Abstract:
Introduction: At Schall Elementary, the STEM team wants students to go outside! Ashley Nicol, 5th grade teacher at Caro Community Schools, will develop a sustainable project for third through fifth grade students to address perceptions concerning STEM including utilization of biocubes and collection of weather data to meet science and math standards and delve deeply into real world applications.
Problem Statement: This project addresses two problems. First, being in a rural, low-income area, students do not always have access to STEM resources and often have a superficial understanding of math and science concepts. Secondly, various aspects of the new science standards are not being addressed within the current curriculum due to a lack of appropriate materials and time to develop activities. This project will assist staff in getting started on their journey toward revamping the old curriculum and expanding lessons into the real world.
Procedures: Students will take field trips to a biocube, a PVC one foot cube where students will study the environment and wildlife in and around it. They will also use weather stations to collect and analyze weather data. Finally, through the creation of videos and learning about real STEM professionals, students will develop a greater connection to science and mathematics and grasp the relevance in their own lives.
Results: The expected results are that students will gain a greater understanding of the grade level science and mathematics standards covered throughout the project and improve their attitudes and understanding of the real-world connections.
Conclusion: Biocubes, weather stations, videos, and related assignments will lead students to an appreciation for the importance of STEM in their lives and community.
Introduction: At Schall Elementary, the STEM team wants students to go outside! Ashley Nicol, 5th grade teacher at Caro Community Schools, will develop a sustainable project for third through fifth grade students to address perceptions concerning STEM including utilization of biocubes and collection of weather data to meet science and math standards and delve deeply into real world applications.
Problem Statement: This project addresses two problems. First, being in a rural, low-income area, students do not always have access to STEM resources and often have a superficial understanding of math and science concepts. Secondly, various aspects of the new science standards are not being addressed within the current curriculum due to a lack of appropriate materials and time to develop activities. This project will assist staff in getting started on their journey toward revamping the old curriculum and expanding lessons into the real world.
Procedures: Students will take field trips to a biocube, a PVC one foot cube where students will study the environment and wildlife in and around it. They will also use weather stations to collect and analyze weather data. Finally, through the creation of videos and learning about real STEM professionals, students will develop a greater connection to science and mathematics and grasp the relevance in their own lives.
Results: The expected results are that students will gain a greater understanding of the grade level science and mathematics standards covered throughout the project and improve their attitudes and understanding of the real-world connections.
Conclusion: Biocubes, weather stations, videos, and related assignments will lead students to an appreciation for the importance of STEM in their lives and community.