FAQs
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What does STEM stand for?
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
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What is STEM Education and Why is it Important for Kids?
In the current phase of technological revolution, innovations have become a part of every day life for humans. Every now and then we hear the advancements happening across the sectors. Seldom we hear about developments and innovations in education, especially in early years of learning.
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What is the mission of the Barrington 220 Elementary STEM Program?
To inspire all learners to achieve excellence.
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Which cognitive competencies does the STEM program help develop in students?
Our STEM program engages students in collaborative problem solving through engineering design and robotic challenges. Our STEM students develop the following cognitive competencies: collaboration, critical thinking, scientific inquiry, design thinking, communication, creativity.
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What do students learn at each grade level during their elementary years?
Kindergarten
Introduction to Programming and RobotsFirst Grade
Introduction to EngineeringSecond Grade
Programming and RoboticsThird Grade
Engineering Design Process with RobotsFourth Grade
Engineering Design Process with Robots
Application with Space Mission ChallengesFifth Grade
FreshINC Entrepreneur Experience -
Why is STEM so important?
“What students learn about the science disciplines, technology, engineering, and mathematics during their K-12 schooling shapes their intellectual development, opportunities for future study and work, and choices of career, as well as their capacity to make informed decisions about political and civic issues about their own lives.”
- Successful STEM Education
A Workshop Summary, National Research Council 2011“STEM education can lead to productive employment and is critical to the nation’s innovation capacity… all people, particularly young people, need to have some degree of scientific and technological literacy in order to lead productive lives as citizens.”
- STEM Integration in K-12 Education
National Research Council 2014 -
What are some of the elementary STEM program experiences?
• Engineering Design Challenges
• Robotics (LEGO WeDo 2.0, LEGO Mindstorms EV3, Cubelets, Dash, Robot Mouse, Ozobot, Kibo)
• LEGO – Learn2Learn and Build to Express
• LEGO PreK/K - Duplo Simple Machines and Balls and Tubes
• Computer Programming (Tynker, Kodable, codeSparkAcademy, Hour of Code)
• Circuits (littleBits)
• Family STEM Events
• STEM at Home library kits
• Scientific Inquiry in life, physical, and earth science
• Math structured investigations and open explorations (Math in Focus)
• 5th Grade FreshINC entrepreneurship program
STEM Teachers
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Sunie Damiano
sdamiano@barrington220.orgMichelle Kozak
mkozak@barrington220.orgJosh Wager
jwager@barrington220.org