News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
York Elementary will use a $5,000 grant from TVA to purchase three new carts for easier access to STEM materials throughout the school.
Instructional Coach Tammi Terry said the school currently has a single STEM lab but it must be shared and is not always available. Terry said the goal of using the carts is to allow the school to implement more project-based lessons that push children beyond the standard classroom experience.
“It’s not something where they have the excuse of, well I can’t get to the STEM lab so we’re not going to do that today,” Terry said. “It’s going to be there so we’re really wanting teachers to incorporate things more on a daily basis. And so the carts are going to be essential to having those things readily available.”
Terry said there will be one cart for grades K to two, one for grades three to five, and another for grades six to eight. Terry said each cart will have its own age-appropriate items like building materials or tools for computer science lessons.
“York Elementary is wanting to become STEM designated this year because we are really focused on getting our students ready to work in any industry,” Terry said. “And any industry is wanting kids to be able to think and problem solve and work together, collaborate with other people, share what they know, and STEM really kind of hones in on those things.”
Terry said any teacher at any grade level will be allowed to check out the STEM cart that is right for their students. Terry said her goal is to have the carts in use by March 1, 2025.
“Within a month of getting the funds we plan on starting to purchasing the materials,” Terry said. “So our timeline is to have everything purchased and the parts ready to go by the end of February, beginning March. Introducing all of that to the teachers and going over expectations as far as like when you get the car, how to get the cart, where to pick it up and all of that stuff.”
Terry said classes will be able to use the cart for certain school projects and then present their finished work to the rest of the school. Terry said this effort will help develop students’ working skills which will be important as they get older.
