Curriculum

Maple Crest STEM School’s curriculum is rich with STEM opportunities. A STEM class is offered to students to extend the STEM curriculum in general education classes. Robotics is another opportunity that is available in the curriculum. Multiple STEM related activities are being implemented on a daily basis throughout the building.

2.1 Curriculum Integration

At least fifty percent of planned, integrated STEM Curriculum is evidence based.

All STEM curriculum is evidence based and created to be interdisciplinary and concentrate not only on Indiana State Standards but also the 21st century skills needed for students to compete and thrive in an ever changing environment.

8th Grade CSI unit (1).docx

All STEM units are created from the model obtained from the STEM Innovation Academy of Tennessee. Teachers collaborated to create problem and project based units after all teachers completed professional development with the academies' leaders.

Students pictured here during the CSI STEM unit are using their knowledge in 21st century skills, critical thinking and collaboration, to solve the murder case.

Alien Rescue Texas.pdf

All sixth grade students were enrolled into the Alien Rescue problem solving program. This collaboration with Texas University helped university students and professors collect research data. This was a learner centered learning environment.

https://alienrescue.education.utexas.edu/

STEM 2 pager (092520).pdf

Each grade incorporates PBL units from the CREATE2THINK curriculum. C2T is researched based following the 5E model. There are 8 units per grade level.

This is a sample unit from our 7th grade CREATE2THINK PBL curriculum that follows the 5E model.

7-Tiny Home Builders-Unit Plan.pdf

2.2 Computer Science

Standards based computer science content is incorporated into the school curriculum for one hundred percent of students.

Computer Science Standards are implemented in all of the Science and STEM classes. All students leave middle school with the understanding of computer design, communication and coding through the curriculum and projects created in class.

The sixth grade Shark Tank STEM unit goes in depth in to the 6-8.NC.1 Computer Science Standard "Collaboratively design, develop, publish, and present products using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts."

All students use Computer Science standards in their classes. Here is a list of websites and programs that are incorporated into the curriculum.

Computer Science 2.2.pdf

6-Wild Rides-Unit Plan.pdf

CREATE2THINK units incorporate standards based computer science for 100% of students. Refer to page 4 on document. This particular unit focuses on 2 of the 6th grade computer science standards throughout the phases.

2.3 Employability Skills

Employability Skills Standards, based upon the appropriate grade band, are integrated into the school curriculum for 100 percent of students

6-Wild Rides-Unit Plan.pdf

All CREATE2THINK units incorporate Employability Skill Standards for 100% of students. This link will take you to a 6th grade unit. Please refer to page 4 to see the standards addressed within this unit.

CREATE2THINK/INDIANA EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS CROSS-WALK

STEM Indiana Employability Skills Crosswalk.pdf

Snapshot of the Employability Skill Standards addressed within one of the CREATE2THINK units for 6th grade.

2.4 Equity

General education teachers are connected with appropriate special education teachers and support services teachers (ENL, Interpreters, etc...) for necessary material development and refinement for diverse learners based upon their understanding of students' academic needs

All MCSMS teachers are connected to a special education teacher within their grade level to ensure all teachers have the support services and understanding of the academic abilities of the diverse student population within our classroom.

Copy of Accommodations Form

Here is an example of the form sent to all general education teachers from the special education teachers. This form gives teachers access to the needs of the individual learners in their classroom.

Team Meeting 2_26_2020.pdf

This is an example of a team meeting notes including a special education teacher within the meeting.

There is a special education teacher on all of the building level teams to ensure that special education teachers can support where needed.

Students participating in STEM classes and STEM units include students with special education supports. The classroom teachers work with their teacher of record to make sure they are in a successful environment.

2.5 Assessments

Multiple types of assessments are utilized, including formative, summative, teacher created, as well as performance based by all teachers.

All MCSMS teachers use a variety of formative and summative assessments, both teacher and company made.

STEM Rubric & debriefing.pdf

This PDF includes a few examples of teacher created assessment. One example for summative is the Lab Sheet to have students analyze how the four STEM categories came into play daring their lessons. The debriefing sheet teachers use as formative to help students and teachers think about changes and modifications for the next activity. The rubric is also a teacher created summative assessment to be completed by the teacher and the student at the end of the challenge.

7-Tiny Home Builders-Exit Tickets.pdf

These are more examples of formative and summative assessments. These are included in all 8 CREATE2THINK STEM/PBL units in each grade level.

Each picture shows a different student product from items found in an Egyptian Tomb, Pixel Art, to Toms Shoes students at MCSMS explore a variety of challenges to allow for multiple ways to assess.

7-Tiny Home Builders-Rubric.pdf

7-Tiny Home Builders-THINK Journal.pdf

7-Tiny Home Builders-Math PT.pdf

7-Tiny Home Builders-ELA PT.pdf

These 4 PDF examples of performance based assessments.

Our Transition Skills classes also participate in STEM activities throughout the year. They participate in virtual field trips, graphing, and building as well as learning about some STEM fields. Our building is very cognizant of making sure all students have STEM opportunities including our special education department.

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