Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is gearing up to welcome fourth graders in the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) to its upcoming Equipment Exploration Fair, an interactive event designed to inspire an exploration of a wide range of careers and industries.
Held Jan. 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Community School District Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW in Cedar Rapids,
the event will introduce approximately 500 fourth-grade students to a range of careers through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Students will rotate through 15 to 20 interactive stations over two hours. Volunteers from various industries will demonstrate tasks, skills and equipment, explaining how they connect to their professions, a release stated.
“The Equipment Exploration Fair is all about sparking curiosity and broadening students’ understanding of the diverse career paths available to them,” said Heather Henning, Junior Achievement’s Regional Experiential Learning coordinator. “We’re thrilled to create an environment where young learners can engage directly with community professionals and envision their future in a meaningful and exciting way.”
Prior to the event, students will complete an age-appropriate Holland Skills Inventory to identify their strongest areas of interest within six career domains. The aim is to equip students with tailored questions for professionals at the event, enhancing the experience.
“At Cedar Rapids Community School District, we are committed to providing meaningful experiences that ignite curiosity and prepare our students for the future,” said Tawana Grover, CRCSD Superintendent. “The Equipment Exploration Fair, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, offers our 4th-grade students a unique opportunity to connect their classroom learning to real-world careers. We are thrilled to see our students inspired by these hands-on experiences and the professionals who bring their industries to life.”
A second group of CRCSD fourth graders will participate in a similar fair later this spring.
