GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Central School Foundation recently awarded a $44,458 grant to the Greenfield-Central schools to establish STEM labs in each of the district’s four elementary schools.
STEM is a multi-discipline approach to teaching that combines science, technology, engineering and math.
While the district’s elementary schools have already been teaching STEM lessons through hands-on learning experiences — including robotics — the grant will enable the schools to establish STEM labs that will give students in kindergarten through third grade enhanced opportunities for learning.
Superintendent Harold Olin said one classroom in each school will be transformed into a dedicated STEM lab where students in kindergarten through third grade will learn skills that are becoming increasingly essential in today’s workplace.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for kids, which ultimately leads them to greater levels of success,” said Olin.
STEM learning labs have already been established at the district’s high school school and junior high school and were added to both of the district’s intermediate schools last year.
Olin said bringing the STEM labs into the elementary schools will better prepare young students for future learning opportunities, which can better prepare them for post-secondary STEM training and future careers.
Ginny Brown, executive director for the Greenfield Central School Foundation, said STEM learning at all grade levels is becoming increasingly essential for student success.
“STEM is necessary for growing our economy and staying competitive globally,” she said.
Amy Sutton, principal at J.B. Stephens Elementary School, echoed that sentiment.
“Exposing our young learners to STEM curriculum and experiences begins to foster skills in them that will put them at an advantage as they continue in their education, and eventually careers,” said Sutton.
“Most people think STEM is just about teaching students technology, but it’s so much more,” she said.
“STEM begins to foster skills like collaboration, discourse, creative thinking and resiliency. Students learn how to approach a problem, come up with a creative solution, and if their plan doesn’t work, how to figure out what went wrong then create another solution to test. All these skills are critical when preparing 21st century learners for the world they are growing up in.”
Brown said the emphasis on STEM at the elementary school level coincides with the Indiana Department of Education’s goals for STEM education statewide.
According to the IDOE’s website, “research shows that professional opportunities in STEM sectors are projected to grow exponentially.”
STEM learning is “vital to preparing the next generation of thinkers, creators, advocates, and entrepreneurs,” it states, teaching foundational skills which can benefit students “regardless of their chosen career path.”
On Oct. 12, the U.S. Department of Education launched “YOU Belong in STEM,” an initiative to implement STEM learning opportunities for all young people, from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education.
“With the YOU Belong in STEM initiative, we are helping districts and schools redesign systems and learning spaces to ensure students get the well-rounded education they need,” said Cindy Marten, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education.
Marten said that through the initiative, the U.S. DOE will partner with public and private entities by providing guidance and technical assistance to elevate STEM teaching and learning for students throughout the country.
“Every student, no matter their background or zip code can meet and exceed their unique potential to learn and thrive in STEM education,” she said.
Olin praised the Greenfield Central School Foundation’s support for those efforts close to home.
“Ginny and foundation have been fantastic partners for us this year,” said the superintendent, adding that it will likely take a couple of months to get the new STEM labs established.
Amy Fletcher, who teaches STEM classes to fourth through sixth graders at Greenfield Intermediate School, is excited to know Greenfield-Central elementary school students will soon be getting an early jump on STEM learning.
After teaching STEM for just over a year, Fletcher was among three Indiana teachers to be presented a Teaching Excellence Award this summer by the Computer Science Teachers Association for STEM teaching.
Fletcher received a plaque and cash award at the award ceremony, held June 26 at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Fletcher said she was honored and thrilled to receive the award for teaching STEM, a curriculum she loves.
“It is a blast,” said the educator, who loves seeing students’ “aha!” moments as they learn through programming robots, 3D printing or other projects in her classroom.
The lessons Fletcher teaches have included creating Mars land rovers, designing bridges and building boats to learn about water displacement and density. Students have also coded robots and built electrical circuits, among other things.
“We have a lot of fun,” she said. “When I hear someone say ‘Oh!’ like they do when the light bulb in their brain turns on, I make a big deal out of it so the others in the class are encouraged to keep working until their light bulb turns on as well.”
