ALEXANDRIA — On Thursday, March 27, Alexandria Public Schools will host the annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) Expo from 4:30-7 p.m. at Alexandria Area High School.

This fun educational event is free to attend and open to the public. Healthy food/refreshments will be available for purchase — a la carte selections/pricing, or a full meal option of either roasted chicken salad, taco in a bag, or pizza for only $7.

The STEAM Expo creates educational events appropriate for all ages, promoting science and the arts for PreK-12 and the community. The goal of the event is to create enthusiasm for learning through hands-on and interactive activities that demonstrate how much fun STEAM can be, showcasing the elements of STEAM curriculum and connecting learning with real-world application.

Head into the gymnasium where you can see live robotics demonstrations and try your hand with Legos to build your own robot design; play water trivia by spinning the big wheel; get your face painted; discover therapy in action and how therapy helps us move, think and speak; learn what not to recycle and why; and experience the Starlab, a portable planetarium where star-gazers (ages 8 and up) can learn about stars, constellations, and planets and how they appear in the night sky on any day and hour of the year.

Twenty exhibitors will be set up in the school commons offering engaging activities in their booth area for students.

Attendees of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in a cookie decorating activity in the Culinary Learning Lab; check out engineering technologies in action in the Design/Build Learning Lab and take home a free 3D printed trinket; or participate in fun hands-on activities in the Art Learning Lab by trying your hand on the pottery wheel, or hand build with white air-dry clay, which can be taken home and painted.

Tap into your creative self in the beautiful Performing Arts Center where students can try out real musical instruments; listen to a classical rock performance by the Discovery Middle School Stormy Strings, the school’s auditioned orchestra, who will perform their rendition of a variety of classic radio hits as well as a few of their own signature hits.

Let high school visual arts students transform you into a caricatured cartoon, which you can take home.

Full event details can be found on the district website at alexschools.org/community/steam-expo and within the attached brochure.

If you have any further questions, contact Jill Johnson, communications and marketing director at 320-762-2141 ext. 4202 or Lynn Jenc, community education director at 320-762-2141 ext. 4271.

The STEAM Expo is made possible with support from: Alexandria Area High School "A" Club, Aagard, Alexandria Education Foundation, ALP Utilities, Alexandria College, Alomere Health, Bethany on the Lake, Hagstrom Engineering, LGC Biosearch Technologies, Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management, Runestone Electric Association, and Sanford Health Alexandria.