LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics are becoming the most popular subjects for elementary-aged students in Spencer County.
An entire classroom is full of third graders, but there's a cart that is actually going to see more than 800 students at Spencer County Elementary School.
It's a new school year with new school supplies.
"I like it," said Ava Conner, an 8-year-old student.
New hands-on, STEAM oriented activities have been keeping Conner busy and engaged.
"I love science a lot,"Â Conner said.
The lesson plans inside of the cart include both 30-minute and 1-hour long activities.
Last year, Conner did not have access to this Maker Place STEAM Cart or the contents of it.
"I like it way better this year," Conner said.
For the next six months, 850 Spencer County students have access to buildable balloon cars, colorful cubelet robots, hovercrafts, and Ozobots every week.
It's all thanks to the Kentucky Science Center and Toyota.
"We feel so lucky that we got chosen for this grant through the Kentucky Science Center, being able to offer this to 850 students within our school, is a true blessing. This is something that we couldn't have never afforded, you know, within our school budget," said Samantha Dennis, the Spencer County Elementary School Assistant Principal.
The lesson plans inside of the cart include both 30-minute and 1-hour long activities.
"It was super easy to use and the kids have loved it," Brooke Klaus, a Spencer County Elementary School teacher, said. "They come in here, their faces light up. They know they're going to be doing something fun, but I know they're going to be doing something educational, working on their problem solving. So that's what I love about it."
Klaus said the STEAM activities introduce scenarios that will help each student later in life.
"They might get a little frustrated with drawing their mazes and their colors, but it challenges them and it makes them better. And it makes them have to come up with solutions," Klaus said.
"We've been working a lot on our profile of the learner in Spencer County. So being able to be an active collaborator, working together and problem solving and being that problem solver, those are skills that kids are going to utilize for the rest of their life," Dennis said.
The lesson plans inside of the cart include both 30-minute and 1-hour long activities.
Louisville's West End School also received a Maker Place STEAM cart.
For many of the students, it's a new project to look forward to each week.
"We should start keeping this as a thing for the rest of our time. We have this much things to do," Chase Parsons, another third grader, said.
"We should have had this area last year," Conner said.
The STEAM cart will continue to educate students here until February.
More STEAM Stories:
- Portable and Affordable | A Louisville teen's mission to improve healthcare access
- Safe Room Program can help Indiana residents who need extra protection from strong storms
- Cruise into Learning | S.T.E.A.M. adventures for children on the Ohio River
- Free summer program in Louisville teaching architecture, engineering and construction
Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
