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CES Professional staff members implement high quality STEM courses and curriculum aligned to recognized standards and organized into interdisciplinary frameworks.
CES Professional staff members implement high quality STEM courses and curriculum aligned to recognized standards and organized into interdisciplinary frameworks.
STEM Curriculum in the Classroom Classroom, the STEM Lab, & Curriculum Developed with Grants
Cahaba Elementary School implements a rigorous STEM curriculum organized around multiple real-world, interdisciplinary, problem-based, and project-based units of study that are aligned to state and national standards in our classrooms, our STEM Lab, and in special programs and courses developed as a result of grants.
Classroom STEM CURRICULUM
Classroom STEM CURRICULUM
First of all, we use a combination of district and teacher created curriculum and researched based programs in our classrooms to ensure that we are providing real-world, interdisciplinary, problem and project-based units of study that meet state and national benchmarks and standards. Our math and science curriculums were developed by our school’s content coaches in collaboration with content teachers and curriculum development teams in the district. Coaches provided professional development to teachers, who in turn implemented it in their classrooms. All curriculums are developed using research-based curriculum models and pedagogies and are divided into interdisciplinary units that focus on one general concept or skill. Curriculum units are further broken down into lessons with clear objectives that are aligned to state and national standards and provide students with learning experiences with real world problems and scenarios.
MATH CURRICULUM
Our math curriculum was developed by our school’s math coach along with other district math coaches and math curriculum development teams. They developed the curriculum using ideas from Eureka Math in combination with other research based studies including John SanGiovanni's Professional Development and Mathematics and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (see references at the bottom of the curriculum unit). The math curricula from kindergarten to 5th grade are broken down into interdisciplinary units that focus on one specific mathematics concept or skill. These units consist of lessons with specific objectives. Each objective is aligned to the Alabama Mathematics Course of Study and addresses a NCTM standard. The learning experiences in each lesson gives students the opportunity to explore real world problems and scenarios through problem based learning experiences, by asking questions and defining problems, developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, using computational thinking, engaging in arguments based on evidence, and using communication in problem solving.
2nd Grade Adding and Subtracting Within 100 Unit
We also use the STEMScopes Math program for diversification of instruction, enrichment, and remediation. STEMscopes Math is a comprehensive mathematics program for grades K-Algebra I. The materials are digital, with the option of printing PDF documents for most program components. The program comes in both English and Spanish. Every STEMscopes Math lesson is built to the state standard from the ground up. Each standard is broken into small, “Scopes.” Curriculum units are further broken down into lessons with clear objectives that are aligned to state and national standards and provide students with learning experiences with real world problems and scenarios. Each standard has an investigation where students develop the question that needs to be answered and work collaboratively to find the solution. Teachers identify lessons in the program they would like to use based on the standards or skills they wish to address.
Students Engaged in Grade Level Math Curriculum
Kindergarten Math Centers
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3rd Grade XtraMath Success
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1st Grade Math Congress
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4th Grade Math Intervention
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2nd Grade Math Relay
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5th Grade Math Investigation
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SCIENCE CURRICULUM
We use science curriculums developed by our grade level teams using three award winning programs, Mystery Science, STEMScopes Science, and Generation Genius.
Our Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade science curriculums are developed by the teachers of each grade level. These units utilize a plethora of resources including videos, books, AMSTI lessons and materials, and the Mystery Science program. The Mystery Science Program hooks students with videos that pose a question for students to investigate, then involves students in argumentative discussions. Every teacher developed unit is aligned to Alabama State Science Standards and Next Generation Science Standards and involves students in active investigations and an engineering design project using STEM processes and practices. Our 1st Grade Sound Unit and 2nd Grade If You Floated Down a River investigation are great examples of lessons that our primary teachers have developed using the Mystery Science curriculum.
1st Grade Sound Unit Investigation
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2nd Grade If You Floated Down a River Investigation
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Our 3rd - 5th grade teachers utilize two programs in developing Science curriculum. All 2nd - 5th Grade classes utilize the STEMScopes Science Program. STEMScopes Science is based on Bybee’s 5E model, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, and the Flipped Classroom. The STEMScopes Science program is aligned to state and Next Generation Science Standards and offers lessons where students are engaged in hands on activities using STEM processes and practices. The 4th grade Wavelength, Amplitude, and Frequency lesson and 5th grade Properties of Matter lesson are both examples of interdisciplinary STEMScopes lessons.
