Do you like to explore the environment? Do you ever wonder how something works? 

Can you innovate a solution to an existing problem? 

Do you have a passion for Science, Technology,Engineering, Mathematics? 

If the answer is “Yes!” to any of these questions, then you’ll want to join us for the…

The 3rd Annual DEER PATH PTO
STEM EXPOSITION

Thursday, April 11, 2024

All Deer Path students in grades 1 - 5 are invited to participate!

GET EXCITED!!! We are happy to welcome back our partnerships with the Cary Area Public Library and Cary-Grove High School!

Our amazing volunteers from the Cary Area Public Library and Cary-Grove High School will bring back the hands-on fun and excitement of our STEM Stations.

• Cary Area Public Library –Students can prepare their expo projects with help from the Cary Area Public Library! Check out this booklist and our collection of STEAM Kits to find inspiring topics and experiments. At the expo, CAPL will demo Lego Spike Prime robots from our robotics classes and have a simple Make and Take STEM activity. Throughout the month of April, stop by the library to check out our Full STEAM Ahead book display and a STEAM Seek and Find.

• Cary-Grove High School – We’ll have STEM stations led by Cary-Grove High School students from the First Robotics Team, Science Olympiad and Forensics Class! Other exciting STEM Stations will include hands-on skills and techniques with laboratory instruments, exploring our world through the microscope, and others!

Contact Paul Valaitis (pwvalaitis@gmail.com) or Jen Beuckman (jenbeuckman@gmail.com) with any questions.

STEM Exposition Schedule

Important Dates

• Monday, April 1: Registration deadline.

• Wednesday, April 10: Project Set Up in Deer Path Gym from 5:00 to 6:30 PM

• Thursday, April 11: Project Set Up in Deer Path Gym from 8:00 to 8:40 AM

Day of STEM Exposition – Thursday, April 11

• School Day: Classes will tour the STEM Exposition throughout the school day

• 6:00 PM: Doors open; STEM Exposition Opening and Welcome

• 6:15-7:45 PM: STEM Stations - Interactive stations will be set up in the gym throughout the evening for all attendees to have hands-on fun with various STEM related activities

• 7:00-7:45 PM: Students will be at their STEM projects for on-going presentations, informal judging, and open viewing

• 7:45-8:00 PM: Students will clean up their projects and take home their materials

STEM Exposition Guidelines 

• Participation is optional and will not be graded 

• Format is an expo-style (non-competitive) event to be held during the evening in our Deer Path gym

• Students may work alone or as part of a team with other students or siblings

• Projects should be based on STEM related fields and topics. Students can conduct an original STEM experiment, or they can present a project that is an explored topic or investigation of existing STEM areas.

• We are encouraging our students to broaden their interest and exploration of all the STEM related fields. The main goal is for the student to learn how to document their question(s), conduct research (using existing information or their own experimentation), and summarize their conclusion(s) or the information they have gathered.

• Experiments are encouraged to follow the Scientific Method.

• Students should construct a display presenting their topic, the research they perform, and their conclusion/lessons learned. A tri-fold poster display works well. Items on the display may be typed, handwritten, drawn, photographs, etc. Please be sure to include your name and grade on your display!

• Additional materials may be used as part of the project presentation; however, the materials should be able to be brought in and assembled by the student, if required. Please note, that due to space limitations, you may be sharing a table with another student.

• No live animals will be allowed. If you use live animals for your project, please bring in pictures or videos for your display.

• Practice your project presentation before the STEM Exposition. Your fellow students, teachers, judges, family and friends will be excited and interested to learn about your project!

Remember to have fun!  Encourage your fellow STEM investigators and enjoy your classmates’ projects to see the exciting things they’ve discovered