Local Students Attend NOCCA Pop-Up Science Museum Sponsored by Chevron
NOCCA Students Showcased Their Work While Engaging with Local 4th – 6th Graders
On Wednesday, May 22, the NOCCA Integrated Sciences Department and Chevron presented Full STEAM Ahead: The NOCCA Pop-Up Science Museum. This annual event is designed to help youth explore the fun, beauty and creativity of math and science through interactive experiments guided by NOCCA students with the help of Chevron engineers and scientists.
Participating 4th, 5th and 6th grade students and their teachers filled the Solomon Family Hall and the math/science labs in the Chevron Forum at NOCCA and engaged in hands-on, interactive activities and experiments in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
“Full STEAM Ahead is a unique opportunity for NOCCA students to showcase what they have learned through our creative STEM-based curriculum, mentor younger students, show their mastery of the material and celebrate the passions they have developed throughout the year,” said Dr. Kit Nelson, Director of the Academic Studio.
The Academic Studio’s Integrated Sciences program is an innovative approach to teaching high school science and math that NOCCA launched eight years ago. Invited middle school students had the opportunity to engage in quick and fun science and math Stop-By Stations as well as more intensive In-Depth Depots with the help of Chevron volunteers.
“By adding Arts to STEM education, transforming it into STEAM, NOCCA is utilizing their students’ passions for creativity to also spark a love for math and science,” said Leah Brown, Chevron Gulf of Mexico Public Affairs Manager. “Every year, our employees enjoy sharing their passions for STEM with both NOCCA students and middle school students from across the area. We are proud to continuously partner with NOCCA on this incredible event.”
Throughout the event, students participated in activities ranging from virtual reality tours of Chevron’s Jack/St. Malo Deepwater Platform in the Gulf of Mexico, to a Topobox and stream table experiment that helped students explore the movement of water. As a takeaway, participating teachers were provided with lesson plan packets for projects that can be conducted in any classroom.