Sixth Graders to get hands-on education on the river

This week more than 1,000 Sioux City and South Sioux City sixth graders will be immersed in learning about science, technology, engineering and math.

The 3rd Annual Sioux City Riverfication STEM outreach day, is Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will expose 1282 sixth graders to 44 educational booths focused on the STEM curriculum.

The students will be bused to the riverfront and divided into four different groups. Then, each group will rotate through 11 educational booths. The booths have been designed so that the topics covered tie back into the educational curriculum, including Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Industrial Sustainability, Engineering, Garbage/Recycling, Ecology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Power/Trade, Technology and a hands-on activity.

This event allows students and teachers an opportunity to learn and see things that they do not have the opportunity to experience in the classroom. According to a press release issued by Desiree McCaslen, the City’s Pretreatment Manager, the goal is that the kids will walk away with a better understanding of the impact each of them plays on the environment every day and they will take that message home.

Additionally, it is hoped that students who are exposed to the many STEM-related careers may discover a future interest. Teachers, in turn, walk away with additional ideas and resources for talking points during the school year.

As part of the awareness message, each student will be given a reusable water bottle and a reusable shopping bag.

Sponsors of the event are: City of Sioux City, Keep Northeast Nebraska Beautiful, SIMPCO, Sabre Industries, Curly’s Foods, Smithfield Foods, Wilson Trailer, Bimbo Bakery and Lindblom Services.