Events celebrating the Remake Learning Days festival — an opportunity for hands-on learning activities focused on science, engineering, technology, the arts, reading and outdoor learning for children of all ages — are happening across the Mountain State from Saturday (May 17) through May 25. (WVU Photo)
West Virginia University is part of a global effort to spark curiosity and inspire creativity in young learners and their families during the Remake Learning Days festival which will run from May 17-25.
The festival, overseen by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative in the WVU Office of the Provost, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with nearly 60 events focused on science, engineering, technology, the arts, reading and outdoor learning for all ages.
Since its start in 2016 as a collaboration with Remake Learning Days in southwestern Pennsylvania Remake Learning Days in West Virginia has hosted events at libraries, schools, tech centers, museums, community centers and more while reaching hundreds of West Virginia families in communities across the Mountain State.
Donna Hoylman Peduto, WVPEC executive director, said it is the cooperation from organizations across the state that has made the Remake Learning Days festival a success throughout the last 10 years.
“Remake Learning Days in West Virginia is a truly collaborative effort that brings together schools, organizations and community partners who are dedicated to creating safe spaces for students to learn and explore new interests and career opportunities,” Peduto said. “We have many event hosts who return year after year to host activities during the festival.”
One of those returning event hosts is Eastwood Elementary School in Morgantown, where STEM teacher Karen Davis has facilitated events during Remake Learning Days since 2017.
“Remake Learning Days has provided opportunities for our at-risk students to experience success in academic areas where they might otherwise struggle,” Davis said. “Hands-on activities and vocabulary development are integrated into authentic learning experiences that engage the entire school and our community partners.”
With events ranging from STEM fairs to interactive lessons on watersheds and trees to this year’s celebration of World Bee Day, Davis said the events at Eastwood Elementary have evolved over the years to support the school’s mission of “Growing Healthy Kids in a Healthy World.”
“We strive to promote positive change, sustainability and an appreciation of the natural world around us through authentic learning experiences that extend beyond the walls of the classroom,” Davis said.
Eastwood Elementary’s Remake Learning Days events have been its most attended after-school offerings, drawing nearly 600 participants each year.
“Our Remake Learning Days events have become part of our school culture,” Davis added.
The success of the Remake Learning Days events has led Eastwood Elementary to integrate hands-on, immersive activities into school programming throughout the year. The additional activities have made learning even more accessible to students, families, and engaged community partners in Morgantown and elsewhere.
With community and learning at the heart of this year’s festival theme — Explore, Work and Learn Together — the WVPEC invites families to:
• Put your first aid and safety skills to the test in a zombie apocalypse escape room at Webster County High School.
• Join a “paw-ty” with Monongalia County 4-H to create canine kits for first responders to help comfort dogs.
• Dive into the world of engineering with the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources to create LEGO robots and programmable drones.
• Crack the code in a series of cybersecurity and ethical hacking challenges against the clock with the WVU STEAM Technical Assistance Center.
• Go down under on a Shipper STEAM Days adventure with Bluey, creating magical feather wands and learning the science behind “keepy-uppy” in Keyser.
• Immerse yourself in the creative, dynamic world of game design during TechXplore: The Student Innovation & Game Design Expo.
See the full lineup of events.
Among the more than 55 Remake Learning Days events offered across the Mountain State this year, over a dozen new events will be focused on bringing nutrition and literacy education to students and families. The expanded effort is the result of a new partnership with WVU Extension aimed at serving rural communities.
“WVU Extension is proud to partner on this collective effort to engage students and families in rural areas through interactive, hands-on activities during the Remake Learning Days festival,” Lauren Prinzo, WVU Extension specialist for community and economic development, said.
WVU Extension activities are scheduled in Cabell, Doddridge, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Marshall, McDowell, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Raleigh, Randolph, Roane, Tyler and Wyoming counties.
Most events are free to attend.
Statewide activities run parallel to other Remake Learning Days festivals happening in 12 regions across the United States, plus three international locations in Uruguay, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
West Virginia has served as a regional lead in the United States for the last seven years.
Remake Learning Days is funded by The Grable Foundation, led by Remake Learning and supported by festival partners Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh along with 15 lead regional organizations.
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