Students at Beckham Elementary are taking flight.
They journeyed recently into the world of aviation with a hands-on, in-house field trip that introduced pre-K through third grade students to STEM concepts and aerospace careers — one of the largest employment sectors in North Texas.
The experience was made possible after the campus applied for and received a grant to host Aero Explorer, an organization focused on introducing young learners to aviation and aerospace careers. Principal Christi Wilks said the event aligned perfectly with the school’s goal of helping students see how early learning connects to future opportunities.
“We applied for a grant and had Aero Explorer come out and teach our students about careers in aviation,” Wilks said. “According to Aero Explorer’s statistics, one in six adults in North Texas works in the aviation field, so we wanted to start promoting an interest early and help students see that what they’re doing in elementary school can turn into a career for them.”
Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive learning stations designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. Nancy McGee, the Aero Explorer program director, said the stations were intentionally designed to reach students across multiple grade levels while introducing complex ideas in age-appropriate ways.
Stations included a pretend flight simulator, where students wore airplane costumes and learned how to read maps, a weather prediction station, airplane engine rebuilding, a small rocket area, and an airflow station where scarves floated upward in front of a fan to demonstrate how air moves.
McGee said early exposure plays a critical role in shaping long-term interests.
“I’ve asked pilots when they were inspired, and so many times people have told me it was by second grade,” McGee said. “Introducing this to prekindergarten through third grade creates generational change because kids can see themselves in roles they may not have known about.”
She added that aerospace careers extend far beyond flying airplanes.
“Any career that exists, exists within aerospace,” McGee said. “If students want to be a chef or a fashion designer, that exists within this field too.”
For Beckham Elementary’s youngest learners, the excitement was evident. Two kindergarten students shared their favorite moments from the experience, highlighting stations focused on health, safety, and exploration.
“I liked flying an airplane and controlling the airplane because we never did it before,” kindergartener Mason V. said.
Kindergartner Jersey S. said her favorite part was learning about safety.
“We were brushing teeth and going to see if the airplanes were safe,” Stewart said.
While younger students focused on exploratory stations, older students also had the opportunity to listen to professionals currently working in aerospace careers. The speakers shared real-world experiences and helped students understand how science, math, and problem-solving connect to their everyday work.
Wilks said the event’s impact was clear as she spoke with students across grade levels.
“I’ve gone around and asked kids, ‘What’s your favorite station?’ and they say, ‘All of them!’” Wilks said. “So if you’re trying to promote STEM, this is definitely it.”
McGee said in-house field trips like this help remove barriers while exposing students to possibilities they may not otherwise encounter.
“This program helps generations by exposing kids to careers they may have never considered,” McGee said.
By bringing immersive learning experiences directly onto campus, Beckham Elementary created an opportunity for students to explore big ideas, imagine future possibilities, and discover that learning can take them just about anywhere.