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Goal

Goal
The goal of this project is to increase student achievement, learning gains, and proficiency in mathematics and science while addressing the achievement gap for English Language Learners (ELLs) through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.
Our School Improvement Plan data shows 86% overall math achievement compared to 65% for ELL students, and 73% overall science achievement compared to 42% for ELL students. These results demonstrate a need for engaging, accessible learning opportunities that strengthen conceptual understanding, increase proficiency, and provide additional ways for ELL students to access and demonstrate their learning.
Through this project, students will apply grade-level skills in measurement, geometry, problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and properties of materials as they design, build, test, and improve solutions to real-world challenges. These experiences also provide an early introduction to Career and Technical Education (CTE) skills and career pathways, including engineering, construction, design, architecture, and other STEM-related fields. Students will develop foundational skills in planning, tool use, safety, collaboration, problem-solving, and the engineering design process that connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
Hands-on learning will make abstract concepts more visual and concrete while providing opportunities for students to develop academic vocabulary, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Project objectives include:
• Increase student proficiency in targeted math and science standards.
• Strengthen student learning gains through repeated application of grade-level concepts.
• Provide additional opportunities for ELL students to access and demonstrate understanding of math and science concepts.
• Reduce the achievement gap between overall student performance and ELL student performance.
• Develop foundational CTE and STEM skills through authentic engineering and design experiences.
• Increase student awareness of how math and science connect to real-world careers and career pathways.
Student growth will be monitored through standards-aligned assessments, classroom assessments, student work samples, STEM performance tasks, and teacher observations. Beginning-, mid-, and end-of-year data will be used to monitor progress, identify areas needing additional support, and evaluate the project's impact on student proficiency and learning gains.
This project directly supports our School Improvement Plan by increasing proficiency, strengthening learning gains, addressing achievement gaps, and providing rigorous, accessible learning opportunities for all students while connecting classroom learning to CTE and STEM career applications.

 

 

Category

CTE Focused -  

 

What will be done with my students

I will integrate weekly hands-on STEM and engineering lessons using Chomp Saws with my 36 second-grade students, including 9 English Language Learners (ELLs). Students will use the Chomp Saws under direct teacher supervision and will receive instruction in proper tool and safety procedures. Students will wear safety goggles while designing, building, testing, and revising cardboard structures. These experiences will give students repeated opportunities to apply and strengthen the math and science skills they are learning in the classroom.
Math Activities
Students will apply geometry and measurement skills by creating 2-D and 3-D shapes, identifying shape attributes, measuring length, and using spatial reasoning to plan and construct designs. They will use mathematical reasoning to determine how shapes, size, and measurements affect the success of their structures.
Science Activities
Students will investigate animal needs and habitats by designing shelters that help animals survive. They will explore how the properties of materials, strength, balance, and stability affect the function of their designs.
Engineering and CTE Activities
Students will identify problems, brainstorm solutions, sketch plans, construct prototypes, test designs, evaluate results, and redesign based on what they discover. They will also practice following safety procedures and using tools responsibly.
These hands-on experiences introduce students to CTE-related skills and career fields, including engineering, construction, architecture, design, and other STEM professions. Students will experience how math, science, planning, measurement, communication, and problem-solving are used together to create solutions to real-world problems.
Project Timeline
Beginning in fall 2026, students will receive instruction on tool safety and proper Chomp Saw use before beginning hands-on projects. Weekly STEM and engineering lessons will continue throughout the 2026–27 school year, with activities integrated into math and science instruction.
Students will complete projects such as Shape Detectives and Shelter Builders, along with teacher-created challenges aligned to grade-level standards. Student work, performance tasks, and assessment data will be collected throughout the year to monitor progress and evaluate the impact of the project by the end of the 2026–27 school year.
 

 

Benefits to my Students

Chomp Saws will provide all 36 second-grade students with meaningful opportunities to develop critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills while applying grade-level math and science concepts.
Our School Improvement Plan data demonstrates a need for additional engaging and accessible learning opportunities, particularly for ELL students. Overall math achievement is 86%, compared to 65% for ELL students, and overall science achievement is 73%, compared to 42% for ELL students. This project is especially important for ELL students because hands-on STEM experiences provide visual, concrete, and collaborative ways to develop academic vocabulary and demonstrate understanding while applying grade-level concepts.
This project will support student achievement by increasing:
• Motivation and engagement through meaningful, hands-on STEM challenges
• Active learning through designing, building, testing, and revising
• Math and science achievement through authentic application of grade-level standards
• Problem-solving and critical thinking through real-world engineering challenges
• Confidence and perseverance as students learn from mistakes and improve their designs
• CTE and career awareness through authentic experiences that introduce students to engineering, construction, architecture, design, and other STEM-related career fields
Student progress will be measured and evaluated using multiple sources of data, including standards-based math and science assessments, classroom assessments, student work samples, and teacher-created STEM performance tasks. Student performance will be monitored throughout the year to identify growth and areas needing additional support.
Beginning-, mid-, and end-of-year data will be used to compare student performance on targeted math and science standards and determine the impact of the project on student proficiency and learning gains.
The project goal is for 90% of students to demonstrate mastery of the targeted math and science standards by the end of the 2026–27 school year. Data collected throughout the project will be used to evaluate student growth, guide instruction, and determine the effectiveness of integrating Chomp Saws into the second-grade curriculum.
 

 

Budget Narrative

The total cost of the requested supplies is $1,000, which includes four Chomp Saw Bundles (each including a Chomp Saw, table accessories, and a workbook) and the Explorers Club (which includes 12 building projects).

The four Chomp Saws will allow all 36 second-grade students to work collaboratively in small groups and actively participate in every stage of the engineering design process: designing, constructing, testing, evaluating, and redesigning projects connected to grade-level mathematics and science standards.

Regular use of the Chomp Saws will provide meaningful, hands-on opportunities to strengthen problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, measurement, geometry, science, engineering, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) skills, supporting the project’s goal of increasing student achievement, learning gains, and proficiency.

The Chomp Saws will be used throughout the school year and sustained from year to year as an integral part of the second-grade STEM curriculum, allowing future students to benefit from these engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
 

 

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