The S.T.E.M. College Bound Scholars Club is an after-school program designed for students in grades 3-5 to meet on a monthly basis for interactive, hands-on sessions focusing on science and math.
Whitefoord Elementary teachers were encouraged to select students who reflect various ability levels, as the effort to differentiate the instruction after school to meet the needs of all students continues. The goal of S.T.E.M. is to provide awareness and stress the importance of attending college and to promote aspirations to work in fields often underrepresented by minorities and females in areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. A partnership with Emory University’s Graduation Generation is the foundation for this club, as well as representatives from Whitefoord’s staff in the facilitation of this program.
Each session has been designed to align with the math and science curriculum. During the October-January sessions, students participated in activities that focus on healthy living with the planting of seeds, how the body works, and laboratory experiments involving physical and chemical changes, while simultaneously integrating mathematical skills. The students and staff from the nursing department at Emory provided exciting activities that combine cooking healthy and tasty food along with math tasks for students.
Upcoming interactive sessions will focus on engineering and technology. Whitefoord is grateful to WXIA-11 Alive Meteorologist, Chesley McNeil, for facilitating a session with the S.T.E.M. College Bound Scholars Club on January 15, 2013. The children were thrilled with the presentation and were featured during the weather segment on the 12:00 noon news.
– Written by Mileeka Frank, Media Specialist at Whitefoord