Sara Reed and Tracy Ennis

Reed’s and Ennis’ innovative teaching idea, “STEM on the Playground,” will allow their students, many of whom live in apartments and trailer parks, deepen their knowledge of science, building, problem solving, by giving them the experience of being outside and create a STEM lab on their school’s playground. Through the program, the students will have the opportunity to learn how to garden and plant things, meeting many of the grade level science standards. Through either a greenhouse or planter boxes, the students would plant, tend to, and take care of their plants learning what is needed for plants to survive and flourish. Additionally, STEM materials for building would also be added to the playground, allowing students to use these materials to build and construct things on the playground while experimenting if their inventions work or need to be tweaked. The teachers also believe their project can also improve student behaviors on the playground, while encouraging deeper levels of learning to continue while playing at recess.