Grady students enjoy Regeneron’s Day of Doing Good

Posted by Alicia Smith on 10/25/2024 9:00:00 AM

Second and third-graders groaned in disappointment when gym teacher Drew Watson blew his whistle and announced that the event was over, and students needed to clean up and get ready to return to their classrooms. Group of students watch cotton balls blow around

 

It is not a surprise the students did not want to stop. They had spent the afternoon engaging in a number of science-related, STEM and art projects, many of which brought smiles and giggles and some new information that they learned.

 

The afternoon was part of the Tarrytown-based Regeneron’s Day of Doing Good. Volunteers from the pharmaceutical company visited the school and working with the Westchester Children’s Museum, shared a few fun activities for the students. Throughout the day classes visited the gymnasium where more than a dozen tables were set up enabling students to participate in a cool project.

 

“I just like it,” second grader Juel T. said of the activities, before he finally narrowed it down to the “math activity” as his favorite.

 

Classmate Camden J. said she enjoyed the creative activity that allowed her to make her own animals. Students used soft magnets they could adhere to a tray to create a new type of animal. They had to think about how their creation would move, eat and exist.

 

Camden said she used flamingo, frog and turtle legs on the animal she designed.

 

“I like that you can think about it and figure it out whatever you want it to be,” she said.

 

Group of girls building with colorful blocksIn years past when the children’s museum collaborated with Regeneron, they brought STEM activities for the children, said Alyssa Martin, Education Outreach and Program Manager at the museum. This year, the museum brought activities that related to art, math, engineering, design and astronomy.

 

“We have a good time,” Ms. Martin said. “It gives the kids a nice break from the classroom and incorporates hands-on learning.”

 

Regeneron volunteers were assigned a table and as each group of students visited, they explained the activity and allowed the students to explore on their own for a period of time before moving on to the next activity.

 

“I like the idea of partnering with the museum. It gives exposure to the elementary students,” said Eunice Cheung, a senior science ophthalmology researcher at Regeneron, who was also, on this day,  the volunteer coordinator.

 

“It’s a great experience,” she continued for her and her colleagues to have an opportunity to assist in the community.

 

Ms. Cheung was manning the table that had an activity that taught students about static electricity. Students learned how the positive and negative charges can wreak havoc and literally make their hair stand up on its end, much to the delight of the students.

 

“It’s supervised time for exploration,” she said of day’s events.

 

Other activities introduced students to the art of Piet Mondrian and gave them an opportunity to create their own pieces inspired by the artist as they learned about shapes, primary colors and intersecting and parallel lines and more. There were several building activities were included as well as, including building with Picasso Tiles, creating a model to run a magnetic marble through. Another activity demonstrated how stars are made.