STEM Programming for the Second Semester of 2019-2020

STEM-based focus units of study 3, 4, and 5: 

Preschoolers in every classroom learn about school-wide agreed upon STEM units each year; these units of instruction represent the school’s comprehensive plan for high-quality, STEM-based inquiry, which are taught in all classrooms.  These units of STEM are different than the previous year’s units so that children are being exposed to 12 units of STEM over a 2-year cycle of learning. Additionally, there are weeks in between units when students can study interest-based topics determined by the teacher. 

We structure our teaching staff into five collaborative preschool teacher teams, and together they collaboratively develop units of inquiry, integrating STEM principles, the Design Thinking Process, Creative Curriculum, Colorado Department of Education standards for preschool learning, high-quality preschool environmental components, and the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment.  The three teams then share their planning tools, materials, templates, and resources with one another, with each team developing the unit even further than the previous team. 

During the second half of the school year, we will be focusing our STEM units and design challenges on these topics, in various orders, depending on your child’s teacher. We are seeking any experts from our parents, or connections our parents have, to support, extend, and enrich the learning opportunities with guest speakers, demonstrations, models, simulations, etc. while at school.  Please talk to your child’s teacher if you have ideas for any of these topics!

Here’s the SECOND half of the year program of STEM for the ’19-’20 school year:

**All classes will study a Dr. Seuss-based unit of study the week of March 16 – 19, 2020!  This is a fun week with a focus on many literacy skills and each day with a different focus.