4th Grade Wavelength, Amplitude, and Frequency Investigation
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5th Grade Gum Ball Atoms Models
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After Covid, we saw a drop in our ACAP science scores, so 3rd - 5th grade teachers and administrators researched and found a program that we use to bridge the gaps in our curriculum. Generation Genius is specifically aligned to Alabama State Science Standards and is produced in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association. After adding Generation Genius our Science ACAP scores increased and reflected that 42% of our students were proficient and 34% demonstrated mastery.
TEACHER DEVELOPED CURRICULUM
Mystery Science, STEMScopes Science, and Generation Genius are used in tandem to create innovative science units. For example, 3rd grade teacher, Lisa Rish wrote the Lion’s Project Lesson for 3rd grade that earned her a National Geographic Certification and the Excellence in Teaching Award in Cross-disciplinary Teaching from the University of Alabama. Kindergarten teacher, Jami Bamberg expands upon the Mystery Science Animals in the Environment Unit and does a worm investigation with Loupes.
3rd Grade Lion’s Project Lesson
Kindergarten Worm Investigation with Loupes
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IMPACT ON STUDENTS
Our curriculum has had a strong positive impact on our students. Our students know how to define and analyze problems and can implement a variety of strategies for solving those problems. Our students have some of the highest math scores in the state.
U.S. News & World Report Article on Cahaba Elementary
PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Our STEM disciplined curriculum is successful because our STEM coaches and STEM discipline teaching teams are always looking at the latest research in STEM education and revising the curriculum to reflect what they learned from research. We plan to continue doing this because it has produced great results for us so far. We also want to be intentional about teaching interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary STEM. So, we plan to implement a series of professional development on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary STEM curriculum development in the upcoming year.
STEM LAB CURRICULUM
STEM LAB CURRICULUM
Students Engaged in STEM Lab Curriculum
Kindergarten Communicating Like a Boss
Learning Typing Skills on Typing Club
STEM Lab Establishing Our Galaxy’s Government Unit
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1st Grade Designing a House for A Specific Biome
The Design Process
STEM Lab Evaluating Our Planet’s Environment Unit
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2nd Grade Droid Manufacturing Cubee Craft Project
Algorithms
STEM Lab Forging Our Galaxy’s Economy Unit
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3rd Grade Transportation Systems Center
STEM Lab Building Our Planet’s Infrastructure Unit
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Coding Project Dance Party.mp43rd Grade Coding Project - Dance Party on Code.Org
Coding Programs
STEM Lab Shaping Our Planet’s Society Unit
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4th Grade Special May 4th Lesson - Toy Lightsabers
An Opened and Closed Circuit Lesson
STEM Lab Shaping Our Planet’s Society Unit
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Windham Water Filtration System-001.mp44th Grade Water Filtration Systems
Designing and Building a Working Water Filtration System
STEM Lab Building Our Planet’s Infrastructure Unit
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4th Grade Architectural Design
Designing and Building a House with a Purpose Based on Landscape
STEM Lab Evaluating Our Planet’s Environment Unit
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5th Grade Coding MicroBits
Using the Jump Start Python Curriculum
STEM Lab Running Our Planet’s Industries Unit
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5th Grade - My Perfect STEM Job
Learning Your STEM Type and Researching Jobs
STEM Lab Forging Our Galaxy’s Economy Unit
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5th Grade - Water Based Renewable Energy
Building HydroPowered Generators
STEM Lab Where Environment, Industy, and Economy Meet Mini-Unit
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First of all, our STEM Lab curriculum is organized around multiple rigorous, real-world, interdisciplinary, problem-based and project-based units of study that are aligned to Alabama Digital Learning and Computer Science Standards, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy, Alabama State Science Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. STEM Lab is a part of Trussville City Schools’ special classes rotation. All students participate in 40 minutes of music, art, and STEM Lab each week and in counseling and library classes every other week. Originally, the STEM Lab mainly focused on the technology component of STEM, but over the past 4 years, we have acquired many grants and resources that have allowed us to create curriculum with learning experiences that expand to all STEM disciplines.
We have a unique approach in implementing our STEM Lab curriculum. We know that hooking students into lessons keeps them engaged for the duration of the lesson. When kids are excited about learning, they will persevere through rigorous material. With this in mind, the STEM Lab structure is embedded into the curriculum. Students in the class participate in Star Wars Live Action Role Play in which they perform an aspect of a real STEM profession to complete a task or project. The curriculum is divided into six units. Each unit has a theme that focuses on specific standards-based content, engages students in cross-cutting concepts and a variety of STEM processes and practices, and provides opportunities for students to learn and practice workforce readiness skills.
