STEM at Sagamore

We're thinking about a Sagamore Space Day!

STEM refers to: the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

See Talk:STEM at Sagamore too.

Georgia STEM

"This approach to education is designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum by creating a “meta-discipline.'"

http://stemgeorgia.org/

Sagamore Hills Elementary Selected as a STEM School in 2013

From: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/sagamore/news/2013/sagamore-hills-stem-school.shtml :

STEM is the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in the curriculum. STEM is a framework of instruction based on state and national science, technology, engineering, and math standards. Sagamore Hills students will experience instruction and activities rich in science and technology. Sagamore Hills has received resources and materials to support this curriculum such as computers, LEGO and robotics labs, and professional learning for the teachers.

STEM education encourages a curriculum that is driven by problem solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and student-centered development of ideas and solutions. The saturation of technology in most fields means that all students — not just those who plan to pursue a STEM profession — will require a solid foundation in STEM to be productive members of the workforce.

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From ? 2013:

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Sagamore Hills Elementary was one of 16 schools in the DeKalb County School District selected to become a part of a cohort of schools to pursue STEM certification in Georgia. This is a three-year certification process. We will continue our school-wide events such as the Sagamore Hills Math Team and Tournament, Science Olympiad, and our extraordinary Science Night.

We will continue the 5 Star Restoration Project with the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to plant indigenous plants on our campus and restore the natural habitat. We will enhance these activities with multiple STEM days throughout the school year where students will engage in experiments and projects. The Sagamore STEM initiative includes parental and community involvement as we engage science experts to share their knowledge with our students and we have plans to create a teaching garden for every Sagamore student to experience. STEM education will not be isolated instructional experiences for our students; all Sagamore students will experience STEM education every day across multiple content areas.

The long range goal of STEM education is to prepare students for a full range of college and career options, including aspiring to become the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Beginning at the elementary level we will build the knowledge and skills students need, including creativity, communication, and problem solving skills. We will integrate the disciplines of STEM in all content areas. Our students will engage in real-world collaborative problem solving activities. What does STEM look like in the classroom for the students?

• Asking questions and defining problems
• Planning and carrying out investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Using information and critical thinking assisted by technology
• Constructing explanations and designing solutions
• Gathering, evaluating, and communicating information

Research tells us that students learn best when encouraged to construct their own knowledge of the world around them. Through an integrated approach to STEM education focused on real- world, authentic problems, students learn to reflect on the problem-solving process. Students at Sagamore Hills Elementary will experience projects that involve solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions.

Programs

• Check out Fernbank LINKS (robotics)
• Organize Sagamore Family Observatory night at Fern Bank Science Center (Thursday and Friday Nights Weather Permitting)
• Organize a 15 minute video confrence with mission control? http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html
• Camp invention at Sagamore? http://www.invent.org/camp/parentsbringcamp.aspx

X-STEM Team

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/

1. Find interested parents and students
2. Designate parent X-STem coordinator
3. Register Sagamore as an X-Stem School

DeKalb County Science and Engineering Fair

(5th Grade only one student or submission)

These dates are wrong and not updated for 2013-2014

1. September 4, 2012: Science representatives attend information session/receive application packets and directions (Administrative Instructional Complex, 3:00 pm)
2. January 18, 2013: Last day to hold school-based fair
3. January 22, 2013: All paperwork for projects entering the DeKalb Regional Fair due at district office.
4. February 8, 2013: DeKalb Science and Engineering Regional Novice Division (Elementary Schools) Fair, Location: Clarkston HS Set-up on February 8th, 3:30 – 4:30 PM)

http://fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~CHRISTOPHER_J_ROBINSON/?OpenItemURL=S0F2E149E

NASA Exploration Design Challenge

See the NASA Exploration Design Challenge page (maybe move this section content to there and link to that page from here?)

K-5, and 5th Grade Due March 14, 2014

By completing the registration, student names are added to a list of all students participating in the NASA Exploration Design Challenge. The list of names will fly on the inaugural Orion EFT-1 as honorary, virtual crew members. The virtual crew will be the only crew flying on EFT-1. Students must be registered by March 14, 2014, to join the virtual crew.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacelife/explorationdesign/k-4/index.html#.UhTkX3_heUZ

Fernbank Science Center

SEMAA The SEMAA program at Fernbank Science Center is sponsored by a grant from NASA Education. Students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to participate in this free science academic program designed to increase interest and participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.

http://www.fernbank.edu/SEMAA/Calender.htm

STEM Grants

http://stemgrants.com/

Resources

Sagamore

• Computer Lab
• LEGOs
  • http://www.legoeducation.us/eng/categories/products/elementary/lego-education-wedo#loc=robotics_w1_Dec2012
• Robotics Labs
• Sagamore Science Night
• Professional Learning

Other

• Werkstatt Workshop (analog musical synthesizer lessons by Moog)

  "At the Maker Faire this weekend, met a guy who works with schools to teach kids how analog sounds work, via little battery-powered synth boxes he makes on his 3D printer and open-sources."

  Chris David Howe

  Creative Learning Developer

  tel:434-229-7542

  mailto:chrisdavidhowe@moogmusic.com

• https://twitter.com/STEMGeorgia
• http://www.stemedcoalition.org/
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast
• http://astronautabby.com/promoting-stem-schools-classroom-chat/
• http://www.edutopia.org/stw-college-career-stem
• http://changetheequation.org/about-change-equation
• http://www.fernbank.edu/ Fernbank Science Center
• http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/stem-resources.html