Page 16 - TTWISpring2026

STEM
Page 16 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Charger Robotics Brings “STEM Blast Off” to Elementary Students

and excitement about when I was a kid. That
science, technology, is what inspired me
engineering and math to go into STEM and
(STEM) through fun, robotics. I got to enjoy
interactive activities led seeing many students
by high school students. experiencing the same
“For many of us, passion spark I once
it was incredibly mean- started with,” Fuhr
ingful to return to our adds.
old elementary schools Charger Robot-
and give back to the next ics members guided
generation,” says Ham- younger students
ilton High School junior through each station,
and Charger Robotics offering mentor-
co-lead Abbie Dong. ship, encouragement
“Seeing the excitement and relatable role
in the students’ eyes models. Elemen-
reminded us why we tary students rotated
fell in love with STEM through a variety of
in the first place,” she activities where they
adds. experienced things Research consistently shows that stu-
High school stu- like driving a robot built by Charger Robot- dents introduced to STEM at a young age
dents visited all four ics, building a tower using marshmallows are more likely to pursue STEM careers later
Hamilton School Dis- and skewers and experimenting with circuits. in life. This was a driving force behind the
trict elementary schools Each student received a STEM passport, organizers’ mission to bring STEM Blast Off
during the months of which is stamped at every station they visit. events to younger students.
October and Novem- “The kids seemed to be most excited For more information about Charger
ber to introduce STEM about driving the robots themselves and Robotics, visit www.ChargerRobotics.org.
Hamilton School District experiences to more than 800 third and fourth having hands-on projects to do,” says Charger
Hamilton High School’s Charger Robot- grade students. Robotics advisor Morgan Swartzendruber. “I
ics Team brings hands-on STEM learning to “I attended the Maple Elementary STEM loved seeing the elementary students asking
district elementary schools through a new Blast, the school I had gone to years ago,” the Charger Robotics students for directions www.hamilton.k12.wi.us
outreach event called “STEM Blast Off.” shares Hamilton High School junior Elise and, in return, watching them help the kids
The program is designed to spark curiosity Fuhr. “I remember doing activities like this problem-solve.”

La Follette Introduces New Video Game Design Course Continued from Page 1
3. 3D Modeling: Later in
the year, students will
use Blender to sculpt
their own in-game
objects, from rocks and
trees to custom collect-
ibles, learning the same
tools used in profes-
sional studios.
The course is intention-
ally structured so students
with different strengths can
find their place. Some, like
Samsa, latch onto the coding.
Others, like senior Daniel designing, coding or creating, and stick with it,
Inthachak Rivera, love the design work. His that perseverance will help them anywhere,”
passion for photography and photo editing has he said. “This is only the start, I’m excited
him excited to explore 3D sculpting. to work with student feedback to continually
And next year, the opportunities will improve the course.”
grow even more. As the course expands to
Game Design 2, students will be able to pursue
to join them.” their favorite games. Unity industry certifications through Certiport,
Game Design 1 introduces students to 2. Coding: Using C#, they learn how credentials that can go straight on a resume
three core areas of the field: to script behaviors and mechanics. and help them stand out to future employers. www.madison.k12.wi.us
1. Game Design: Students use Unity to Recently, students completed most of For Pellien, though, the most important
build the visual world of a game, like a top-down driving game inspired by outcome isn’t just technical skill. It’s confi-
laying out maps, environments and classic arcade racers, coding move- dence.
objects just like the designers behind ment, collisions and collectible objects. “If they can take on a big challenge, like