Snow Hill – Greene County Schools took part in the North Carolina Science Festival. The Science Festival is a month-long state-wide series of events that are coordinated and promoted by the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill. Events were also sponsored by Duke Energy and several other community partners.  Events were held at West Greene Elementary School and Greene County Middle School. 

Greene County Middle School’s STEM Lab Facilitator Faith McLawhorn hosted Amy Pitts who serves as a Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach with the NC Department of Natural Resources.  Students in McLawhorn’s 8th grade STEM LAB Class got to experience how geologist research and develop theories of Earth History using fossil records and landforms. McLawhorn shared “ It’s always great for students to be exposed to people working in different fields. As our world changes and continues to require more from our students these experiences help them become more connected with life after school. 

Amy Pitts: Sr, Geologist for Education and Outreach visits 8th graders at Greene County Middle School as part of the NC Science Festival Sci Match program.

At West Greene, The School hosted a night of science for families. The event was supported by a grant the school received from Duke Energy. Students got to experience science-based activities they could do with their whole family. The school also had a hot dog dinner for families and opportunities to interact with teachers and staff in a fun environment. Assistant Principal Samantha Haislip shared “ We received a grant from Duke Energy to host a Duke Energy Science Night.  With the grant came a bundle of materials for ten different science-based activities that families could participate in.” 

In addition to the Science Activities, Haislip shared, “ We also had science read-aloud, parent EOG sessions, and a green screen!  Families were given stamp cards when they arrived.  Families could enjoy a hotdog dinner once they accumulated 5 stamps, and after accumulating 10 stamps they got a free Lego Education kit! We gave out 53 Lego kits and had about 150 people attend in total. 

Haislip shared that this was the first year hosting the event and they were very pleased with the turnout and may work to make it an annual event.

According to the NC Sci Fest website, the goal of the annual Sci-Fest is to “ help spread science education through exciting, educational, and fun hands-on science events. The educational, cultural, and financial impact of science affects all North Carolinians, and we want to make sure that continues through future generations.” There are several thousand events and over 100 visits to classrooms by scientists as part of the event. This is Greene County School’s 2nd year participating in the Scientist Visit.