Though the unit names and themes are the same for Kindergarten through 5th grade, lessons are different. Lessons are designed to meet grade level standards. Lessons change from year to year as we continue to get more supplies and kits through grants, but the unit themes keep the lessons focused on the world's six main systems. Unit 1 is called, “Establishing Our Galaxy’s Government.” In this unit, students learn behavior expectations in class and online, classroom policies and procedures, and our Live Action Role Play class structure based in the Star Wars Universe. This unit’s content focuses are digital citizenship and computer systems and networks and the focus skill is keyboarding, the foundational skill of digital learning.
2nd Grade I Am A Digital Citizen Lesson
4th Grade I Am A Cybersecurity Specialist Lesson
Unit 2 is called “Evaluating Our Planet’s Environment.” It focuses on the environment of our Star Wars planets in our Live Action Role Play. Students learn about Earth and Life Sciences by analyzing their Star Wars planet’s systems, biomes, landforms, plants and animals, life and earth cycles, atmosphere, weather, and natural resources. They evaluate how their planet’s sun and moons impact their planet, discuss human-environmental relationships, solve environmental problems, design solutions for natural disasters for their planets, and learn about renewable energy production.
Star Wars Planetary Intel Folders
5th Grade HydroElectric Generators Design
“Forging Our Galaxy’s Economy” is the third unit in our STEM Lab curriculum. In this unit, students learn about the economy and the importance of STEM jobs in maintaining the economy. They investigate the ways in which business, industry, and finance run the world. They analyze their Star Wars planet’s natural resources, commodities, wants and needs, imports and exports, money systems, businesses, employment, tourism, and real-estate. They participate in the galactic stock market, practice using currency exchange rates, compute interest rates, design packaging that best presents a product, design ways to ship products to prevent damage, create marketing and advertising campaigns, and develop spreadsheet budgets.
1st Grade I Am An Economist Lesson
2nd Grade I Am A Natural Resources Economist Lesson
Unit 4 is called, “Running Our Planet’s Industries.” In this unit, students experience how their Star Wars planets’ industries advanced as a result of computer science and robotics. Students participate in grade level block coding courses with Code.Org and learn Python using the JumpStart Python Curriculum from Firia Labs. Students also participate in grade level robotics experiences in this unit. Kindergarten and first grade students work with BeeBots and second and third graders work with Dash and Dots. Fourth and fifth graders build robots that solve industrial problems. Fifth graders move on to self-directed robotics as they learn to program and build products using Micro:bits.
5th Grade Jump Start Python Curriculum
“Building Our Planet’s Infrastructure,” the fifth unit in our STEM Lab curriculum is about building infrastructure for our Star Wars planets. Students learn that infrastructure is all the things a place needs to support the people living there. They learn about the physics of structures, architecture, utilities and public works, defense, and public safety. In this unit, students learn about physical sciences. They experiment with motion and stability, trace the path of how systems work, learn to read diagrams and schematics, investigate how materials are developed and used, build systems, solve urban problems, and learn about energy production and circuits. This unit focuses heavily on the design process. They synthesize empathy as the first and most important aspect of the design process and learn how function and aesthetics both play a part in design. The unit also integrates a plethora of cross-cutting and workforce readiness skills.
The final unit is called Shaping Our Planet’s Society. This unit plunges students into the engineering design process to improve quality of life on their Star Wars planet. Students develop new assistive technologies that help the disabled, create computer graphics, movies, animations, and websites, design innovative new fashion, engineer types of clothing to help with specific jobs, and invent new household technologies.
A Chair for the Principal Designs
The STEM Lab curriculum has had a positive impact on students at Cahaba Elementary School. Perhaps the most obvious impact is student growth from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Students come into school in Kindergarten unable to operate electronic devices or create on a computer. They do not know how to solve problems, think critically, use processes, design models, or build prototypes and they struggle to communicate effectively or collaborate on a project. By fifth grade, students demonstrate the ability to type twenty-five words a minute, create Cad models, and code programs. They can build robots, complex models, and systems. They can create creative solutions, think critically, and work as a team.
Curriculum Developed With Grants
Curriculum Developed With Grants
Our favorite way to implement standards-based, interdisciplinary, rigorous, and PBL units of study is by winning grants to implement new curriculums that utilize new equipment and supplies. We have won several grants that have allowed us to implement new, innovative, transdisciplinary STEM units of study that address a plethora of on-level and above-level state and national standards. Each grant has a unique function to enhance STEM learning in the school building. Some of these grants benefit individual classrooms and grade levels. Other grants like, the VR Learning Lab, Engineering Genius Kits, BeeBot Kits, and Drawbots are beneficial school-wide.
