Families United Training Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Brookhaven, kicked off its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics project week Oct. 11.

NASA’s Infinity Science Center, in Pearlington, presented an interactive Zoom presentation that guided the students in making straw rockets, allowing them to experience the real-life application of Newton’s Second Law of Motion. The students were excited to see their rockets in action, said FUTC Executive Director Falana McDaniel.

Engineers from CenterPoint Energy helped students understand how natural gas is developed. The engineers demonstrated with a balloon in an aquarium. Guided by engineers, students brainstormed, planned, organized and created a safety poster illustrating ways to be safe around natural gas. The focus of STEM is hands-on learning with real-world applications that help students develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st-century skills. To learn more about FUTC, visit FamiliesUnitedTraining.org.