Barker Middle School is dedicated in providing high quality, authentic learning opportunities for all students. We strive to infuse integrated STEM curriculum that is evidence-based and supports standards through the 4 C's (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, & communication), 21st century learning strategies, project-based learning, and student voice and choice. Grade level STEM integrated curriculum plans are also inserted in Culture section 1.9 to provide evidence that all students participate in an integrated STEM curriculum.

The following evidence-based STEM Curriculum is utilized at Barker:

STEM Community Challenges: The STEM Community Challenges are after Science Olympiad competitions. Science Olympiad employs cross-cutting concepts in the standards-aligned events that build 21st century skills that are essential to today's science, technology, engineering, and math workforce. The design and prototyping style competition events are the basis for our STEM Community Challenges which embody collaboration and teamwork. These challenges support hands-on implementation of the Engineering Design Process, Engineering and Technology Education standards, Science and Engineering Process standards, and Employability Skills standards. These challenges have been incorporating all students school-wide, 6th grade elementary students, and community members for 8 years.

EL Education: Our quarterly integrated STEM curriculum is a framework that is surrounded from our EL Education modules. The Language Arts curriculum is a standards-based, rigorous, core literacy program that engages teachers and diverse learners through compelling real-world content that is science and social studies themed. Students build habits of character while creating high-quality work through student voice and choice. EL Education modules are in the third year. Modules have been expanded to incorporate interdisciplinary integration.

Project Lead the Way (Gateway): PLTW STEM modules takes students through the Engineering Design Process in authentic activities and challenges that bring real world learning to the classroom. Modules empower, inspire, and help to develop knowledge and skills students need to thrive. Barker has been implementing modules since 2010.

Science Kits: Interactive Science kits from Battle Creek Area Mathematics & Science Center (Cereal City Science) and STC (Science and Technology Concepts) Smithsonian Science Education Center have been utilized since 2005 through the Indiana Science Initiative. These Science kits bring science and STEM to life in hands-on activities and projects that also infuse Science literacy through reading and writing. Kits utilized: BCMSC: The Planet Rock, Earth: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, Objects in the Sky, Weather, Climate, & Me, Chemical Properties, and Energy Effects and from STC: Energy, Forces, and Motion and "Genes & Molecular Machines".

Teachengineering.org: Curriculum from Teach Engineering sponsored by the University of Colorado Boulder are aligned to science and math standards. Teach Engineering actively engages students in design-based projects to improve student learning, raise levels of technical literacy, broaden participation in STEM fields, and introduce students to exciting career paths. Students eyes open to how our lives are enriched by the work of engineers.

Code.org: Code.org is utilized to implement computer science and coding programs to our students to support Computer Science standards.

Depth of Knowledge (DOK) questions techniques are used to foster student deeper understanding of content. Through writing in the content areas, student pairs & group discussion, and reflection students are engaged in deeper levels of knowledge and critical thinnking.

Employability Skills Standards have been infused in career connections professional development opportunities. Future planning to purposefully infuse these critical skills within lessons, activities, and units is part of future growth and development.

• Additional Evidence

Barker Middle School's STEM/PBL curriculum is based on main programs integrated at our school:

• STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units modeled after PBL Works and Ford Next Generation Learning integrating EL Education curriculum & topics

• STEM focused Related Arts Classes

• CREW Classes

• Science Kit Units

Descriptions for these main programs are outlined below in the STEM Curriculum Summary & Implentation Plan and evidence is below.

STEM Curriculum Summary & Implementation Plan:

1. STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units integrated with EL Education Curriculum

In the original evidence area (above) are evidence example pieces of our STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units which support ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and technology integration. These units are modeled after PBL Works and Ford Next Generation Learning which approaches model the outline of: A challenging problem or question, sustained inquiry, authenticity, student voice & choice, reflection, critique & revision, and publicly shared final products. The EL Education curriculum infused in the units is focused on topics that are Science or Social Studies related. Interdisciplinary teams of teachers have created interdisciplinary unit plans.

