A Mom Helping Kids Understand How Science and Technology Affect Everyday Life

mom and PTA member Kimberly Sullivan believes strongly in providing children with the opportunity to learn and experience hands-on how science and technology affects their day-to-day lives. Sullivan is one of a large group of passionate individuals working to create an inspiring and educational night for PMES students at Sci-Tech Night on Feb. 2.

“We encourage PMES families to attend together and experience how science and technology affect their everyday life,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan and the PMES science and technology committee have planned an educational night that will start out will start out with an exciting science magic show. The event will then offer the students the chance to select the path they will take on this "choose your own science experience" event.

“When the kids arrive, we will all gather for a magic show by Arthur Atsma,” Sullivan said. “He will be performing for half an hour with a science related magic show. After the magic show there will be three breakout sessions, and the kids get to make the decision where they want to go.”

This event is the result of a number of caring PTA members, parents and PMES staff working hard to create an educational environment that will engage students to dig deeper into the amazing world of science and technology. Sullivan’s role in this effort has been to contact the presenters and invite them to share their passions with the students of Puckett’s Mill.

“We have over 25 presenters coming in from different areas of Gwinnett County and beyond,” Sullivan said. “They are coming in to present their professions, their passions and their hobbies to the PMES kids. My role is to think outside of the box and think of how I can bring a wide variety of experience to the families that attend this event.”

Sullivan attended the very first science and technology night at PMES a few years ago, and her kids loved it. She knew that she had to get involved in this wonderful event for the children of our community.

“I think that the staff at Puckett’s Mill really gets this event right,” Sullivan said proudly. “This event speaks to me because it inspires our children. It also gives the presenters and opportunity to come in and work with a population that they may not necessarily see all of the time.”

Sullivan says that she loves how the event brings so many different subject matters into the building.

“This year, we have a chocolate manufacture that will explain the machines and the different technologies that help make your favorite candy bar,” Sullivan said. “We also have someone coming in to explain how movies are made. They will discuss how the technology works behind the scenes, and how science works in putting together the visual and the audio elements to complete a movie. We also have someone coming in from Connecticut and Pfizer to explain how medicines are made.”

Sullivan says that their main goal is for the kids to understand that here is some sort of science and/or technology involved in almost everything we do, and they hope this event will peak their interest to learn more.

“The event is all about the kids,” Sullivan explained. “It brings families together to experience and learn about something that they did not know, and it helps kids understand by bringing science and technology down to a hands-on level. I hope it opens kids up learn about science and technology, and it inspires a few kids to go on and do something amazing in their lives.”