researched a country of interest and presented their findings to classmates, showcasing their research and communication skills.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.