Area organizations team up for STEM bag project

Activity bags handed out at the La Luz Centro Cultural food shelf distributions are designed to show area children the wonderful world of STEM.

Last Wednesday, La Luz, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Iowa State Extension and Outreach Franklin County teamed up to offer STEM bags for students.

Aimee Lenth, La Luz associate director, said the bags contain a number of items and activities geared towards STEM learning, which address the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Lenth said the bags include Hexbugs, which navigate using kinetic energy, an obstacle course for the Hexbug, a how-to for building paper airplanes, a Spanish version of the book “What If You Had Animal Hair?” and more.

Lenth said the bags are important because they give students hands-on experience with STEM principles without needing an abundance of space or resources.

“These can be high-tech concepts with low-tech items,” she said. “This can who families how to do activities at home, especially now when many are trying to stay busy and engaged.”

Lenth said the bags are geared towards children ages five to 13, but added that any student would find the activities enjoyable.

While a large number of the bags were distributed last Wednesday, Lenth said more remain and can be picked up at regular food shelf distribution hours. The next food shelf distribution is 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 at La Luz.

The La Luz food shelf distribution is currently operating as a drive-thru model and those who use the service will receive a prepackaged box of items.