What is STEM?  STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The lab at Daphne East Elementary is a place where students participate in activities that develop their skills in those fields.  The STEM Lab is place where EVERY child can learn and be successful.  Students are being taught to recognize and celebrate their classmates’ unique gifts and talents when it comes to collaborative group work.  Students are learning to embrace a growth mindset where they learn to be persistent in solving problems, take risks, make mistakes, and always learn.  Students are establishing skills and processes that include being organized and methodical, learning to analyze situations and to ask WHY, and to make connections in their learning.  Students are developing a hard work ethic, patience, resourcefulness, logic, and reasoning all while having a grand learning adventure!

Through the fabulous funds raised by DPEE students and parents and grants given by SEEDS, many exciting components have been purchased for the lab.  Students are able to use KEVA Planks to explore building concepts, LEGOS to stimulate creativity, LEGO Education Simple Machines Kit to venture into engineering and design, Makey Makey kits to investigate circuitry, and Ozobit robots to learn beginner coding.  Fundraising efforts also provide the funds for a part-time facilitator for the lab.  The facilitator is responsible for the day-to-day organization of the lab.  She coordinates with the teachers for lessons that meet grade level curriculum needs and sets the lab up with the supplies needed for each lesson.  Teachers are responsible for carrying out lessons in the lab while the facilitator assists.