Self-Assessment Rating: 3.2

The interdisciplinary problem-based curriculum includes a focus on real world applications.

Here at Pinecrest, the students are engaged in meaningful activities that relate directly to real-world problems. While STEM is fun and engaging for students, it should also be a worthwhile endeavor that allows deeper thinking in situations that pertain directly to life in our world today. Our elementary teachers system wide met as a Pinecrest STEM Leadership Team to collaborate and plan STEM- Infusion Units based on their Wonders reading curriculum. Each unit utilized cross curricular concepts and the Engineering Design Process to solve a real-world problem.

Also, most of our elementary teachers have been trained in Project Lead the Way Launch program to be utilized in their classrooms.

8th grade is spending time building ideas to clean up sorbents after it soaks up an oil spill. 6th graders are learning how to prevent radiation energy transfer through improving home construction models, after thoroughly testing materials. 5th grade students created efficient water filtration and tested their results to see who had the best method. 5th grade students also learned about food waste and ways to solve our food waste issues. 4th grade learned about harnessing energy created by different sources.

8th Grade Data Day STEM Unit

Sample of STEM Gate Projects

Areas to Improve

• Infusing more STEM into core content areas.

  • Update: STEM units in Middle School have been created for cross content collaboration on a monthly basis.