Elementary school: building interest in math and science
STEM Connect program
As early as third grade, students who are historically underserved are learning that math and science aren't for them. This sets them on a path toward eventually leaving school without a plan for their future. Our STEM Connect Program changes that narrative. The program engages 4th and 5th graders in learning experiences that increase their interest and change their mindset about math and science. Launched in 2015, our STEM Connect program is now in 30 elementary schools statewide.
How it works
The program creates a close relationship between a company and a local school that has a disproportionate number of students who are historically underserved. The In4All team sets up the partnership, helps define the activities, trains volunteers, attends classroom sessions, and follows up to evaluate the experience.
When business volunteers come into the classroom, they lead a hands-on learning activity related to their industry showing how they use math and science in their jobs. Not only do volunteers have a great time being an "educator for the day" four times a year, but they play an important role in engaging students to imagine new possibilities for themselves.
The STEM Connect program consists of 4 classroom visits by industry professionals in the school’s community.
Visit 1 is an Intro Visit where students and volunteers get acquainted, learn about the volunteers’ careers, and talk about STEM.
Visits 2 & 3 are hands-on activities designed in collaboration with teachers and industry professionals and are tied to next generation science standards (NGSS).
Visit 4 is a career related visit. These visits can include the wider school community (such as a science night) or a classroom visit that provides an additional opportunity to engage in an activity.
Each year, we gather feedback from students, teachers, and volunteers and work to adapt and iterate our program.
4th Grade
4th Grade STEM Connect Activities explore building, engineering, and energy transfer. The first activity is Bridge Building where students construct a bridge out of paper and test its strength. Activity two is Marbles in Motion where students create a paper structure to launch a marble towards a target.
5th Grade
5th Grade STEM Connect Activities explore acidity & pH, erosion, water contamination, and human impact on our environment. In activity one, students make predictions and test the strength of acids and bases. For the second activity, students create a filtration system for contaminated water and test how well it works.
