At our school we have a unique opportunity to enrich students' lives with project-based learning and field experiences which will likely be remembered well into their adulthood. Students gain so much more knowledge from experiences beyond book-based curriculum.
Grade 5 attended Starbase, a national STEM learning program.
This program focused on several scientific topics such as the scientific method, graphing, robotics, circuits, flight and rocketry, chemistry (periodic table), and many others. Each day focused on a different topic which also focused on teamwork and collaboration.
My Project
When we went to Starbase, students were not sure what to expect. When they got off the bus and walked inside for the first time, they were astonished to see the amount and variety of hands-on scientific materials that they were going to work with over the 5 day visit. One particular experience that stood out from the rest was the LittleBits electronics kits that the students got to use.
These kits contained connections similar to the magnetic charger on a MacBook Air.
Each piece of electronics was able to produce different results. There were lights, switches, fans, buttons, solar cells, and much more - all controlled by a battery pack. Students were so engrossed in the creativity that they lost track of time. Needless to say, they were disappointed to learn that their time was up and they had to put the materials away.
I would love for my students to have more time with these materials as I know that there are some who this kind of experience will likely foster a lifelong career in engineering. For others, it will help them increase their knowledge of how circuits work. Either way, this experience is a win-win!
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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. Brandt and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.