ERIC Number: EJ1152900
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
Toad-Ally Cool Math and Science Integration
Brkich, Katie; Allen, Melony; Huffling, Lacey; Matthews, Catherine
Science and Children, v54 n9 p30-37 Jul 2017
"Hop to It," a week-long herpetology-focused summer STEM camp for rising fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade girls, provided young females with authentic, hands-on science experiences, allowing them to develop the habits of thought and processes of action used by STEM field experts while also engaging and sustaining their interest in the STEM fields. In this way, "Hop to It" also served as an excellent opportunity to redress a longstanding and persisting educational inequity of women being underrepresented in STEM. Scholarships for students from low socioeconomic homes were funded by "The Herpetology Education in Rural Places and Spaces (HERP) Project," a collaborative, statewide informal science education National Science Foundation grant-funded project created to provide opportunities for the general public, high school students, and secondary school teachers to learn about and collect scientific data on common native species of reptiles and amphibians in local habitats. This article explains the activities in "Hop to It," describes the elementary-age girls' engagement in the various activities, and offers suggestions for providing similar learning experiences.
Descriptors: Summer Programs, STEM Education, Elementary School Students, Females, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Hands on Science, Science Interests, Equal Education, Disproportionate Representation, Rural Schools, Learning Activities, Zoology, Animals, Outdoor Education
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: DRL1114558