Education Grant WinnerElizabeth Buchanan

At Fields Elementary in Northside ISD, Elizabeth Buchanan brings science to life through curiosity, creativity, and hands-on exploration. As a longtime STEM educator, she is known for turning abstract concepts into experiences students can see, feel, and question. For Elizabeth, learning isn’t just about understanding formulas or definitions—it’s about giving students the chance to experiment, wonder, and discover how the world really works.

That passion led to Blown Away by STEM, a Firstmark Foundation-funded project centered on a classroom wind tunnel Elizabeth had envisioned for years. With grant support, she was able to bring this powerful learning tool into her school, along with the materials needed for ongoing experiments. Students now explore airflow, motion, and force by testing paper airplanes, parachutes, balloon rockets, and their own creative designs. The wind tunnel transforms lessons into investigations, allowing students to predict outcomes, revise ideas, and think like engineers while seeing science happen right before their eyes.

The impact reaches far beyond a single lesson or classroom. All students on campus engage with the wind tunnel throughout the year, and it plays a starring role during Family STEM Night—inviting families to share in their children’s excitement. Over time, the project builds confidence, curiosity, and a lasting enthusiasm for STEM, proving that when students are given the right tools, learning can truly take flight.