Programs

Each CVUSD elementary STEAM Lab is aligned to the CTE (Career Technical Education) pathways and academies that are found at the high schools and middle schools that they feed into.

Students and teachers enjoy the hands-on-learning activities that allow them to apply technology, science, math, and engineering skills as they enjoy a 21st-century learning experience.

It is important to expose students to college and career readiness beginning in elementary school!

The Science and Engineering Fair is an annual competition of science projects designed, developed, and displayed by elementary and secondary students from all schools and grade levels in CVUSD.

Science fair projects allow students to practice scientific thinking and problem-solving, improvise when a procedure doesn’t work out as predicted, present science findings to others, and constructively critique each other’s work. If the presentation is being judged, it sharpens their skills in communicating science process and content.

The intent of the Kidwind Project is to: (1) Get students excited about the promise and opportunities of renewable energy—specifically wind power—and its relationship to global climate change. (2) Foster opportunities for students to build, test, explore, and understand wind energy technology at a manageable scale. (3) Get students—particularly girls and underrepresented populations—excited about careers in STEM fields related to renewable energy. (4) Build capacity of teachers, coaches, and other educators to better understand wind energy technology and development, as well as its promise and limitations. (5) Connect students to mentors and role models in the renewable energy industry.

These programs are in partnership with the Riverside Unified School District, Riverside Public Utilities, California Baptist University, University of California, Riverside, Bourns, Inc., and other local manufacturing companies.

The week is focused on the careers of our public servants and the STEM tools they use to keep our water and power safe and secure. Activities included touring RPU’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Riverside Energy Resources Center (Peaker Plant), water supplies and facilities of EVMWD and WMWD. A highlight is a demonstration by linemen about how they repair down power lines and how to remain safe when power lines are down as well as how our water supplies are kept clean.

Members of the Sheriff and Fire Department provide instruction and hands-on training to students in various areas where STEM concepts are applied within public safety. At the completion of the week students will develop and present their innovative STEM LEAPS Projects during the design challenge competition.

STEM Solutions was focused on the Five Pillars -- the Social Determinants of Health from the US Department of Health: (1) Economic Stability, (2) Education Access and Quality, (3) Neighborhood and Built Environment, (4) Social and Community Context and (5) Health Care Access and Quality.

The Mindstorms, a miniature computer inside the LEGO brick, was developed by LEGO and MIT Media Lab. Along with the software ROBOLAB, developed by the Tufts University, the RCX is capable of performing many functions through its input and output ports. This unique hardware is capable of interfacing with different programming language besides easy-to-understand, but powerful ROBOLAB, such as text-based C-like language and Java.

Project Lead The Way is a four-year engineering program that prepares students for the expanding field of engineering, with courses integrating science, technology, engineering, and math.

Paxton Patterson allows all students opportunities for hands-on exploration in a project-based learning environment. This innovative program fosters learning as students navigate their pathways.

Students use creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking and time management skills that extend well beyond the walls of the classroom.

The Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway is built on the belief that school systems, individual schools, departments, and individual teachers can improve their STEM education practices through a positive, collaborative approach. It is designed to help the widest possible range of school districts and schools adopt best practices in STEM education.

The Institute for Inquiry addresses the theory and practice of inquiry-based science education. Workshops at the Exploratorium’s Institute for Inquiry are designed for educators who have roles supporting other educators, such as: providing professional learning experiences, exchanging ideas through communities of practice, inviting observations in classrooms, and championing science in schools or districts.

Garner Holt Education through Imagination is a team of educators and industry professionals dedicated to producing world-class educational environments, programs, products and resources to provide students with a strong foundation in creativity, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship to keep pace with our nation’s need to create students who are college and career ready in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

Family Science Night have students, parents, teachers and community members actively experienced science phenomena and designed various projects with engineering goals and strategies.

Family STEAM Night have students, parents, teachers and community members create, innovate, tinker, and make their ideas and solutions into reality.

The challenge consists of teams (8 students and a teacher/coach) and solo events. The teams will be competing for the fastest time to collectively solve 25 Rubik's Cubes. The solo competition will be limited to students from a registered school team who will compete to solve one cube in the fastest time.