At Unionville Elementary School, EARTH/STEM is integrated throughout the curriculum, including in specials area classes. Unionville teachers adhere to the Indiana Academic Standards and the MCCSC curriculum maps. Teachers have common time to collaborate with other teachers to develop engaging units and lessons through the lens of EARTH/STEM. Teachers utilize community partners, such as Sycamore Land Trust and Junior Achievement to provide resources to implement the curriculum and to provide career education.
Unionville teachers use the FOSS Next Generation science curriculum in grades K-5 and the Lab Aids science curriculum in grade 6. Both of these curricula are evidence-based and are aligned to the Indiana Academic Standards. Teachers use the 5E model of instruction for math and a common EARTH/STEM planning document for the planning of new lessons and units. Teachers also spend time researching and reading about best practices for outdoor education to better understand the benefits of learning outside. They make a conscious effort to take learning outside as much as possible. The abundance of outdoor learning spaces available at our school makes this easy to accomplish, seamlessly integrating it into our daily instruction.
Teachers and administrators created and have been developing Unionville's EARTH/STEM framework since 2017. District level administrators, coaches, and teachers help to update curriculum maps and creates implementation plans on a regular basis. Unionville teachers have a strong foundation in outdoor education and are committed to high levels of learning. They also value nature and are constantly looking for ways to connect our students to the world outside of school. This is extremely important because we are a rural school and don't have many opportunities around the school. Teachers want our students to be problem-solvers and make a difference in the world. Teachers not only create their own engaging lessons, but also expose students to careers and STEM/PBL opportunities through the use of community partners and district projects and activities. Unionville first sought STEM certification in 2019 and has continued to strengthen its focus on EARTH/STEM since.
Unionville teachers incorporate the Indiana Computer Science standards through digital citizenship, block- and text-based coding, computational thinking, productive technology, and the incorporation of the engineering design process. Unionville students learn to think critically and problem solve as well as learn skills to better prepare them for the workforce. Teachers use computer science and digital citizenship curriculum maps to ensure all standards are met. In addition, our administrator worked hard to create a schedule with protected time so that every student has the same opportunity for EARTH/STEM.
At Unionville we believe in preparing students for the future. Our students learn valuable employability skills through EARTH/STEM lessons, units, community partners, and field trips. In addition, Unionville's Positive Behavior Intervention Support Program (ARROWS) and its SEL curriculum strengthen employability skills. This year our school is also hosting a Career Fair to expose students to even more job opportunities.
Unionville school provides an array of opportunities to meet the diverse interests and learning styles of all students. With access to resources, extracurricular clubs and activities, and innovative teaching methods, we aim to create an environment where every learner can thrive and discover their unique strengths. Each student has the chance to explore, grow, and excel at Unionville. This is accomplished through the use of collaborative lesson plans, planned supports, and a Multi-Tiered System of Support. There are options for in-person and on-line learning too through our district's Canvas platform.
Student learning is assessed in a variety of methods, both informal and formal, formative and summative. Students use notebooks, journals, drawings, projects, rubrics and other methods to demonstrate their understanding of the EARTH/STEM curriculum. Students are also able to demonstrate knowledge through real-world projects, simulations and STEM challenges. This variety of assessments allows each student to shine and makes learning engaging and fun.