“Fairfax is STEM” highlights all the STEM activities and experts in our community.
This video explains the fun we have at the Binary Bracelet station. If you are interested in a deeper dive, please also check out our page on Binary Code.
We see STEM all around us and would love to meet the STEM you see! We are recording videos and conversations that describe the rich STEM in our community. You can see a few examples below.
If you want to participate, please email us and let us know!
Please send us an email or leave a comment to share your STEM!
While presenting research at the American Society for Engineering Education (PPT here), I met some fascinating people engaging in some high-quality work. These “Thoughts from ASEE” posts highlight that work.
At Manhattan College, engineering or education undgrads can become Engineering Ambassadors. Sr. Mary Ann Jacobs and Dr. Zahra Shahbazi described how their undergrads support students in grades 6 through 12 explore engineering. They use engineering workshops and hands-on experiences so students were directly engaging in scaffolded problem-based activities. They found that 85% of students strongly agreed or agreed that the workshops helped them understand the work of engineers.
The Engineering Ambassador Network described this teaching as Right Messenger and Right Message, and we could not agree more. Students learn a lot from their peers and their near peers (students slightly older). Utilizing this fundamental connection to facilitate STEM growth seems like a win-win proposition.
They found that 78% of students felt they better understood how to “think like an engineer” after completing these activities. We saw similar gains with the FLEET engineering simulator (82% were more interested in pursuing a STEM career). Connecting students to engineering through hands-on challenges and near peer relationships is definitely a recipe for growing the STEM pipeline for years to come.
You can read their paper and see related work from their session at: https://www.asee.org/public/conferences/140/papers/25784/view
edMe supports learners in Fairfax, VA and across the country. We are particularly well-suited for after-school programs and enrichment activities. These four membership types show how we can help your child develop critical problem solving skills:
1. Gold Membership: Access to all of the STEM and reading challenges and supporting activities. This membership will help you read some of your favorite books and give you access to all of the STEM books we are publishing. Each adventure has places where you can show off your progress. These interim checks also give us the opportunity to provide feedback to better support your learning adventure.
2. edMe Family Pass: For families near Fairfax, VA, we encourage the family plan so you can come into the store and engage in STEM and reading workouts in addition to the workouts you have access to at home. We truly see our store as a Problem-Solving Gym. Come workout!
Our staff will support your challenge-based fun, while also identifying learning gaps and teaching impromptu lessons tailored to your needs. This pass gives your whole family access to personalized, fun learning.
3. STEM of the Month: If you want to enjoy the edMe STEM projects without leaving your home, sign up for our STEM of the Month club to gain access to our materials at the convenience of your front door. These challenges lead to hours of enjoyment and are supported by instructional videos that children love.
4. STEM & Reading Clubs: Schools and after-school groups should consider this level of support because there are also instructor-facing materials that help share our experiences teaching with these materials. The reading projects work across texts, so your students can read their own books and then meet to share their knowledge while heavily citing the text. The STEM challenges are tailored to elementary and middle school students with optional Math and Reading activities. In addition to the links above, there are Middle School STEM Clubs and Elementary Book Clubs, too.
And, please sign up for our newsletter!
I was thinking about where this journey started, and I think it began 100 yards down the Calverton School driveway. I remember year after year standing there waiting for the Calverton community to arrive for plays, ceremonies, orientations, etc. As each car arrived, I would smile, greet the family and give a lightly-regarded suggestion about where to park. It was a community that I loved, and I enjoyed being the first face that greeted new relatives, guests, and younger siblings to our learning experience.
I was thinking about that a lot as we put together furniture, pulled together signage, and created a new type of learning community focused on problem-solving skills. It was fun greeting new people through the car window, and later becoming fast friends. At edMe Learning, we are building a new community in Fairfax that strives to be the same type of welcoming learning environment that rewards determination and supports exploration.
In 2019, this looks a bit different than standing outside watching the neighbor’s cats (I didn’t even have a cell phone!). Now, we create STEM and reading adventures that you can do here or just as easily at your home or classroom. These robust projects have scaffolded support, and allow for formative feedback through our online system. Everyday we discuss our mission, Personalized education for each child, and tailor supports and create personalized lessons to allow your children maximum growth. We are also racing to publish STEM and reading adventures that address your child’s unique (and ever-changing) interests. Today, we have 13,000 supportive questions and projects that help your child earn hundreds of badges. I encourage you to try out a membership today!
If we can help you in any way, please feel free to email me anytime.
I personally welcome you to this new type of community. Oh , and I appreciate if you would park next to the field but understand if you pull right up to the front door.
Gloria has a tree that helps her be a better person. What is her idea? Do you think it is a good idea?
Project: Write 1 paragraph that describes whether or not you like Gloria’s tree. Be sure to explain how the tree helps her!
Use three facts from the story to show you explained her tree well.
Reread your paragraph to make sure it is easy to read and has no mistakes.
If you want to share your paragraph, you can upload it here.
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Challenge: You can make your own tree! You will need to paint or wrap bottles to put on your tree. In each bottle, you can use paper and Gloria’s idea to become a better person!
Opal is memorizing facts so that she can recognize her mother. You can help by writing a paragraph that describes Opal’s Mother.
Project: Write 1 paragraph Opal can use to recognize her mother.
You paragraph should include at least 5 facts from the book.
After you write your paragraph, re-read it and edit it. Make it easy to read!
If you want to share your paragraph, you can upload it here.
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There is some information about what happened to Winn-Dixie before the story begins. But, a lot is not known!
Project: Write a story that explains where Winn-Dixie came from before the book.
You may see “origin” stories in superhero movies. “Origin” means the start or beginning. So, “origin stories” explain where a character comes from.
First, write down two sentences from Because of Winn-Dixie(TM) that show information about Winn-Dixie’s beginning.
Then, think of a story that matches these facts.
Next, write your story that explains the origin of Winn-Dixie. If you want, you can draw pictures for your story.
Finally, read your story and fix any spelling or punctuation mistakes.
If you want, you can share your story, by uploading it here.
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Many books start with a problem. Then, the story explains how the problem is solved.
What is a problem in Because of Winn Dixie(TM)?
Write down three sentences from the story that shows it is a problem.
Then, write a paragraph that describes the problem using your three sentences.
Next, use the same process to describe the solution to this problem:
You can share your 2 paragraphs, by uploading them here.
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“Characters” means the people or animals in a story. Characters sometimes change because of things that happen in a book. Other characters may stay exactly the same throughout the book.
Use this organizer. Write 3 words or facts that describe each character in the beginning, middle, and end. Put a rectangle around each word or fact, then draw a line to the circle.
Next, find a sentence in the story that shows why your word is a good word. Write each sentence on your organizer and draw a line to the correct rectangle. The graphic organizer shows a fact and quote for Charlotte in the beginning.
Write a paragraph that describes whether the relationship between Wilbur and Charlotte change in the book. Use at least 3 facts to help prove your point.
If you want to share your paragraph or your graphic organizer, you can upload it here.
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