Middle School STEM Expo 2026: Where Gummy Bears Scream and Data Comes to Life

In what has become the highlight of the winter semester, the halls of our school were transformed earlier this month into a buzzing hub of innovation, inquiry, and—occasionally—flaming candy.

The annual STEM Expo represented the culmination of weeks of hard work across our 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade science and math classes. While our students tackle many topics throughout the trimester, the Expo serves as the ultimate "proving ground" for their ideas.

The variety of projects this year showcased the incredible range of our middle schoolers' interests:  Our 8th graders stepped behind the curtain of technology, showcasing original games they programmed from scratch.  Science projects pushed boundaries, including a fascinating study on the effects of estrogen on plant growth. Bridges, towers, and 3D printed handles filled the rooms, proving that our students have a bright future in architecture and design. Sixth-grade students tracked and compared weather patterns, turning complex atmospheric data into clear, visual stories.

A Community Bonded by Science
The true heart of the evening was the community. Parents, teachers, and siblings crowded into the science rooms, the gym, and the classrooms to hear student presentations and see student experiments. Everywhere you looked, there were charts and graphs—the visual language of science—proving that our students aren't just guessing; they are analyzing.

Of course, no STEM event is complete without a little spectacle. The crowd gathered for a live science demonstration that served as a fiery reminder of the power of chemistry: The Screaming Gummy Bear. By oxidizing the sugar in a simple gummy bear, we watched (and heard!) as a massive amount of energy was released in a bright purple flame. It was a vivid lesson that sugar packs a serious punch! 

Congratulations to all our 6th-8th graders for their tireless work. The future looks bright (and scientifically sound)!