VR LEARNING LAB
The VR learning lab was funded in part by the Alabama Bicentennial Grant and fully funded the following year with textbook funds. The VR Learning Lab is used by K-5 students in our Multi-Media Lab. Teachers collaborate with the librarian on units of study and sign up for learning lab during library collaboration times. A sign up schedule is sent out monthly with Virtual Reality tours that enhance their learning experience and address the standards of the unit they are studying. The VR learning lab directly correlates with Alabama ELA standards, Science standards, Social Studies standards, and Digital Learning standards, as well as ITEEA STEL standards. When students work in the lab, they are taken on Virtual Reality tours related to what they are studying with Robot Labs VR Expeditions 2.0. Our librarian, Amy Prickett, guides them through multiple scenes. After each scene, the classroom teacher and librarian connect the scene to standards. After discussion, students take notes, sketch and write to reflect what they had learned from that scene.
Bicentennial Schools Awards at the State Capital
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Students working on the virtual tour of Trussville
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Students participating in the Virtual Learning Lab
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ENGINEERING GENIUS KITS
The Engineering Genius Kits were funded in part by the TCS Foundation Grants and the One Class at a Time Grant for the STEM Lab. Every grade level now participates in problem based centers where students engineer solutions to real world problems using engineering kits. Center rotations differ by grade level and unit, but every center engages students in a problem they must solve by creating a model, performing an investigation, or engineering a project. Students become architects that design and build houses based on the environments of their Star Wars Planets using Arckits. Then they turn the model home into a smart house using Electrical Smarthouse Kits. They build robotic arms for their planet’s droid industry and manufacture solar powered robots to help with agricultural work. Students become hydraulic engineers and design water treatment systems and agricultural engineers to create irrigation systems.
CBS 42, Chick-Fil-A, and Medical Properties Trust Presenting the Grant for the
STEM Lab Engineering Genius Centers
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TCS Foundation Presenting the Grant for the
Engineering Genius Kits
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Desert Home ArcKit
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Robotic Arm
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Electrical Smart House
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Solarbot
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AMSTI ROBOTICS GRANT
The BeeBot kits were funded by an AMSTI Robotics Grant to expand coding experience for K-2 students. The BeeBot kits are checked out by classroom teachers and specialists from the library. Teachers were trained on the various uses of BeeBots by the district technology department. BeeBots are used in various ways in K-2 classrooms depending on the standards being taught at that time. For example, Kindergarten students read, The Very Hungry Caterpillar with the teacher. Students then assigned a food to equal a shape (example: red triangle equals a strawberry). Students then worked to program their BeeBot to land and “eat” certain shape.
Kindergarten and 1st Graders Using BeeBots
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DRAWBOTS
Our librarian won a grant from the TCS Foundation for Drawbots. The Drawbots are now part of her 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade curriculum and housed in the Multi-Media Lab. Through inquiry and design challenges, students practice critical and creative thinking skills. The Drawbots support our school system's Engineering Design Process initiative, cover many state science and digital learning standards, and NGSS and ITEEA STEL standards. The Drawbots curriculum provides intermediate school students with important foundational physics and engineering concepts and skills that will prepare them for higher level engineering and robotics courses.
TCS Foundation Presenting the Drawbots Grant
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IMG_4460.MOVDesign Lesson with Drawbots
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5th Graders Doing Drawbot Project
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4th Graders Doing Drawbot Project
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IMPACT
New curriculum developed with grants has had a positive impact on students at Cahaba. The usage of the VR learning lab is documented monthly through the Flexible Library Schedule. The data shows K-5 classrooms are actively using the VR learning lab to extend the content learned in the classroom. The Engineering Genius Kits are integrated in the STEM curriculum. They have changed the STEM Lab experience from a still and quiet computer science course to a highly active hands-on learning environment. Soon students will get to engage in new centers thanks to a 2022-2023 TCS Foundation MUSH grant. This grant allows us to purchase more kits for all grade levels. Finally, BeeBots have helped support our computer science computational thinking initiative for lower grade levels. The AMSTI Robotics grant also allowed us to purchase Hummingbird kits for upper grade levels that we plan on implementing in the Fall of 2023.
TCS Foundation Presenting Engineering Genius Phase 2 Grant for STEM Lab
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Hummingbird Kits to be Implemented Fall 2023
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