Gentle readers, Augusta Elementary School held its annual Curriculum Fair throughout the school building on Thursday evening, March 27, 2025.
I know this because I was there. As a matter of fact, I was one of the presenters for the event. So, with guitar in hand, and a slideshow on a screen, I demonstrated the inner workings of guitar pickups and amplifiers. And whenever I started to lose my audience, I fired off an age-appropriate song for the mostly young audience.
So, I guess it’s a little odd that I’m writing a report on an event I mostly saw from my secluded station in the library. It’s kind of like a surgeon operating on himself and then filing a report. But after presenting my show several times, I roamed the building to see what else was going on. I’m glad I did.
First, I wandered into a classroom, where art was the focus. There were pottery piggy banks awaiting painting by the students…very colorful!
In that same room, I encountered a young fellow who showed me his beautiful stained glass (plastic) creation. He even held it up to the sinking sun for better effect. Very nice!
Next, I moved on to a “sound experiment” room where I witnessed a young student demonstrate that a seemingly quiet object like a slinky has a lot to say when you give it a sound chamber. To do that she held one end of the slinky against a Styrofoam cup while the other end dangled. Pretty cool!
At this point, I wandered into the gymnasium via the stage and encountered this scene:
Of course, I was clueless, but I exercised my curiosity, and asked Abby and a student to explain. I learned that it was the School Store…for fundraising…I think.
Then, to demonstrate that a man who had not attended grade school in the last 65 years was still spry, I jumped off the stage to circulate among all the activity on the gym floor. I guess I focused on the Bounce House first. I suppose Bounce House needs no explanation for most people younger than me. It looked like fun…sort of.
But then…I saw robots. And now, let me introduce Lindsay Obermark, STEM teacher, who just today, emailed me with a description of her job, and I quote:
“Mrs. Obermark's STEM class at Augusta Elementary explores robotics of all kinds, including the robots showcased at Augusta's Curriculum Night, the Vex Challenge Robots, Sphero Bolts, and Spero Indis. Robotics education through VEX and Sphero robots has revolutionized how elementary students approach problem-solving and critical thinking, particularly when combined with the engineering design process. From early coders to sixth-grade students, these robotic platforms provide hands-on experiences that make abstract concepts tangible and engaging. As students work through the engineering design process - asking questions, imagining solutions, planning approaches, creating programs, and improving their designs - they develop crucial computational thinking skills and digital literacy.”
Some robots.
Remote control.
At this point I moseyed on to some colored squares on the floor. I was told they demonstrated algorithms. I think it went right over my
head.
About this time, I thought I should go back to the library and pack up my gear, but in the hallway, I encountered the principal, Dr. Mary Robertson. She called my attention to the writing on the wall, so to speak. What I saw was a creative writing exercise in which some very young writers told their life story…100 years later. Check it out:
Then I packed my guitar, pedals, and amplifier, and drove home. And honestly…I was totally impressed by what I witnessed right here in my adopted hometown, Augusta, MO.
paulO