Editing STEM at Sagamore

''From: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/sagamore/news/2013/sagamore-hills-stem-school.shtml :''

STEM education encourages a curriculum that is driven by problem solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and student-centered development of ideas and solutions. The saturation of technology in most fields means that all students — not just those who plan to pursue a STEM profession — will require a solid foundation in STEM to be productive members of the workforce.</div></blockquote>

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''From ? 2013:''

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Sagamore Hills Elementary was one of 16 schools in the DeKalb County School District selected to become a part of a cohort of schools to pursue STEM certification in Georgia. This is a three-year certification process. We will continue our school-wide events such as the Sagamore Hills Math Team and Tournament, Science Olympiad, and our extraordinary Science Night.

We will continue the 5 Star Restoration Project with the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to plant indigenous plants on our campus and restore the natural habitat. We will enhance these activities with multiple STEM days throughout the school year where students will engage in experiments and projects. The Sagamore STEM initiative includes parental and community involvement as we engage science experts to share their knowledge with our students and we have plans to create a teaching garden for every Sagamore student to experience. STEM education will not be isolated instructional experiences for our students; all Sagamore students will experience STEM education every day across multiple content areas.

The long range goal of STEM education is to prepare students for a full range of college and career options, including aspiring to become the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Beginning at the elementary level we will build the knowledge and skills students need, including creativity, communication, and problem solving skills. We will integrate the disciplines of STEM in all content areas. Our students will engage in real-world collaborative problem solving activities.

What does STEM look like in the classroom for the students?

* Asking questions and defining problems

* Planning and carrying out investigations

* Analyzing and interpreting data

* Using information and critical thinking assisted by technology

* Constructing explanations and designing solutions

* Gathering, evaluating, and communicating information

Research tells us that students learn best when encouraged to construct their own knowledge of the world around them. Through an integrated approach to STEM education focused on real- world, authentic problems, students learn to reflect on the problem-solving process. Students at Sagamore Hills Elementary will experience projects that involve solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions.