Clear Creek Elementary students worked on designing bridges with just simple classroom materials, forcing young engineers to think creatively.
EiE lessons fit with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were developed to create common science standards for teaching in the United States.
NGSS includes instruction in “three dimensions,” which are science and engineering practices (what scientists do), disciplinary core ideas (what scientists know), and crosscutting concepts (how scientists think).
In a NGSS lesson, students wouldn’t just learn about each step in the water cycle (the content learned in disciplinary core ideas). They would perform tests to observe the water cycle in reality (science and engineering practices) and observe patterns and cause-and-effects in real-world situations, like the salmon life cycle and water pollution.
In EiE, crosscutting concepts are similar to “habits of mind engineering,” a phrase coined by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council. Habits of mind centers on how people feel, think, and act. This thought process puts a higher emphasis on persisting through failure, using evidence, and communication of ideas.
How are NGSS and EiE applied in CK Schools? There is no set science curriculum for students. Instead, CK Schools’ K-8 STEM specialist Jeff Friers provides options for teachers through their “Curriculum Resource Center” model.
Teachers can browse for on-demand choices that meet their classroom environment, schedule, and demands. EiE kits are a small but powerful part of that puzzle.
“We are able to provide them with various options of curriculum resources, including EiE, that meet NGSS standards and give teachers voice and choice in how they teach the standards,” Friers said.
This story is a part of a series on how EiE is aiding STEM education in Central Kitsap School District. To read the full series, click here.