STEM Education in St. Mary’s County STEM Education in St. Mary’s County

Why STEM in St. Mary’s County? In October 2002, the State of Maryland designated St. Mary’s County as the second Technology Corridor in the State. Source: Maryland Dept. of Licensing and Regulation

F-18 with F-35 (JSF) over NAS Pax River, Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy. We must shift our past educational practices and seek a new paradigm for preparing our future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. We must make sure St. Mary’s County Public School students can compete for high paying, highly technical jobs Why STEM ?

St. Mary’s County Public Schools Michael J. Martirano, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Partnerships NORTHROP GRUMMAN

St. Mary’s County Public Schools Michael J. Martirano, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Grades 4-12 Rigor. Relevance. Understanding. Application. STARBASE Atlantis Program Co-curricular partnership Grade 5 Summer Space Camp for Students Summer extension Grades 4-9 Partnerships Advisory CommitteeFoundation

The STEM Academies Great Mills High Grades 9, 10, 11&12 Spring Ridge Middle Lexington Park Elementary Lexington Park Elementary Grades 4 & 5 Grades 6, 7 & 8

Elementary School Lexington Park Elementary School STEM Academy fourth and fifth grade students teamed teachers comprehensive coursework focused upon the interdisciplinary connections between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The fifth grade year concludes with students participating in a Capstone Project.

Patuxent River Naval Air Station Human Systems

Middle School Spring Ridge Middle School STEM Academy tailored mathematics, science, and technology courses interdisciplinary teacher teams The courses are designed to deepen understanding of STEM learning by exposing students to the most current trends in technology, engineering, and science.

STEM Report on Space Camp Spring Ridge MS STEM Students who attended Space Camp shared their experiences with the Board of Education

Grades 9, 10 and 11 Grades 9, 10 and 11 Grades 9, 10 Middle School-Grade 6 All Students STEM Academy 1 Reading/Language Arts 90 minutes -1 teacher Reading/Language Arts 90 minutes -1 teacher 2 3Mathematics STEM Pre-Algebra and Science 135 minutes -2 teachers Co-taught with class capped at 24 students 4 5 A DAY Science 90 Minutes B DAY Social Studies 6 7 A DAY Physical Education B DAY Fine Arts A DAY Physical Education B DAY Fine Arts

St. Mary’s County Board Member Engineering Design

Patuxent River Naval Air Station Environmental Engineering

Middle School-Grades 7 and 8 Grade 7 STEM Academy Grade 8 STEM Academy 1 Reading/Language Arts 90 minutes -1 teacher Reading/Language Arts 90 minutes -1 teacher 2 3 STEM Algebra 1 and Science STEM Geometry and Science 135 minutes -2 teachers Co-taught with class capped at 25 students minutes -2 teachers Co-taught with class capped at 25 students 6 Social Studies 7 A DAY Physical Education B DAY Fine Arts A DAY Physical Education B DAY Fine Arts

High School The Great Mills High School STEM Academy offers unique courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, giving students extraordinary knowledge and skills, as well as career exploration in numerous science and engineering pathways. The curricula includes dedicated research classes founded upon the application of mastered material, integrated contemporary technologies, and extensive problem- solving experience.

Patuxent River Naval Air Station - Gases This project is a presentation by Dr. Narducci and Bryan Otis from Pax River Naval Base to the STEM academy. Students were introduced to Liquid Nitrogen, atom cooling and tracking. Students’ previous learned knowledge of the Ideal Gas Laws allowed them to predict how the balloons would react to the liquid nitrogen and reflect how fast atoms move.

High School-Grade 9 All Students STEM Academy 1 English 9 Honors 2 U. S. History 3 Geometry Honors or Algebra 2 Honors STEM Algebra 2 STEM Chemistry 2 teachers co-teaching in a 90 minute block 4 Concept Based Physics CM or Biology Honors 5 World Language 6 Physical Education/Health 7 Fine Arts

STEM 9 Engineering Lab

High School-Grades Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 1 English Honors AP English 11 AP English 12 2 AP Government AP World History AP U. S. History 3STEM Pre-calculus H and STEM Physics STEM BIOLOGY AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC 4 AP Physics / AP Biology/ AP Environ. Sci. / AP Chemistry AP Physics / AP Biology / AP Environ. Sci. / AP Chemistry 5 6 STEM Engineering STEM Academy Research Elective (AP Statistics) 7ElectiveElectiveElective

Smart Technology Interactive Tablets Interactive Tablets Interactive Student Response Interactive Student Response Mobile Laptop Carts Mobile Laptop Carts Desktop Computers Desktop Computers Visualizer / Visualizer / Document Cameras Document Cameras Probeware/ Probeware/ Digital Sensors Digital Sensors GPS Units GPS Units

Mentorship A key feature of the STEM Academy program is the involvement of local business and industry individuals from science, mathematics and engineering career fields. Mentors assist students with coursework offering academic and technical expertise as appropriate, and provide direction for specific senior project work. Mentors visit classrooms and present on selected topics in mathematics, science, and engineering to enhance the instructional program. Mentors provide access to their workplace and other sites within their industry or business.

Advisory Group   An Advisory Group, comprised of community partners and school system personnel, will provides ongoing counsel to the STEM Consortium leadership.   Their input is sought for curriculum integration, community support, and partnership collaboration.

Congressman Hoyer visit to SRMS STEM

Dr. Thomas, NASA Astronaut visit to SRMS STEM

Transportation  Bus transportation is provided at designated hubs for all students enrolled in the STEM Academies

Capstone Activities

“ STEM FOR ALL” Initiatives “ STEM FOR ALL” Initiatives All Students in All schools have the opportunity to participate in STEM for All activities All Students in All schools have the opportunity to participate in STEM for All activities After School Robotics After School Robotics DI (Destination Imagination) DI (Destination Imagination) Summer Space Camp Summer Space Camp

After School Robotics

Robotics Sponsors

Destination ImagiNation (DI) Destination ImagiNation (DI) Destination ImagiNation is a community-based, school-friendly program that builds participants’ creativity, problem solving and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways. Goals for participants are to: Foster creative and critical thinking. Foster creative and critical thinking. Learn and apply Creative Problem Solving methods and tools. Learn and apply Creative Problem Solving methods and tools. Develop teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills. Develop teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills. Nurture research and inquiry skills Nurture research and inquiry skills Enhance and apply written and verbal communication and presentation skills Enhance and apply written and verbal communication and presentation skills Promote the recognition, use, and development of many and varied strengths and talents. Promote the recognition, use, and development of many and varied strengths and talents. Encourage competence in, enthusiasm for, and commitment to real-life problem solving Encourage competence in, enthusiasm for, and commitment to real-life problem solving

Summer Space Camp Sponsored by the Sponsored by the Patuxent Partnership Camp activities include the areas of science, mathematics, technology, and engineering. Topics include Earth Science, Engineering, Rocketry, Space Citizenship, and Space Science. Authentic field experiences may include trips to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, NASA Goddard Space Center, and the National Air and Space Museum. and Space Museum.