Pre-K STEM fair highlights hands-on learning
It was the world’s cutest science fair.
Pre-K students from every Arlington ISD elementary school showed off their STEM projects at Arlington ISD’s first Pre-K STEM Fair last week at the Arlington ISD Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual and Performing Arts.
The STEM Fair highlighted what makes Arlington ISD’s pre-K program the best and most innovative in Texas and demonstrated what pre-K 4 students have been learning this school year.
“This is not just a fair, a special assignment or a school project,” said Arlington ISD early childhood learning director Dr. Jackeline Orsini. “It is an opportunity to inspire students to create, innovate, collaborate, think and solve. Our program encourages students to develop critical thinking, innovation and collaborative skills and to apply knowledge to real-world problems.”
Arlington ISD offers free, STEM-based pre-K for all 4-year-olds and half-day pre-K for 3-year-olds who meet certain eligibility criteria. Learn more about Arlington ISD’s innovative pre-K.
“Today, we are making history by celebrating curiosity, creativity and the spirit of discovery,” Orsini told the attendees, which included Arlington ISD senior staff, pre-K department staff and families of the student participants representing 52 campuses from across the district.
For the contest, the students had an opportunity to apply the knowledge that they had gained throughout the school year by responding to the following scenario: “A family wants to go camping, but their car is broken. The campsite is far away, and between them and the campsite there is a river and a lake.”
“The students were tasked with designing a transportation vehicle to help the family get to their campsite, overcoming these obstacles,” said Arlington ISD early childhood coordinator Dr. Hildelisa Diaz.
Prior to students starting this assignment, Diaz said their teachers introduced the core concepts of force and motion. As part of the pre-K STEM curriculum, teachers taught students about things that move – what makes objects stop, start and change direction. Through fun and interactive learning experiences, students learned about pushes, pulls, gravity and how different forces can be used to solve problems.
Orsini – the early childhood learning director for the past five years – promised the attendees that they were in for “a night full of surprises, excitement, recognition and celebration.”
It was a chance, Orsini said, for parents and guardians to see what their kids have been learning at school, what STEM is about, and “most importantly, to motivate and inspire their children to fall in love with learning as they walk alongside their most precious treasure.”
She added that the fair and project “is to help students dream, think big, develop their leadership skills, motivate them to become entrepreneurs – a way to inspire and spark passions for science, or even the idea to pursue a career in many of the in-demand fields in the future.”
Mad about science
The night kicked off with a special presentation by STEM veterans, two members of the Dallas and Fort Worth branch of Mad Science Worldwide. For more than 30 years, the organization has delivered unique, hands-on science experiences for children through after-school programs, workshops, special events and summer camps, making students mad about science.
Donning a white coat, Deepa Pulianda – also known as “Dr. Magic” – conducted multiple experiments, even inviting a handful of students to join her onstage to assist. One of the activities included having students trying to balance a ping pong ball in the air with a hair dryer.
Pulianda and her assistant Melissa Delk, another “mad scientist,” encouraged the students’ efforts.
“Look how steady her hand is … A future surgeon, you think?” Pulianda quipped about a girl’s flawless effort to keep the ball flying above her head.
Pulianda, the owner of the local branch of Mad Science, left the students with inspiring words about how they can obtain a future within the science field if they “don’t give up and show perseverance.”
And she wasn’t alone.
Early childhood specialist Nadia Azari said, “Keep dreaming about your future, come to school every day and embrace all the learning opportunities that our school district has to offer you. Enjoy the adventure of learning, discovery, creativity and pursuing your dreams.”
“You are the real stars of this beautiful evening,” Orsini said before her department leaders handed out awards and the winning students graced the stage for their shining moments.
STEM Fair Champs
The STEM Fair entries – various forms of vehicles built from a variety of craft supplies – were judged by members of the University of Texas at Arlington’s robotics program, the Early Childhood Education Program at Tarrant County College and the Arlington ISD STEM program staff. Region 11 early childhood specialists, Savvas and Lakeshore consultants and Arlington ISD technology department staff also perused the gallery to help select the winners and honorable mentions.
For their creations, Paul Madrid of Burgin Elementary and Ellis Dyser of West Elementary took third place and second place, respectively. Then Arlington ISD early childhood specialist Ken Foster drew loud applause when he announced the first-place winner, 5-year-old Kash Fergueson, whose car was primarily made from a soda bottle, wooden sticks and a balloon.
In addition to a large trophy, the Ellis Elementary student earned an all-expense-paid field trip to the Fort Worth Science Museum for his class. Kash’s father, Laroy, was shocked by the announcement, calling the feat “astronomical.”
Azari applauded the pre-K teachers, like Kash’s teacher, Jill Williams, for the support they give to students.
“Thank you for the way you inspire students to explore, think critically, create, lead and innovate,” she said. “Most importantly, thank you for making learning fun and keeping the love of learning alive.”
Diaz, a 28-year educator, shared her pride for the students’ work.
“We are incredibly proud of the creativity, imagination and teamwork that went into these projects,” she said. “It’s inspiring to see our students embrace challenges, think critically, and collaborate with others.”
At the event’s conclusion, the families and pre-K students exited the theater and collected their projects, certificates and a goody bag.
Orsini was overwhelmed by the turnout and participation of the youngsters.
“I am proud of the learning environment and opportunities we provide to thousands of students who benefit from our high-quality program,” she said. “I am honored to lead a high-quality early childhood model that encourages early literacy and social-emotional skills and provides students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and apply knowledge to real-world problems. I feel delighted and full of joy as I see our vision come to life through the achievements of our students.”
Pre-K Registration now open
Arlington ISD’s innovative pre-K program gives students a play-based and hands-on learning curriculum that develops their critical thinking skills through activities and projects that integrate science, technology, engineering and math. It sets little learners up for a successful educational future.
Register your child today for the 2025-2026 school year and help them build a promising future.
If you have questions, email or call the early childhood learning team at prekquestions@aisd.net or call (682) 867-9418.