STREAM: Spreading knowledge to the community

The Snyder ISD STREAM mobile learning center made a stop at Snyder High School to allow incoming freshmen participating in the Rising Tiger Camp to learn more about STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, Math).
This stop follows the many that the STREAM bus has already made throughout Snyder, with more planned throughout the remainder of the summer and in the fall.
“We’ve done pretty good this summer. My favorite part is getting to do lessons. It’s really nice to see the kids engaging in and learning something,” said Bonnie Jasper, a senior at Snyder High School.
Not only are younger students learning and benefiting from the programs, but the STREAM student leaders have learned a lot as well. 
“I’ve learned how to communicate better,” said senior Meera Bhakta. 
Incoming freshman got to use and experiment with equipment and programs from the district’s STEAM program while participating in this week’s Rising Tiger Camp. The camp aims to help incoming freshmen with the transition between junior high school and high school. Students participated in a scavenger hunt throughout the campus to help them learn how to get around, activities that helped to encourage students to pursue their life passions and an introduction to the early college and P-TECH programs at the high school. 
Activities offered through STREAM included lessons ranging from building materials to remote control cars that help students learn about motion. 
Another activity was the flow of electric currents through fruit.
“What it’s having us do is learn how electrical currents flow through organic matter. When we use the computer program, it can allow the current to move and change patterns,” said Corey Thomas, an incoming freshman, said.
“Today has showed us that there’s a lot of opportunity for engineering and programming,” said Keylee Wagner, an incoming freshman. “Engineering and programming is something that I’m kind of interested in, so it’s cool.”
Snyder ISD STEM Director Ryan Maney hopes to continue with the progress and impact that he believes the program has had this summer.
“I think that we have had a lot of positive momentum, consistent attendance and lots of positive feedback so far. We also have plans for upcoming stops,” Maney said. “We have talked about coming to football games, for the little kids who may not be as interested in football, so they have something to do. We are also planning on partnering with ‘informal’ education groups, like the library, preschools and people who are homeschooling. The purpose of STREAM is that anyone can learn, so it’s open to anyone. It’s helped to engage students on multiple levels. You have the younger kids who are being taught the lessons and activities, and you have our student leaders uniting for a common cause.”
The STREAM mobile learning center has two more stops planned for the summer — Monday at the library and Aug. 3 at the Back to School Bash.