Middle school students at Cornerstone Christian School recently experienced an exciting STEM Day when Prairie STEM visited campus with immersive technology and hands-on engineering activities. Throughout the day, students rotated through several learning stations that combined creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and real-world science concepts.
Exploring Physics Through Virtual Reality
One of the most memorable experiences of the day involved 20 Meta Virtual Reality headsets, where students stepped into the interactive world of Hand Physics Lab.
In this immersive environment, students used their own hands and fingers to interact with the virtual world, allowing them to manipulate objects naturally as they worked through puzzles and experiments. Activities included stacking cubes to build towers, painting eggs with their fingers, experimenting with magnets and telekinesis, shaking hands with a virtual clone, petting a virtual cat, and much more.
The experience offered over 80 puzzles and challenges, encouraging students to explore and discover new ways to solve problems. While the environment felt like play, students were actively learning about:
- Physics concepts such as gravity, force, motion, and balance
- Problem-solving strategies through trial and experimentation
- Hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning
- Creative exploration and design
Virtual reality provides a unique way for students to interact directly with scientific ideas, making abstract concepts easier to understand and remember.
Robotics Challenges with Sphero BOLT
Students also had the opportunity to experiment with robotics using Sphero BOLT robots. These programmable robots helped students learn how technology responds to commands and how precision and strategy affect movement.
The 8th grade students participated in Sphero chariot races, guiding their robots through a maze-style course that required careful driving and quick decision-making. The activity encouraged students to think critically about navigation, speed control, and obstacle avoidance.
Another exciting activity was the Sphero jousting competition, where teams attached balloons to their robots and attempted to pop the opposing team’s balloon while protecting their own. The friendly competition encouraged:
- Teamwork and communication
- Strategic thinking
- Understanding of robotics movement and control
These robotics activities demonstrated how engineering often involves testing, adjusting, and trying again until a design or strategy works effectively.
Engineering Parachutes in the Wind Tunnel
Students also stepped into the role of engineers by designing parachutes to test in a wind tunnel. Using simple materials, students created parachute designs and then observed how they behaved in the upward airflow.
Some parachutes floated gently, while others spun or dropped quickly. After each test, students discussed what worked well and what could be improved.
This activity helped students explore:
- Aerodynamics and air resistance
- Surface area and weight distribution
- The engineering design process: design, test, observe, and improve
Students quickly discovered that even small design changes can make a big difference in how an object moves through the air.
A Special Thank You
Prairie STEM would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff and students at Cornerstone Christian School for welcoming us so warmly. The enthusiasm, curiosity, and positive energy from the students made the day truly special. It is always inspiring to see young learners eager to explore science, technology, engineering, and problem-solving.
Prairie STEM is grateful for the opportunity to partner with schools like Cornerstone Christian School to bring hands-on STEM experiences to students. Together, we are helping inspire the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creative thinkers.
