LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Del Rey's Maker Faire a Sunny Event


Students from Del Rey Elementary School worked with robots, drones, clay animation and solar technology during the school's Maker's Day Fair last June 2. Photo Sun Light & Power-Kristin Broussard

Del Rey Elementary School, along El Camino Moraga, held a Maker's Day Fair on campus on June 2 to further foster their students' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the arts.

Students and their families enjoyed the half-day event as they gained hands-on experience working with robots, drones, clay animation, green screen movie making and solar technology.

According to Del Rey principal Kirsten Theurer, the Maker's Day Fair exemplifies great community spirit. "We hope that this fair will further inspire our future artists, scientists, doctors, astronauts, engineers and researchers."

Sun Light & Power (SLP), the company who will be installing solar systems at five OUSD schools this summer, and TerraVerde Renewable Partners LLC, the company assisting the Orinda unified School District in their solar project, did a solar power demonstration that focused on solar cell exploration and clean energy generation.

Aside from exploring STEM-related booths, students wrote movie scripts and created a video of their stories using either green screen, or clay and an iPad. John Toki, a well-known Bay Area sculptor, guided the students as they help design, weld and paint a piece of public art to be displayed at the Orinda Library and later to be installed at Del Rey.

Glorietta Elementary School, another OUSD school, will hold a similar event in the fall, with the exact date to be determined.