Garden City third graders participate in hands-on STEM challenge led by Stony Brook students
On May 1, members of the Speaking STEM as a Second Language Club from Stony Brook University visited Garden City’s Stratford Avenue School to lead an engaging engineering activity with third grade students.
The visit began with a guided presentation introducing the meaning and purpose of STEM. The college students explored key concepts of geometry, highlighting real-world examples and discussing its applications in fields such as architecture and computer science.
Following the presentation, students participated in a hands-on challenge in which they used marshmallows and spaghetti to build the tallest possible structure. Working in teams, third graders applied geometric shapes and basic engineering principles as they designed and tested their creations.
The event was organized by Stratford Assistant Principal Ms. Allison Robb in collaboration with a Stony Brook student who had once completed the same spaghetti and marshmallow challenge as a fifth grader in Ms. Robb’s class.
“My former student Matthew reached out a few months ago to ask if his club from Stony Brook could visit Stratford to work with our students,” said Ms. Robb. “We were fortunate to host eight club members who are deeply passionate about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and eager to bring these subjects to life through a hands-on, collaborative experience.”
“I am especially grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with Matthew, a former student who once shared, on the last day of fifth grade, that he hoped to return to my class one day after working toward becoming a doctor,” Ms. Robb continued. “I’m proud to share that he is now a biology major on the pre-med track at Stony Brook. Moments like this highlight the true joy of teaching — the lasting, meaningful connections we build with our students — and serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of those relationships.”
The Garden City School District remains committed to making a meaningful impact on students’ lives and values the important role educators play in shaping those experiences.