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From BISD
A special summer enrichment Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) kit will make its way home with all fourth and seventh-grade students in Beaumont ISD, according to a news release from the district.
"Students in these grades did not get an opportunity to come to the STEM Center this school year because of the pandemic," stated Marinette Parkerson, BISD Coordinator of STEM. "I wanted to make sure that they still had an activity over the summertime to remind them to stay active in STEM education and literacy."
The kit is a result of a partnership with ExxonMobil, who collaborated with the department for the "Stay at Home STEM" Facebook series throughout the pandemic.
"From the series, I found out that I personally did not have all of the necessary supplies to carry out one of the activities," said Parkerson. "It struck me--maybe the students do not have some of the resources, also. As the year progressed, I started to think of a way to create a STEM kit with every necessary component to complete at least one activity."
Fourth-grade students and parents will receive a kit to create elephant toothpaste. The instructions are included, and every ingredient including dish soap, yeast, peroxide, a water bottle or cup and a stirrer are in the kit.
Seventh-grade kits include a series of circuits for students and parents to create. There are three activities: making a single circuit, a parallel circuit and describing the activity taking place.
Before the end of the school year, thousands of STEM kits were created with the help of student, community and business volunteers for our students to have an enrichment activity at home.
"We are so very fortunate. We had Early College High School students assist for the last two weeks," said Parkerson. "We had business partners such as 100 Plus Black Women, as well as ExxonMobil who sent over 23 volunteers to help us complete over 1,400 boxes. I have been truly blessed that I have had so many hands helping me to carry forth this vision."
Parkerson said the kits allow students to become aware of all the possibilities concerning STEM education and literacy.
"Our goal is to have students understand that STEM education makes learning real," said Parkerson. "It allows them to witness the connection between the content they are studying and the application of that content in authentic, real and relevant ways."