1. RCPS Elementary Challenge Program and STEM April 26, 2011 RCPS Elementary Challenge Teachers Bobbie Arbogast, Heather Cherry, Linda Doherty, Linda Harpine, Charlotte Holter, Krista Miller, Sue Porter, Del Taylor Challenge Supervisor Janet Wendelken

2. What is STEM? S cience T echnology E ngineering M athematics

3. The Benefits of STEM Education Incorporates 21st Century skills into everyday curriculum Provides real-world relevance Develops problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative thinking skills Enhances oral communication skills Requires students to communicate ideas through writing Engages student interest

4. Elementary Challenge students are pulled out once a week to meet with the Challenge teacher and other identified gifted students where they participate in an engaging STEM curriculum with emphasis on the Virginia Standards of Learning and national Standards for Technological Literacy. STEM and the RCPS Elementary Challenge Curriculum

6. STEM Design Loop Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics 1. What is the problem? Students are presented with scenarios of real-life challenges. 2. Brainstorm solutions. Students generate multiple ideas to solve the problem and meet given criteria. 3. Design and build the best solution. Students use simple tools and recyclable materials to construct a product that solves the problem. 4. Test the solution. Students identify any problems and modify the product. 5. Evaluate the solution. Students assess and reflect on the final product to determine if it meets the given criteria.

7. Grade 1 - Creating a coconut tree with moving letters Examples of Student Projects Grades K-5 - Investigating and building with KEVA planks

8. Grade 2 - Planning a habitat for life on Mars Grade 3-Constructing a planet rover

9. Grade 4 - Creating movement with pneumatics Grade 5 - Designing and building a motorized vehicle

10. Guided Portfolios Students record design plans, testing results, problem solving strategies, and project evaluations. This serves as an assessment tool for both teachers and students.

11. Elementary Challenge Teachers are passionate about STEM education! All elementary Challenge teachers attended the 2011 Children’s Engineering Convention in Richmond, with Dr. Fenn in attendance! Bobbie Arbogast, Heather Cherry, Charlotte Holter, and Linda Harpine conducted very successful workshops. Linda Harpine and Charlotte Holter attended and presented at the 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Convention in Minneapolis.

12. "Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." Albert Einstein