J.P. Carroll Construction, Inc. Grant: Young Engineers
- School Year: 2015-2016
- Applicants: Sara Novak, Lead Teacher Ann Grabowski, Jennifer Russell
- School: Smith
- Subjects: Science
This grant provides funding to purchase building materials for the Kindergarten classes at Smith STEM Elementary School to support the “Building Structures with Young Children” unit that enhances the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards of the Core Curriculum. This is the first unit in a new program called “The Young Scientist Series” that focuses on science inquiry instead of traditional science knowledge. The materials will provide the students will the opportunity to build, collaborate and discuss while fostering their inborn sense of wonder and scientific discovery. Through inquiry and play; exploring materials and phenomena, opportunities will arise for children to learn more from their time in the building area. Using the “Young Scientist Series”, teachers will learn to focus children’s attention on important concepts about physical science and encourage deeper thinking to enrich their experiences without interfering in their own process of questioning and exploration.