6.8 Community, post-secondary, business/industry partners and/or families actively support and are engaged with teachers and students in the STEM program.
As an elementary school, some of our most important STEM partnerships are with families. Some ways that we engage families in STEM learning are through events such as our STEM Family Night, student-led conference, and Health Fair/Cardboard Challenge.
STEM Family Night
During STEM Family Night (February 4, 2014), students shared STEM challenges with their parents, and explained their knowledge of the Engineering Design Process while solving problems together. Activities were set up and facilitated by teachers from each grade level, and families had the opportunity to visit various stations to try a variety of challenges.
As an elementary school, some of our most important STEM partnerships are with families. Some ways that we engage families in STEM learning are through events such as our STEM Family Night, student-led conference, and Health Fair/Cardboard Challenge.
STEM Family Night
During STEM Family Night (February 4, 2014), students shared STEM challenges with their parents, and explained their knowledge of the Engineering Design Process while solving problems together. Activities were set up and facilitated by teachers from each grade level, and families had the opportunity to visit various stations to try a variety of challenges.
Student-Led Conferences
Families are also invited to come to school to experience and learn about their child’s education through student-led conferences in the fall (and this year, in the spring as well), in which students take ownership of their daily learning by sharing their performance with their parents. This proves to be another great vehicle for engaging families in discovering STEM learning and engineering, as well as making parents aware of and important stakeholders in their child’s daily education.
Families are also invited to come to school to experience and learn about their child’s education through student-led conferences in the fall (and this year, in the spring as well), in which students take ownership of their daily learning by sharing their performance with their parents. This proves to be another great vehicle for engaging families in discovering STEM learning and engineering, as well as making parents aware of and important stakeholders in their child’s daily education.
Below is an example of a kindergartner’s student-led conference “place mat” and checklist, which she shared with her parents, as well as her parents’ reactions and comments.
Riley Run Fall Festival and Health Fair
The Fall Festival and Health Fair/Cardboard Challenge (October 4, 2014), which takes place each year, gives families an opportunity to learn about health-related services and businesses in our area, participate in fun physical activities, and to experience some of the problem-solving and creativity done by members of our Imagination Foundation Club, as well as other volunteer participants. Three hundred seventy-six parents and students were in attendance, in addition to 44 faculty members from Michael C. Riley. Evidence of the many families who took part in that event is shown in the sign-in sheets below:
The Fall Festival and Health Fair/Cardboard Challenge (October 4, 2014), which takes place each year, gives families an opportunity to learn about health-related services and businesses in our area, participate in fun physical activities, and to experience some of the problem-solving and creativity done by members of our Imagination Foundation Club, as well as other volunteer participants. Three hundred seventy-six parents and students were in attendance, in addition to 44 faculty members from Michael C. Riley. Evidence of the many families who took part in that event is shown in the sign-in sheets below:
Town of Bluffton Water Quality Department
In addition to family partnerships, Michael C. Riley is fortunate to have a partnership with the Town of Bluffton Water Quality Department and Neighbors for Clean Water. Kim Jones and her team of environmental scientists and planners have led multiple field trips for our students to the May River, with objectives of learning about the local watershed (5th grade Earth Science), the ecology of the estuary ecosystem (3rd grade Life Science), and even ways that water samples are taken on a regular basis to monitor the health of the river (5th grade Physical Science – Mixtures and Solutions).
In addition to family partnerships, Michael C. Riley is fortunate to have a partnership with the Town of Bluffton Water Quality Department and Neighbors for Clean Water. Kim Jones and her team of environmental scientists and planners have led multiple field trips for our students to the May River, with objectives of learning about the local watershed (5th grade Earth Science), the ecology of the estuary ecosystem (3rd grade Life Science), and even ways that water samples are taken on a regular basis to monitor the health of the river (5th grade Physical Science – Mixtures and Solutions).
In turn, Michael C. Riley students participated in the May River Cleanup in April of 2014, which was sponsored by Neighbors for Clean Water. Students from all grade levels and their families were involved in litter pick-up efforts throughout the watershed, as grade levels competed against one another to have the highest level of participation. The winning grade level was rewarded with a visit by a local “Critter Management” company, which was arranged by the Town of Bluffton.
StarBase
Our fifth grade classes also enjoy a partnership with the Army Air Station in Beaufort, SC through a program known as StarBase. As part of the StarBase program, engineers and scientists from the Air Station work with fifth grade students for a week at a time to explore forces and motion, and to use a 3-D printer to design and create models.
Our fifth grade classes also enjoy a partnership with the Army Air Station in Beaufort, SC through a program known as StarBase. As part of the StarBase program, engineers and scientists from the Air Station work with fifth grade students for a week at a time to explore forces and motion, and to use a 3-D printer to design and create models.
As a bridge between the Sea Island Regional Science Fair and family partnerships, we have offered help sessions after school for students requesting assistance in completing their science and engineering fair projects. Over the course of four years, approximately 20-30 students per session have attended two or three sessions after school with both teachers and volunteer judges from the Sea Island Regional Fair.
As a bridge between the Sea Island Regional Science Fair and family partnerships, we have offered help sessions after school for students requesting assistance in completing their science and engineering fair projects. Over the course of four years, approximately 20-30 students per session have attended two or three sessions after school with both teachers and volunteer judges from the Sea Island Regional Fair.
S2TEM Centers SC
Finally, our partnership with the S2TEM Centers SC has been an invaluable element in our development as a STEM-focused school. As part of a two-year grant, which we were awarded based on our application in the fall of 2012, S2TEM Centers SC has provided resources and a dedicated consultant who has led numerous professional development sessions and provided valuable guidance along our journey into STEM learning.
Finally, our partnership with the S2TEM Centers SC has been an invaluable element in our development as a STEM-focused school. As part of a two-year grant, which we were awarded based on our application in the fall of 2012, S2TEM Centers SC has provided resources and a dedicated consultant who has led numerous professional development sessions and provided valuable guidance along our journey into STEM learning.