Identity's STEM Spring Break at Montgomery College
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Bones, robots and a math tournament. For 20 middle schoolers this combination made for a mind-expanding Spring Break. Over three days, these pre-teens participated in hands-on STEM labs and workshops taught by Montgomery College faculty at their Germantown campus. Then after lunch, an hour of fitness and finally each student worked on a poster about what they learned that day. Identity staff transported the students to and from home each day, which helped many more students attend.
The special STEM Spring Break, which culminated with a dinner program for youth and their families, is helping Identity youth and their parents increase their comfort level with higher education and see a path to college and STEM careers.
MATH
On the first day, MC instructors concentrated on the “M” in STEM with math enrichment including creating graphs and a math board game tournament with prizes. Then lunch, a soccer game and work on their posters.
TECHNOLOGY and ENGINEERING
On the second day, students focused on the T and the E - technology and engineering. They learned to use a laser engraver and a 3-D printer, built magnetic electric circuits and manipulated a small robot that spoke, danced and played soccer.
BIOLOGY
The third and last day was all about biology, which many students agreed was their favorite. They learned about human bones and practiced laying them out in order. They also learned about small animal bones by dissecting pellets that owls regurgitate and trying to identify what the owl had eaten by trying to identify the undigested bones. (Spoiler alert – lots of rat skull bones.) Many of the students were inspired to think about health careers after learning about them from the biology instructors. After lunch, the students went on a fitness field trip to a bowling alley, many bowling for the first time.
PRESENTATION TO PARENTS
Identity STEM Spring Break at MC concluded with a showcase and dinner program for families. Students led their parents in a hands-on activity using the math, science and engineering principles they had learned and guided them through mural of their posters. In addition to hearing about opportunities at MC from current students, parents received information about the college application and financial aid process.
