Swampscott Public Schools STEM Initiative STEM Coordinators: Brandy Wilbur Sharon LaRosa Adam Scharfenberger School Committee Meeting June 5, 2013

Superintendent Goals for STEM Initiative STEM skills will be integrated within the school day After school enrichment activities with STEM focus Create evaluation instrument to assess STEM integration

STEM Integration in SPS Building upon existing curriculum Supporting ongoing projects and clubs Creating new lessons/activities/clubs Building partnerships within district Bringing in outside partners Creating outdoor learning spaces Proposed plans for the SHS Outdoor Classroom

Goal 1: Provide opportunities for staff and students to foster 21st century skills 8 th grade Salmon Release Middle School ROV construction and Chinese exchange students Grade 3 – Building Screws 9 th grade History Castle Construction HS – Cool Science Contest

Objective A: Integrate current technology in the classrooms ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL SMART Boards Brain Pop, Jr.Tech Ed toolsIntelitek Curriculum Online educational toolsTI - 84 Graphing CalculatorsTV Studio Portaportal/Internet resourcesExcel – Graphing, 3-D surfaces, visualization of data Vernier Dataloggers Piloted Hovercam document cameras Digital cameras, HD video cameras Solar Panel and Weather Station Diverse computer applications Simple machines, Grade 3Document camerasTI and TI Inspire calculators Weather StationsOnline educational toolsWiki/blogs Electricity Unit: Plasma ball, electroscopes, Van de Graaff generator Video editing, digital cameras, Skype Robotics shop tools

Objective B: STEM related Field trip opportunities for students ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL USS ConstitutionBlue Hills Field TripFIRST Robotics Beach walks/Nature walk Tsongas Industrial Center Field Trip MIT Haystack Observatory Topsfield Fair/Smolak Farms Museum of ScienceChinatown Culture and Exploration Peabody Essex Museum Crane’s Beach Science Exploration Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Children’s MuseumNature’s ClassroomBeverly Airport Audubon SanctuaryChrista McAuliffe CenterMuseum of Science Salmon Release Historic SalemEssex Ship Building Museum

Objective C: Integrate STEM themed lessons in classrooms ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL Science Family Fun Day/Science FairsBridge BuildingTech Engineering Design course Kindergarten: Egg lessons, The Big Smelly Bear and created back scratchers CatapultsPascal’s Law experiments - AP French Grade 1: Penguin ParadeMousetrap CarsSTEM Family Night projects Grade 2 – Soils, Solids, Liquids, and GasesGamestar Mechanic/video game design Mosaic design – AP French Grade 3-Rocks and Minerals and Simple Machines Sea Perch ROVVex Robotics – Robotics Grade 4-Electricity: plasma ball, Van De Graff Generator Making Musical Instruments Project Castles - Ancient World History Grade 4-King Arthur-Baking Bread Life Skills project Math with RobotsMarine Sanctuaries in Art Up Up and Away DayBalloon Powered CarspH soil testing – Enviro Chem Bubble DayAncient Civilization and Model Building Drifter – Ocean Currents Perspectives in ArtComposting Outdoor Classroom/Gardening

Ocean Drifter Dr. Chris Ratley Swampscott High School Partner with Northeast Fisheries Science Center and NEERACOOS Geometry

Project Website

Goal 2: Provide enrichment STEM activities outside of the traditional school day Cable Club – Auction Night Sailbot STEM Family Night Chinatown with Chinese Exchange Students

Objective A: Offer after school clubs/events with STEM theme ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL Knitting/Sewing/JewelryEnvironmental ClubRobotics/FRC iPad ClassesNight of ExcellenceScience League Lego ClassesMath ClubMath Team Computer ClubSea Perch ROVCable Club Design Squad Jr.Recycling ClubInteract Club Architect AdventuresScratch–Intro to programmingSTEM Family Night Math Team/League/Fun or Easy/Math-a-Thon US China Exchange Program Super Science/Sea Side Science Women In Science at Salem State University Chess Team Photo Fun/ExhibitSailbot “Learning by the Sea” Wicked Cool Science

Objective B: Enhance and promote summer offerings with STEM ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL Swampscott Integrated Summer Program Ivy Program and Summer Inclusion– STEM project Museum of ScienceSTEM Brochure with local summer programs STEM postings to Guidance office and Guidance Gazette District website

Scratch Programming Natalie Paine Technology/Computer teacher Meets Friday’s after school 41 students signed up

Goal 3: Create community partnerships that enhance STEM exposure to our students Digits Program: Scientist visiting a 6 th grade Nobel Laureate Program Mosaic at Clarke Elementary

Objective A: Recruit area business, organizations and schools to present to students ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL Audubon SocietyDigits ProgramUS China SciTech Discovery MuseumSalem State UniversityCollege visits Museum of ScienceUS China SciTechNortheastern University Artist in Residence – Mosaics at Clarke and Hadley Nobel Laureates' School Visits Healthy Living Professional photographer

Objective B: Establish partnerships with organizations to expand the offerings to the district ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL King ArthurDIGITSSwampscott Education Foundation NEU Marine Science Center National GridSalem State UniversityRotary Club Essex County Community Foundations PSAE – Clarke PTO/PTA Big Blue BargainsBarka/Burkina Faso, Africa Big Blue BargainsPTOBig Blue Bargains My Brothers’ TableMassachusetts Marine Educators Assoc. James Kelliher Garden Design St. Jude’s FundraiserPTO

Becky Groothuis Literacy Bags After school enrichment PSAE – Clarke

Goal 4: Provide professional development to Swampscott teachers to enhance their ability to integrate STEM into their curriculum

Objective A: Participate in PD opportunities ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL MOS Gateway Institute MSSEF WorkshopMSSEF Inquiry Workshop MASTLaying the Foundations for Mathematics State STEM SUMMIT MME Annual Woods Hole Conference Intelitek Training Mass DESE Courses Pre AP and AP training Salem Collaborative Project Northeast Consortium Inquiry and Design for Early Elementary MME Annual Woods Hole Conference Getting to know Scratch – Harvard Extension Laying the Foundations

Goal 5: Develop an assessment tool to evaluate the district STEM Initiative Grade 1- Penguin Parade Middle School - Balloon Cars Kindergarten – Backscratchers Enviro Science – Cold Frame Construction Grade 3 - Domino Effect

Objective A: Facilitate district wide STEM meetings to support the STEM Initiative. Monthly District STEM Team meetings  Agenda and meeting notes Bi-weekly STEM Consulting Teacher meetings Monthly Administrative STEM Meetings

Objective B: Conduct districtwide assessments of teachers and students on their use and understanding of STEM Student survey focused on attitude, knowledge and participation of STEM Teacher survey focused on needs, knowledge and application of STEM

Next Steps Curriculum review to enhance STEM concepts into the Common Core and Next Generation of Science Standards Continue to increase access to technology district wide Create a district STEM Advisory Board Analyze data from surveys to determine development needs for the STEM Initiative Identify professional development opportunities (i.e: NSTA 2014 in Boston)

Sustainability STEM Academy STEM competency certificate Outdoor classrooms PTO/PTA involvement Parent volunteers Professional development Project fundraising Grant writing Ongoing data collection and analysis Continued district support Grade 8 - Tide Charts

Questions? Brandy Wilbur: Sharon LaRosa: Adam Scharfenberger: