What is STEM?
Why send my child to a STEM Camp?
What will my child do at the SummerSTEM Challenge Camp?
Who is the Technicolor Teacher?
What is STEM?
STEM is an acronym for
Science,
Technology,
Engineering, and
Mathematics.
Science is a system for using observations and experiments to understand and describe what happens in the natural world.
Technology describes any man-made thing that makes life easier.
Engineering is the process of designing and building technologies that make our lives easier.
Mathematics is used to measure, calculate, and describe in science, technology, and engineering.
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Why send my child to a STEM Camp?
Learning STEM helps students gain skills that will help them in
the future, no matter what career they choose. STEM requires teamwork, communication, and problem solving as well as
a willingess to keep trying and to learn from mistakes. Embracing the need to try new things, test different designs,
and come up with an optimal solution, will help students be more successful in school and in life.
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What will my child do at the SummerSTEM Challenge Camp?
Each team of 10-14 students will have a high school mentor to help them as they work in small
groups to meet a variety of challenges. Teams will change each day so that by the end of the week students will have worked with most of the
other students in their session.
Day 1:
- Check in and receive lab coat, safety glasses, and engineering notebook.
- Break into teams and work on challenges in small groups
- Meet in large group to learn about the Engineering Design Process
- Morning Break - snacks provided
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Lunch - provided
- Large Group - Effective Engineering Practices
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Afternoon Break - snacks provided
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Clean up
Days 2 - 5
- Check in and retrieve lab coat, safety glasses, and engineering notebook
- Break into new teams and work on challenges in small groups
- Large Group - Effective Engineering Practices
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Morning Break - snacks provided
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Lunch - provided
- Sharing of Best Designs (during lunch)
- Large Group - Effective Engineering Practices
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Afternoon Break - snacks provided
- Work on challenges in small groups
- Clean up
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Who is the Technicolor Teacher?
"Sandy has all the intelligence, skills, dedication,
collaborative spirit, love of learning, and passion for STEM education to make lasting contributions."
Barbara Morgan, Former Astronaut, Distinguished Educator in
Residence, Boise State University
Mrs. Sandy Powell is an award-winning STEM teacher. She was honored in
2013 with the Governor's Industry Award for Notable Teaching in STEM (GIANTS) as the high school recipient.
She was selected as a Bright Prism Teacher by Montana Tech School of Mines. Sandy has served as a mentor
teacher for the Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars (ISAS) Summer Academy.
She teaches Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, and math at Emmett High School and is the Emmett School
District Science Department Chair. She is active in the Idaho Science Teacher Association (ISTA), currently
serving as president-elect.
Sandy developed and continues to present a yearly Science Expo where high school students present
mini-lessons to 4th and 5th graders. She was invited to share her Science Expo with other teachers at a
panel of Idaho Best Practices.
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Summer STEM Science Camp