A Hands-On Education
STEM learning is an important part of MRCA's academic approach because it encompasses a range of experiences and skills to give students a well-rounded education.
STEM stands for:
- Science - to give students an in-depth understanding of the world around them
- Technology - to prepare students to work in an environment of high-tech innovations
- Engineering - to enhance problem-solving skills and apply knowledge in new projects
- Math - to teach students to analyze information, eliminate errors, and make conscious decisions when designing solutions
Project-based learning and problem-solving help learners to form a special mindset. Its core is in flexibility and curiosity, which equips learners to respond to real-world challenges. The purpose of this program is to provide teachers and children, with standards’ based, hands-on science activities that support standards-based classroom science instruction. Activities are chosen based on their ability to enhance science content mastery that is both relevant and timely. Through this endeavor, the children are encouraged to use (developmentally appropriate):
- Critical Thinking
- Statistics
- Engineering-Design Thinking
- Problem-Solving
- Creativity
- Argumentation
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Flexibility
- Collaboration
Mrs. Bateman, MRCA's Elementary STEM teacher, meets with K5 – 4th grade classes throughout the year (frequency depends on the grade).