SCIENCE FRIDAY! STEAM PROGRAM
PIER's new initiative is to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math programs to the children of Roatan. This is in keeping with our mission to improve the lives of our citizens and the economic development of the island through quality education. While tourism is a major boon to our economy, it also brings seasonal jobs and lower wages dependent on tips. At the same time the sophisticated services tourists expect require high level skills. PLus the island requires engineers, mechanics, accountants, and all the other careers of a modern society.
Our SCIENCE FRIDAY! is an attempt to prepare students to have options when they enter the workforce. Our weekly hands-on discovery and experimentation projects cover of a variety of scientific themes. We attempt to tie everything into both their real world (while following the national curriculum). Themes have included atoms & molecules, human body, solar system, plants & animals, sealife, mapping the sea bottom, and magnets, to name a few.
Fortunately, we have lots of property for students to explore for real-life examples. Our broken water pump led to several days of hydrology exploration. Broken computers inspired kids to become techies. Hurricane warnings are real and lead to NOAA and weather patterns. We still can't convince them to dissect a dead snake!
A favorite photographer just introduced students to computerized video production and introduced them to Photoshop and Adobe Premiere.
The kids' interest is high; their math and reading skills low. So we spend a lot of time during the week teaching math, and encouraging reading and writing. Equally important is letting kids know it is okay to make mistakes. Culturally, this is a major issue. Developing hypotheses are now becoming easier for them. Writing is probably their least favorite activity. We are encouraging them to keep journals and they are beginning to write stories.
For More Information: Email PartnersInEducationRoatan@yahoo.com
