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Goal

STEM programs, which focus on science, technology, engineering, and math help prepare students for every step of their lives. While at the elementary level, science and math are the only required subjects out of the STEM domain, it is still important to expose students to all four areas. My goal is to create a Maker's Space within my classroom in order to help provide a well rounded educational experience for my students with an additional focus on improving students' STAR Math scores.
6 out of 17 students in my classroom are currently performing below the 50th percentile rank on STAR Math assessments. My goal is to have all 17 students at or above the 50th percentile by the end of the year. I believe with the enriching experience of having a STEM focused Maker's Space in the classroom, we will do just that! This STEM program will help students developed essential science skills such as the ability solve questions individually and collaboratively using models (SC.K2.CS-CS.1.4). Math skills being targeted include making sense of problems and persevere in solving them (MAFS.K12.MP.1.1) and creating models using mathematics (MAFS.K12.MP.4.1).  

What will be done with my students

In order to support and enrich our math and science curriculum, each of my 17 students will receive STEM focused tasks to complete at the Maker's Space each week. These tasks will align with our curriculum and push students past the traditional text book style learning. Students will work in groups and receive 30 minutes in order to discover, design, build, and test a working machine or structure using simple items such as rubber bands, Legos, and cardboard tubes. Students will also have the opportunity to present their creations to their classmates. I will only provide the students with their task and materials and the rest is completely up to them! Through these hands on experiences, students get to step out of the traditional learning styles and really make the classroom their own! The amazing benefit of a Maker's Space is that while some of the supplies may only be used once, the actual space itself can be refilled and used year after year along with many of the materials and kits I hope to fill it with. 

Benefits to my students

STEM programs offer a wide range of benefits to students such as providing engaging science, mathematics, and writing practice. STEM also allows students to work on collaboration and time management skills. A Maker's Space in the classroom would benefit the teacher as well as students through differentiation opportunities for various learning styles and ability levels. STEM programs offer something for everyone through the hundreds of different ways students can achieve the task in front of them. The 17 students within my classroom will be evaluated on a rubric for each STEM challenge they receive. I will also be reviewing their STAR Math data at the end of the year in order to determine what gains have been made as a result of integrating our STEM Maker's Space. The goal is to have all 17 students above the 50th percentile mark on their final STAR Math assessment.  

Budget Narrative

With this grant I am requesting two Really Good Active Learning Center with Baskets and Label Holders (239.98) to serve as our Marker's Space supply and design carts. These will hold all materials needed to complete the STEM challenges presented to students. I am also requesting two Engineering and Design Building Set-Tree House (16.99) and two Engineering and Design Building Set- City (24.99). These are STEM kits that will be used to guide students through the initial process of completing a STEM challenge. As students become more experienced, they will use a wider variety of tools to create. I am also requesting gear, magnet, circuit, and building kits in order to aid students with their projects. These kits include Gears! Gears! Gears! Basic Set - 95 Pieces (25.99), MagSnaps - 48 Piece Set (64.99), Snap Circuits Pro SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit (65.99), and K'Nex 100 Model Building Set- 863 Pieces (47.26).  

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