Fridley Preschool families engaged in play-based and inquiry-based learning activities at STEM Night held at the Fridley Community Center on Thursday, April 27. This is an annual event hosted by the preschool for its 3- and 4-year-old students that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. The event is filled with hands-on activities that reflect what 4-year-old preschool students are currently learning in school and is an opportunity for 3-year-old preschool students to get a head start on what they’ll experience at preschool their next year.

Students were excited to engage and participate in a variety of science experiments that helped them hone their scientific investigation and problem solving skills. Students visited different stations that gave them opportunities to measure how tall they could build a block structure, create clay insects based on photographs of real insects, and even touch watermelon and cantaloupe to describe what they feel.

Karin Beckstrand, pre-K PYP and youth services coordinator, noted that parents are able to engage in the activities with their child to build a school-to-home connection as many of the items used are common play and household items. 

“This year we had great success with our STEM Night. We had more than 100 attendees and all preschool staff were present to interact and connect with the families,” said Beckstrand. “This is one of the most engaging events held by Fridley Preschool each year. The smiles in the pictures say it all!”