Batting into STEM: A Day at Fenway Park
Written by Evelyn Crowley, Naomi Gee-Burko, and Zihan Zhou
On April 8th, the middle school ventured to Fenway Park for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) convention and baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Sponsored by NASA, this event featured a Q&A with an astronaut and booths with space-related exhibitions. From water bottle rocket launches to fried chicken from the concessions, this day was packed with exciting space and baseball related activities and programs.
At Fenway Park, 7th and 8th graders were greeted by numerous space and technology themed stands. Some notable ones included: searching for sunspots through a special telescope, finding places in Boston on a satellite image, and a Jeopardy competition. STEM was the core focus of the event, with NASA demonstrating how all elements are used to study the wonders of space. NASA engineers also highlighted key information about the recent Artemis II launch, including details about how the initial takeoff worked, and the journey the four people crew would take.
An image depicting the mural of the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
An example of food from the food booths that were available for students to purchase.
During lunchtime, students were allowed to explore the park and purchase food. However, due to the overwhelming amount of students trying to order food, some wait times were over two hours. On top of the long lines, almost all Newman students noted the high prices of the food and merchandise available for purchase.
After lunch, the game began. Although the day had clear skies, the temperature was less than 40º F, and with Newman’s seats being in the shade, students got up during the game to find warmth in the sun. The Red Sox played hard, eventually winning against the Brewers 5-0.
Overall, Newman middle school had a blast learning about space and the Artemis II launch, and hope to continue the STEM exploration next year. Thank you to Fenway Park, NASA, Stephanie Wilson, and Newman’s middle school teachers for this incredible experience and fun-filled day!
Two seventh graders at the park.
Newman was lucky to be one of the many schools invited to participate in STEM day along with other schools in the Greater Boston area. This event fostered not only STEM learning, but valuable friendships, as Newman students were able to connect with middle and high schoolers alike.
After students got the chance to tour the exhibitions, there was a Q&A with Stephanie Wilson, American engineer and NASA astronaut, where she talked about her career as the second African American woman to go to space. Through her three journeys, STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131, she, along with the team at NASA, contributed to the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). Wilson received many questions from students and Red Sox players, like “What happens when you light a match in space?”. She answered all of the questions thoughtfully with detailed explanations. This gave many students a chance to ask questions about space and her experiences that they might not have found answers for anywhere else.
Following the Q&A, an egg-drop contest and water bottle rocket competition were held. Shown here, Newman’s egg drop contraption features a red parachute. The contest consisted of a team of six students from each school and a contraption that protected the egg as it was dropped off the Green Monster, one of the walls in Fenway Park. From Newman, the team was made up of 8th graders Georgia Brunell, Riley Garnett, Patrick McDonagh, Hazel Russo-Hartung, Iris Sahni, and Max Sherva, all guided by Mr. Meeder. In the days prior, assisted by a few 12th graders, they designed a cushioned box for the egg with a red parachute to slow down the fall. Their hard work successfully protected the egg, as it ultimately did not break. The water bottle rocket launch was held from the stands of the stadium, with some rockets even reaching the top of the park, almost 40 feet!
There were also many songs played during the event, with crowd favorites like “Cha Cha Slide” by DJ Casper and “HandClap” by Fitz and the Tantrums. DJ Richie Rich got elementary, middle, and high schoolers alike dancing in the crowds. Leading the dance floor was a special guest, Wally the Green Monster. His dance moves were especially popular among the crowd, performing classics like the Macarena to the recent internet sensation, the Scuba.
The middle school in booths
Eighth-Graders and the field
