Buncombe County Green Schools

&

North Carolina Green Schools

Recognition

Haw Creek Elementary School

2015-2016 Buncombe County Green School Renewal!

BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS: STEM

BRIAN MACCARELLI – BCS K-12 SCIENCE SPECIALIST

CARLA BILLUPS – BCS ELEMENTARY STEM COACH

WENDY FUSCO – BCS DIGITAL LEARNING FACILITATOR

APRIL 6th, 2017

• Collaboration and empowerment

• Community partnerships-culture of meaningful engagement, and ownership

• Clear focus on planning prior to implementation

• Laser focus on STEM and Digital Environments

• Commitment to technology initiative to include infrastructure, equipment, and support services

Overall Themes

ELEMENTARY STEM LABS

• Current schools: Leicester, Fairview,

Hominy Valley, Black Mountain

Elementary, Weaverville, Avery’s

Creek

• Spring schools: Barnardsville and

Woodfin

• Fall: Plans on bringing on all

elementary and intermediate

schools

ELEMENTARY STEM LABS

• Focused on engineering design process

•Challenges tied to science curriculum

•Collaborative

•Problem based

•Simple materials

• iPads for notebooks

STARTS WITH A PROBLEMWEAVERVILLE ELEMENTARY

The problem:

The Nature Center wants to add an insect exhibit. They are asking for your help to decide which insects they should house. You will need to create an environment that will sustain your insect of choice through all the stages of its life cycle. The environment will need to meet all of its changing needs. You will need to make a presentation that persuades the Nature Center to house your insect.

TASK

• Create a home for a caterpillar that will meet all its changing needs. • Create a video presentation that persuades the Nature Center to

house the caterpillar.

Science Content: 2.L.1.2 Compare life cycles of different animals such as, but not limited to, mealworms, ladybugs, crickets, guppies or frogs.

ELA Content:2.W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

2.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

2.W.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).

A. What is the problem?

B. What have others done to solve the problem?

C. What are the criteria and constraints?

A. What are some solutions? Brainstorm ideas and list them.

B. Choose the best idea and explain why you think it is the best.

C. Brainstorm ideas for each part of the design chosen by your team.

A. Draw a diagram of your design.On the drawing, label all parts clearly.

B. Make a list of the materials you will need.

A. Follow your plan and build the model.

B. Test it out!

A. What works? What doesn't?

B. What could work better?

C. Modify your design to make it better.

The Process and Collaboration are Key

K-12 STEM IN SCIENCE

•STEM embedded skills and practices in all K-12 Science courses –

collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, communication.

•Constructivist approach to learning – students build their thinking and

understanding from the ground up.

STEM IN EVERY CLASS

Next Steps:

•STEM thinking supported in all curricular areas.

• Integrated approach to learning.

• Inquiry-based curriculum.

•Continued collaboration with “experts in the field”

to reach all students.

EWIF –EDUCATIONAL WORKFORCE INNOVATION FUND

•Research based science materials 5th grade, some 4th

•Strategic STEM planning for all K-5 principals, including

intermediate schools

•Science and STEM best practices for all 4th and 5th grade

science lead teachers

•Project Lead the Way in EWIF schools 4th and 5th grade

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT NOTIFICATION

• $4.8 million

•Cohort of STEM teacher leaders to build capacity for K-12

STEM:

▪ Graduate course work

▪ Leadership training

▪ STEM externships that will allow teachers to design units

that incorporate workforce development skills in k-12

curriculum

• Partners: UNC-Charlotte, National Institute of Aerospace,

Discovery Place Design Studio

STEM COMMITTEE

•District stakeholders

•Community stakeholders

•Strategic planning

•Design a Purpose and Direction for STEM in BCS

•Next steps for STEM