Help me give my students the tools to use STEAM for Survival (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) with 3 iPads and measurement tools to test soil and water quality in their neighborhood.
Our students are amazing warrior-scholars who are aching to exercise their imagination and creativity in a safe environment. They thrive in environments where they can problem solve, build relationships and playfully engage with the arts, nature, science, and with their school work. We also boast a strong visual and arts program where our students are allowed to be their beautiful artistic selves. We are growing our garden, our parent engagement, and our STEAM programs.
Our students struggle academically (reading, writing, science, and math) as well as socio-emotionally even as they yearn to find a safe space where they can connect with each other, with the curriculum, and with the larger world.
They reflect the beauty and diversity of East Oakland with the majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (76%). When they are able to find a space of engaged learning and exciting curriculum, they are able to focus, especially with material that connects them to their families, their communities and the world around them.
My Project
There are two main areas of focus that we will grow using the iPads. First, we will use the iPads to have students document their block with taking pictures and videos of medicinal and edible plants, identifying structural areas of concern regarding climate resilience as well as forward thinking solutions. Students will also use the iPads to measure, test, and document climate dangers such as lead content in the soil and water as well as learning how to design and engineer earthquake safe buildings.
We will also use the technology to directly jumpstart our youth social media internship program where youth will use their iPads to actively reach out to the larger community to expand climate resilience STEAM projects through the creation of videos and blogs.
We recognize that young people are at the cutting edge of social media and we want to empower them to feel ownership of the organizational goals and to grow into their voice as ecological leaders. They will record and create movies documenting their findings as well as grow their own voice within social media in a socially responsible way.
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