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Instead of their annual science fair, students at Visitation Academy are holding their first ever STEM exposition.

STEM standing for Science, Tech, Engineering and Math. The reason for the change is that their math teacher Susan D'Aria is being certified in all four STEM subjects. She is one of 51 teachers nationwide picked this year for an Endeavor Fellowship from NASA to help finance her work.

"Right now I'm taking reading and writing in the science classroom, so I'm connecting literacy with mathematics and science," D'Auria said.

D'Aria expects to receive her certification from Columbia University's Teachers College by the end of the year. In the meantime, she's bringing her know-how to the all-girls private school where she's been teaching for almost 12 years.

'I have to keep them just as excited as they were the day before," she said. "It takes a lot of energy and I'm constantly thinking about it. Constantly researching, reading books."

This expo is one of the ways she keeps her students engaged. Kindergarteners and first graders worked on a rainforest project, third graders learned how to grow moss and the upper grades studied everything from the medical field.

"We learned how to take care of our own eyes because we had to look up everything about the eye," said eighth-grader Alexandria McGuire.

Some also learned about video game making.

"It's space, components which include the avatar, the enemy," said sixth-grader Gabrielle Phillip. "And there's the mechanics and the movements."

Others made mini-robots.

"You need a cell battery, a vibrating pager motor, a phone tape and a toothbrush," said sixth-grader Lexus Rodriguez.

The school plans to include STEM throughout its curriculum.

"That's what we're trying to do," said Arlene Figaro, the head of the school. "To inspire the girls for inquiry, for invention, for critical thinking and for cooperative learning."

The school has already integrated math into an arts and crafts after school program called the Accessories Club.

"It's everywhere, in every walk in our lives," said teacher Karen Peters. "As long as they're having fun, that's the most important thing."

The stem expo at Visitation Academy runs through Friday.