Technology and Engineering

STEM classes in the early grade levels, aim to advance students’ development of the skills necessary to engage in scientific inquiry and engineering design. These skills provide the foundation for the scientific reasoning that is so critical to success in civic life, postsecondary education, and careers. Prekindergarten through grade 2 standards integrate all eight science and engineering practices.

In the upper elementary STEM classes, students continue engaging in engineering practices that will help shape their relationship to science later in their education. Students are given opportunities to develop the skills necessary to engage in scientific and technical reasoning that is so critical to success in civic life, postsecondary education and careers. The Standards for grades 3 and 4 integrate all eight science and engineering practices. Students develop skills such as questioning, predicting, and constructing arguments.
 

As students reach the middle school grades, engaging with the science and engineering practices is critical. Students will make decisions about which content fields they wish to pursue in high school and beyond. All eight science and engineering practices are integrated into the standards for grades 5-8 as students not only design and develop models, but analyze data after testing their models.

High School STEM classes explore the many facets of engineering and how it affects our daily lives, as well as providing an opportunity to gain insight into engineering as a career. Students in this course will design and make new technologies, tools, and objects to address their personal, family, and community needs. Students will also learn to use many of the tools in the makerspace including woodworking tools, 3-D printers, electronics, robotics, and the laser cutter.