2014-2015 Elementary STEM Schools Criteria

  1. STEM PLC (Professional Learning Community)
  2. The STEM PLC should meet at least once a month
  3. The PLC should consist of teachers from STEM related enrichment classes (Technology, Science Lab…) and grade level teachers to plan STEM activities/carry out school-wide STEM initiatives
  4. Documentation: Agenda, Meeting Notes
  1. STEM related practice team where students meet at least once a week between October and February

(STEM, Robotics, Engineering, Technology, Math, Science….)

  1. Documentation: Lesson Plans, Pictures, Student work, attendance record, etc…
  1. Participation in the Annual STEM Bowl Competition
  2. 3rd-5th Grade participation (One team of five students per grade level)
  3. Team sponsors must attend district training
  4. Training for school teams should begin by October and meet at least once a week
  5. Documentation: Registration, Sponsor names, team names
  1. School Science Fair with K-5 participation completed by May 15, 2015
  2. At least one class project completed in grades K-3
  3. Individual or team (maximum of 3 students per team) projects completed in 4th and 5th grades
  4. Documentation: Science Fair Coordinator Form, Number of projects completed by grade level, Pictures

5.  STEM Family Night (May be held the same night as Science Fair, but must meet criteria of both)

  1. Community participation by providing hand on STEM related activities or displays
  2. Hands-on activities aligned to content standards directed by classroom teachers
  3. Documentation: Parent sign-in sheet, flier, agenda, pictures
  1. Problem-based learning experiences integrating math, science, and other subjects provided at all grade levels (See Common Core Implementation Scale and STEM Implementation Scale for further details regarding Problem Based Learning)
  2. A minimum of four collaborative problem-based learning experiences integrating technology documented per grade level (Resources: STEM Resources from Pearson, AIMS Activities, Internet, 4th grade Power House Kits…)

b.  Documentation: Four detailed lesson plans for each grade level, rubrics, photos, authentic student work with writing exemplars, and other various artifacts

In order to be considered for a 2014-2015 STEM school, all documentation should be included. You may send in a binder with tabs for each of the criteria or a flash drive with folders for each. This should be sent via jackrabbit by May 19, 2015.