Midview Local Schools invites all K–6 families to pack their bags and grab their passports for an evening of exploration and innovation during Family STEM Night on Tuesday, March 24, from 5–6:30 p.m. at East Intermediate. This free event promises hands-on learning and family fun centered around science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), with a special connection to students’ social studies learning about civilizations, landmarks, and landforms around the world.
The main attraction of this year’s STEM Night will be 20 playable, upcycled mini golf holes designed and built by East Intermediate students as part of their school-wide Middie Makers Upcycled Design Challenge in their PLTW/STEM class. Constructed from repurposed materials, the golf holes showcase students’ engineering ingenuity, design thinking, and environmental responsibility in action.
Thanks to previous grant funding from the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) Classroom Grant Program as well as a 2025 Ross Challenge Grant, students had access to a wide range of tools and technology—including Makedo tools, creative card builder kits, Dazzlinks, a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Labo Kits, and Hummingbird robotic kits—allowing them to bring some of their golf holes to life with lights, motors, and sensors.
"Leading a school-wide design challenge allows our community to see our students’ creativity and ingenuity in action,” said Kim Kauffman, Midview East Intermediate PLTW/STEM teacher. “It’s fulfilling to help them take a mini golf concept from a brainstormed idea to a fully functional prototype. The process requires immense teamwork and critical thinking. As a bonus, collaborating with our social studies team brings their curriculum to life through hands-on design experiences that we’re proud to showcase to our community.”
In addition to the mini golf course, families can explore interactive STEM stations coordinated by West Elementary PLTW/STEM teacher Andrea Richardson. Activities include building a pipe cleaner Eiffel Tower in France, constructing a pyramid in Egypt, creating a marshmallow snowflake in Finland, designing a kite in China, and more. Students will visit six interactive stations and collect stamps in their event passports along the way.
The evening also features several showcases and learning opportunities:
Midview PLTW Programming Display
West PLTW/STEM Project Showcase
3rd Grade Invention Convention projects
East Innovation Studio
4-H STEM activity station
Girl Scouts DreamLab table
Green screen photo opportunity led by district technology teachers
Please note: All students must be accompanied by an adult.
STEM Night was launched eight years ago by Midview’s STEM Committee to highlight the district’s commitment to project-based learning and real-world application. Students in grades K-6 experience this firsthand through Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Launch Modules embedded in science instruction, along with dedicated PLTW/STEM specials in grades 3-6. At the middle and high school levels, students have the opportunity to explore a range of career-technical courses and pathways aligned with PLTW, including:
Midview Middle School: Magic of Electrons (PLTW), Flight and Space (PLTW), Green Architecture (PLTW), Automation and Robotics (PLTW), Computer Science (PLTW), Medical Detectives (PLTW)
Midview High School: Engineering (PLTW) and Biomedical Science (PLTW)
PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on, project-based STEM curricula designed to build both subject knowledge and essential real-world skills. In recognition of its continued commitment to expanding STEM opportunities, Midview Local Schools was named a PLTW Distinguished District for the fifth consecutive year in 2024–25—one of only 28 in the nation and three in Ohio.