7th Grade Units: Quarter #1: The Lost Children of Sudan/Long Walk to Water, Quarter #2: Epidemics, Quarter #3: The Harlem Renaissance, Quarter #4: Plastic Pollution

8th Grade Units: Quarter #1: Folklore of Latin America, Quarter #2: Food Choices, Quarter #3: Voices of the Holocaust, Quarter #4: Lessons from Japanese American Internment

2. STEM-Focused Related Arts Classes

Project Lead the Way (Gateway) and Computer Science Class: PLTW Gateway class aligns with our STEM focus of Barker. From the PLTW Gateway website: PLTW Gateway (6-8) STEM Curriculum--"Each PLTW Gateway unit engages students in middle school STEM Curriculum that not only builds knowledge and skills in areas including computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, but also empower students to develop essential skills such as problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and perseverance."

• Design and Modeling (7th & 8th grades): "Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they've learned throughout the unit to design."

• Green Architecture (8th grade): "Today's students have grown up in an age of "green" choices. In this unit, students learn how to apply this concept to the fields of architecture and construction by exploring dimensioning, measuring, and architectural sustainability as they design affordable housing units using Autodesk 3D architectural design software."

• App Creators (7th grade): "This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society."

• Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (8th grade): "This unit will allow students to discover computer science concepts and skills by creating personally relevant, tangible, and shareable projects. Throughout the unit, students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation, or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that bring their physical designs to life."

STEM Classes: STEM Class is an activity-, project-, and problem-based (APB) instructional learning classroom that is modeled after PTLW and engages students in research-based STEM mindsets such as “The 4 C’s”, The Engineering Design Process, problem-solving with real world connections, and open-ended opportunities. These mindsets allow students opportunities to collaborate, use creativity, and empower their learning experiences. The course provides a real-world connection to careers and reflects what is happening in STEM-related fields. STEM Class students utilize computer applications such as Google Slides, S’More Newsletter, Tinkercad (computer-aided design), Ultimaker 3D printing software, Animaker (animated video creator), WeVideo (video creator), and Google Sites. Activities, projects, and problem-based learning units are designed from Teach Engineering K-12 STEM Curriculum, Science Buddies Fluor Engineering Challenges, PBL Works, Tinkercad Project-Based Lessons, and challenges from Science Olympiad competitions. Example projects include: STEM Challenge projects & STEM competitions, Fluor Engineering competitions (past years and current year’s challenge), 3D Printing projects, Animated video creation & video creation projects, and Career connection projects

Digital Art Class: Digital Art I (7th grade): Students explore digital art methods through designing logos, digitally manipulating and enhancing photographs, and creating photo collages, flyers, and posters as a means of communicating their message effectively through effective graphic layouts and designs. Digital Art II (8th grade): Students review and show off their digital design skills by independently creating a digital portfolio using a variety of programs. Students are exposed to the many career choices in digital art and graphic design. They will also employ skills and techniques digital media programs offer for advanced users.

3. CREW Classes

ALL Barker students have a CREW Class. CREW Classes focus on relationship building, team building, lifeskills, student reflection, habits of character, financial literacy, career connections activities and STEM Community Challenges. There are 4 main curriculum pieces utilized in CREW Classes.

• STEM Community Challenges are modeled after Science Olympiad, PBL Works and Ford Next Generation Learning (as outlined above in the STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units), The Engineering Design Process, and friendly competition. STEM Community Challenges occur 3 times per year: November STEM Community Challenge (American Education Week), February STEM Community Challenge (National Engineers Week), and April/May STEM Community Challenge. Students are engaged in research, brainstorming, and building in response to a challenge/problem. Preliminary rounds are conducted and elite solutions advance to final round competitions. Local 6th-grade elementary students, local businesses, and community groups compete against Barker students.

• Ramsey Education Curriculum is a financial literacy program that includes 5 units: Get Smart with Money, Cash in the Bank, A Money Plan, Money Matters, and Giving to Others.

• EL Education CREW Curriculum with the main focus on habits of character, relationship building, and team building. Barker adopted 4 habits of character of focus for lessons: Empathy, Responsibility, Perseverance, and Integrity.

• Botvin Lifeskills Curriculum is a life skills based curriculum that has the following units for 7th & 8th grades: Drug Abuse & Violence, Making Decisions, Media Influence, Coping with Anxiety, Bullying, Coping with Anger, Communication Skills, Social Skills, Assertiveness, Resolving Conflicts, and Resisting Peer Pressure.

