District 300 elementary schools will have STEM labs this fall
Learning the science behind growing vegetables in water, dropping an egg without it breaking, building bridges with toothpicks and water bottle rockets are among the skills students will learn in new labs at Community Unit District 300's elementary schools starting this fall.
The Algonquin-based district is converting existing computer labs at its 17 elementary schools into STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classrooms. Students will get 60 minutes of lab time for hands-on discovery learning every other week. The labs will help students apply science concepts they are learning in the classroom, and include competition-based activities.
“Science should be fun, and shouldn't be relegated to a textbook,” Superintendent Fred Heid said. “This is coupled with the one-to-one initiative. With every student having a device, we have greater flexibility so we are going to re-purpose those computer labs into STEM labs.”
For instance, when second-graders start learning about plants, they also will get to plant seeds and watch them germinate using hydroponics — the art of growing plants without soil.
Students at Hampshire Elementary School ran with the idea and started a hydroponic tower garden, being housed in a corner of the school's multipurpose room that doubles as a cafeteria/auditorium. They plan to grow vegetables that can be used in the school's cafeteria as part of a healthy salad bar. The plants will move into the STEM lab next year.
“We will connect it to environmental science,” Heid said. “Globally, there is a significant footprint when you have to plant things. Students are learning about conservation of space, how to use scientific principles to measure out how much nutrients the plants need with hydroponics. They are applying the sciences, mathematics. Now we are able to bring that excitement, that enthusiasm back into the classroom and kids can apply it throughout the year.”
The success of District 300's summer STEM program gave impetus to creating these labs. Last year, 120 students registered for the summer program. That number has more than tripled with 401 students registered so far for this summer's six-day STEM offerings. Registration continues through the end of next month.
Heid, a former middle school science teacher, said he is excited about possibly teaching again in the STEM labs next year.
“There is so much of the application of science,” he said, adding an exercise designing bottle water rockets could allow students to explore the laws of gas or mathematically figure out the ideal ratio of air volume to water.
“Students get kits and use their own creativity and imagination to do experiments,” he said. “They are really problem-solving and becoming imaginative and innovative on their own. There is no better way to teach kids reading and math than through science. It's going to lead to improved math outcomes and significant improvements in our overall science programs.”
Officials have set aside $198,000 for next year's roll out of STEM labs, which includes the cost of furniture, equipment and supplies. The district will be adding 8.5 full-time equivalent elementary STEM teaching positions — a $522,241 cost — and officials are designing the curriculum now.
“This will be a reoccurring cost, although not $198,000 a year,” Heid said. “We're looking at about $5,000 to $6,000 per school per year (to replenish supplies). We don't want those things coming out of teachers' pockets.”