Thanks to the generosity of a local community member, Beverly Hills STEM Elementary School recently visited Z-Max Dragway and Charlotte Motor Speedway to participate in the CMS STEAM Daily Program – allowing students a hands-on opportunity to apply STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) concepts to build and test model race cars.

“A local community member gave our school a donation and said to make it impactful,” said BHES Principal Richard Wells. “We really wanted to give them an experience outside of the normal classroom environment.  Our staff came (to the CMS STEAM day) during the summer and saw the benefits of this hands-on experience. We’re so grateful we were able to bring our entire school to participate.”

With CMS instructors on hand to offer instruction, kindergartners and 1st graders built balloon-powered cars; 2nd and 3rd graders constructed slingshot cars; and 4th and 5th graders had the chance to build battery-powered, propeller-driven cars.

According to Charlotte Motor Speedway, the STEAM program “offers student groups a fun and educational experience like no other. Students are able to relate motorsports to core principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Force, motion, energy, and engineering are some of the topics that come alive as kids navigate through hands-on stations. Grip and slip demonstrates how traction and friction play an important role at the track while speed and acceleration lets kids explore the velocity of a moving car at varying angles. Critical thinking skills are put to the test as students form a hypothesis and understand racing design concepts.”

View the Photo Gallery >