ACIS Science Expo
Our first annual Science Expo was a huge hit for our ACIS community. Our students were excited to participate in the various...
Welcome to the STEM lab.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
At ACIS, our students take STEM classes 2 days each week, beginning in K3.
In STEM class, their primary focus is developing their teamwork skills and critical thinking. In each unit, students are introduced to a problem rooted in science fields (physics, mechanics, computing, etc).
They participate in the Design Process, create solutions together and build those solutions.
Projects range from mechanical science to coding and a variety of quality resources are used such as Gigo Smart Bricks, Microbit coding sets, and more.
to schedule a visit to our campus and see our STEM lab in action!
What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Incorporating STEM into our academic program supports our mission to teach 21st century skills to our students and prepare them to be global citizens.
What is project-based learning?
Project-based learning is a unique teaching method. The most successful forms of project-based learning have 2 components: real-world problem solving and personally meaningful projects. AT ACIS, through our STEM class, as well as the whole of our academic program, we strive to utilize project-based learning as one of our primary methods of instruction.
How is STEM used at ACIS?
At ACIS, our students in grades K3 and up all have STEM class built into their schedules approximately 2 times per week. Their STEM class is hosted in our STEM lab. Throughout the year, students develop the following skills through 6 unique units of study:
Skills Developed include:
At ACIS, our students in grades K3 and up all have STEM class built into their schedules approximately 2 times per week. Their STEM class is hosted in our STEM lab. Throughout the year, students develop the following skills through 6 unique units of study:
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Following complex instruction
• Concept Sketching & planning
Units of Study (Scaffolded appropriately by grade level)
At ACIS, our students in grades K3 and up all have STEM class built into their schedules approximately 2 times per week. Their STEM class is hosted in our STEM lab. Throughout the year, students develop the following skills through 6 unique units of study:
• Gear Ratios
• Planning and Sketching
• Wind Power
• Hydro Electric
• Simple Circuit
• Bridge Structures
Most of our STEM units are organized as weekly problem-solving lessons. Students are presented with a real-world problem, they sketch their solution as a team and they build it.
How will STEM help students in their careers?
Learning STEM, as a dedicated and consistently scheduled class, benefits students throughout school and their adult life. Taking STEM classes boosts students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It provides meaningful opportunities to develop teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. In our global 21st century economy employers are no longer seeking employees with strong skills in information as information itself is so easy to obtain. They are seeking employees with inter-personal, leadership, and communication skills.
“Employers and business leaders need people who can think for themselves – who can take initiative and be the solution to problems,” as Stephen Covey, famed author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People series once noted. Beyond strengthening student knowledge in STEM – related fields, one of the fastest growing career fields, learning STEM prepares students to be independent problem-solvers, leaders, and advance in any career field of their choice.