• DiscoverE "Chats with Change Makers" monthly video interviews with STEM professionals

4. Science Kits Curriculum: Interactive Science kits from Battle Creek Area Mathematics & Science Center (Cereal City Science) and STC (Science and Technology Concepts) Smithsonian Science Education Center have been utilized since 2005 through the Indiana Science Initiative. These Science kits bring science and STEM to life in hands-on activities and projects that also infuse Science literacy through reading and writing. Kits utilized: BCMSC: "The Planet Rock", "Earth: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow", "Weather, Climate, & Me", "Chemical Properties", "Energy Effects", "Physical Change" and STC Kits: "Energy, Forces, and Motion" and "Genes & Molecular Machines". Discovery Education curriculum is also infused quarterly.

• Evidenced above in the original evidence pieces is a STEM Class 3D Printing Project Plan and STEM Community Challenge Plans during CREW Classes for "Ramp Challenge" and "Water Bottle Rockets".

• Evidenced below is an example of CREW Class STEM Community Challenges "Water Bottle Rockets" Plans, a video showcasing build days and finale competition for our STEM Community Challenge "Egg Crash!", and the water bottle rocket 6th-grade elementary preliminary rounds competition launch schedule.

• PLTW Gateway Curriculum link and unit outlines, Financial literacy curriculum link to Ramsey Education, and schedule for Botvin Lifeskills curriculum are linked below

• Additional Evidence

Barker Middle School STEM Curriculum Implementation Plan:

STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units: All interdisciplinary main content area teams of ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies classes utilize the STEM/PBL Interdisciplinary Units that integrate the EL Education curriculum & topics that aided in planning authentic real world units. These units are quarterly modules with projects and culminating final products that highlight student voice and choice and real world learning connections.

STEM Related Arts Classes: All Barker 7th and 8th grade students have PLTW GatewayComputer Science class. Students that are not enrolled in Band or Chorus, also have either a Digital Art class or a STEM Class.

CREW Classes: All Barker students have a CREW Class. STEM Community Challenges (3 times per year) are planned and managed through the BLT/STEM Team and CREW Teachers implement the challenges with all students. Ramsey Education curriculum is located online on our district's main website inside the "Learning Place". All CREW teachers implement the financial literacy curriculum. EL Education CREW lessons are planned and distributed to all CREW teachers through our CREW Committee. Botvin Lifeskills lessons and activities are planned and distributed through our Guidance Counselor and Social Worker. DiscoverE "Chats with Change Makers" monthly video interview links provided by STEM coordinator. CREW Schedule: Mondays--Ramsey Education (financial literacy); Tuesdays--EL Education CREW lessons; Wednesdays--Botvin Lifeskills lessons; Thursdays--EL Education CREW lessons; Fridays--student grade performance check-in with CREW teacher & reflection and 1st Friday of the month "Chats with Change Makers" video and discussion. STEM Community Challenges are scheduled for 2-3 weeks for CREW in November, February, and April/May.

Science Kits: 7th Grade: Quarter #1--BCMSC Kit "The Planet Rock", Discovery Education, and STEM Fair Choice Project; Quarter #2: BCMSC Kit "Earth: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow", Discovery Education, and STEM Fair Choice Project; Quarter #3: BCMSC Kit "Energy Effects", STC Kit "Energy, Forces, & Motion" and Discovery Education; Quarter #4: BCMSC Kit "Weather, Climate, & Me", Discovery Education, and Plastic Pollution Project

Science Kits: 8th Grade: Quarter #1: STC Kit "Genes & Molecular Machines", Discovery Education, and STEM Fair Choice Project; Quarter #2: STC Kit "Genes & Molecular Machines", Discovery Education, and STEM Fair Choice Project; Quarter #3: BCMSC Kit "Physical Change" and Discovery Education; Quarter #4: BCMSC Kit "Physical Change" and Discovery Education

Below evidenced is Barker Middle School's Integrated STEM Curriculum Progression Timeline 2010-present.

• Additional Evidence

Barker STEM-focused classes student demographics breakdown is below with Computer Science enrollment breakdown. The spreadsheet includes: tab #1 Computer Science student enrollment, tab #2 STEM classes student enrollment, and tab #3 Digital Arts class student enrollment.

• Additional Evidence

Percentage of teachers using a variety of assessments to demonstrate STEM/PBL learning: