Discovery campers flexed their engineering skills while building boats on Wednesday as part of a new STEAM lab program.

The program will continue at the district’s four primary schools once school resumes in September as a newly launched Lunch and Learn opportunity.

STEAM Labs are innovative spaces where students create, discover and use technology while sharpening their inquiry skills with hands-on learning.

Library media specialists Christine Dennis and Gia Ibanez as well as executive director of technology Alise Pulliam have designed the new interactive experiences for all students in kindergarten through third grade for the coming school year.

During “Pirates and Mermaids” week at Discovery Camp, the STEAM Lab is making a splash.

On Wednesday, campers designed their first boat using a kit. They then attempted to have the boats remain afloat while adding various types of cargo.

The campers then incorporated what they observed from the kit boat floating experience to their own design for a second boat, which they built using craft sticks and other common items. Students discovered various factors that impacted their success and made adjustments when needed.

First graders learned about moon phases and the constellations during a visit from the Long Island Science Center on Friday.

Students were greeted in the gymnasium by the StarLab inflatable planetarium for 30-minute sessions.

They saw satellite images in the mobile planetarium of the night sky and galaxy.

Donna Sandak’s kindergarten class participated in the “Grandfriends” program Wednesday morning at North Ridge Primary School. As part of an ongoing partnership with The Bristal Assisted Living at East Northport, senior residents have an opportunity to come read a book to primary school students each week.

Granny Suzie and Jo read “And Then It’s Spring” by Julie Fogliano to the class of five- and six-year-olds, and explained to the students how the winter season is ending and spring is on the way. The class then had the chance to ask about the changing seasons.

North Ridge Primary second graders and other primary school students throughout the district are channeling their creativity with the aid of technology.
 
 Students in Mrs. Maureen MacKenzie’s class are using “Book Creator” software to become digital content creators.
 
 The students have been communicating through the software with second-grade pen pals at Sycamore Avenue Elementary in the Connetquot School District. The pen pals then collaborated on a digital book that can include writing, photos, audio and video.
 
 The technology allows, with teacher clearance, for the book then to be published and viewed by parents. Then, proud parents can share the published work with other family members.
 
 Alise Pulliam, the district’s executive director for instructional technology, recently introduced “Book Creator” to Commack primary students. Ultimately, all grade levels will be introduced to the software.
 
 Administrators from throughout the district visited Mrs. MacKenzie’s class on Thursday to learn more about the students’ creations.

 “These are children in the second grade,” Pulliam said, “and they’re already digital creators.”