My students' love of learning is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to school each day. We have a small school set in rural Missouri, with a warm, supportive community. My students range from preschool to 12th grade. This year in the library I've implemented learning centers with Kindergarten through 6th grade, and the students were happy to try this mode of learning. They've started school with an eager attitude, and I am happy to keep the spark of interest alive.
EdTech Magazine informs us, "80% of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States require some form of STEM education." STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
My students are learning how to use technology everyday, and it's our job as educators to help them keep up. We need to help our students live their fullest life possible, both today and in the future. Two things that will help with that are reading and mastering this generation's demand for STEM knowledge in the work force.
My Project
The library is a place to research, read, learn, and grow. By providing experiences in the area of STEM, we are promoting critical thinking skills and opening the way for students to explore careers and real life application. Many students learn best with hands-on activities, and the STEM learning center in the library strives to supply students with this mode of learning.
Pairing STEM nonfiction books that are at the students' reading level with STEM activities is a great way for students to make connections between the books they read and their lives.
This project will peak students' interest in both reading and their future careers.
While students in K-6th grade have their scheduled library time twice a week, they rotate through the learning centers. It takes a lot of planning and materials to create centers for this span of grades and to keep rotating the activities on a regular basis. One of the centers students are able to work at is a STEM center. I've collected materials from yard sales, other teachers cleaning out their rooms, and dollar stores, as well as found ideas from the internet and books I've bought. Coupling those materials and ideas with the activity labs and kits I'm asking for in this DonorsChoose project, I will be able to provide lots of hands-on activities for students to engage in. Students will build things and solve problems in the center. The books in this project go along with the theme of the center. After students participate in the activities, they will see the related books on display for them to check out, take home, and learn more about their desired topic. The STEM careers books will enable the students to learn more about how they can use these skills in a future career.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Howe and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
