Florence B. Mathis Elementary is driven to provide a student-centered approach to learning. Our teachers participate in ongoing professional development in eMints, AMSTI, or StemScopes to enhance their skills to provide innovative practices for STEAM learning in their classrooms. Through project-based learning, students are given real-world problems that are both both locally-focused and global. While using the Engineering Design Process, they exercise their critical thinking skills, communication, collaboration and creativity. In every classroom, we have 1:1 technology, so students always have immediate access for research-based inquiry while still collaborating.

At Florence B. Mathis Elementary, we are driven to provide our students with enriching experiences they may not have the privilege to experience otherwise. We teach students 21st Century skills of creativity, critical thinking, etiquette, and more through a wide variety of field trips. Students learn about career opportunities in their community, explore local places, and experience the arts. We infuse the Arts in STEM by taking students to the Daphne Civic Center to see live performances of plays, such as Annie, The Sound of Music, and The Lion King. Our physical education teachers also plan STEAM activities as part of our schoolwide STEAM plan. They teach the science of bowling and partner with our local bowling alley to take our students to Gulf Bowl for bowling and games. Another field trip students are enriched by is when they visit the Daulphin Island Sea Lab. The sea lab is surrounded by Mobile Bay, and one of the many experiences they have here is to explore marine science.

STEM Lesson Plan with Rubric

In summary, the lesson of Odysseus was to answer the question of possibility by providing students materials to build support for a Trojan horse. The problem followed a careful reading and analysis of the story: "The Mysterious Horse: The Story of the Trojan War."

All grade levels collaborate to create project-based learning experiences that are real-world and interdisciplinary. During lessons, teachers use Kagan Cooperative Learning structures, and for projects, teachers allow collaboration, exploration, and presentation of learning.

Field Trips

Daulphin Island Sea Lab

Students visit the Daulphin Island Sea Lab to learn about estuaries and the role they play in the food chain. Students drag seine nets and identify animals living in the salt wetlands.

Theatre and Special Guests

Bowling