On Thursday, September 20, 2018 CUSD 10’s 2nd Annual Third Grade STEM Day was held in the auxiliary gym at Collinsville High School. STEM is Science Technology Engineering and Math.
All CUSD 10 third graders traveled to CHS for a 1/2 day of STEM fun and education. The event is planned and coordinated by the district’s Science Vertical Team of teachers representing all school levels:
Susie Benson (Webster Elementary)
Krista Basuel (Kreitner Elementary)
Chris Comrie (Dorris Intermediate School)
Jason Watts (Dorris Intermediate School)
Jamie Barger (Collinsville Middle School)
Jill Carter (Collinsville Middle School)
Matt Blunt (Collinsville Middle School)
Sean Hay (Collinsville High School)
Tom Withee (Collinsville High School)
Stephanie Schweppe (Collinsville High School)
Caseyville, Summit, Jefferson, Twin Echo Elementary Schools attended the morning session. Kreitner, Maryville and Renfro Elementary Schools participated in the afternoon session. Students from the CHS STEM Club served as experiment leaders and mentors to the younger students.
Every third grade teacher left with a purple bag full of supplies for a”Marshmallow Catapult Challenge” STEM experiment to share in the classroom.
Third Grade STEM Day exposes the elementary students to hands-on STEM experiences and gives the high school students a chance to share their knowledge of science and motivate the third graders to pursue STEM studies.
CUSD 10 Director of Curriculum and Assessment Latoya Berry-Coleman says the event is beneficial in many ways, “STEM Day is a way for science teachers to collaborate district-wide. Since staff and students are involved in planning and executing the day, the cost is minimal to the district, but the payoff is huge.”
