Grade: STEAM: KG-5th Grade

Teacher Name: Michael Upchurch

Description and purpose of grant:

The Wilson STEAM department is excited to secure support for cutting-edge STEAM learning tools, such as Lego Science Kits, the Cardboard Chomp Saw, and Strawbees building tools. This grant impacts all grades from Kindergarten through 5th grade at Wilson Elementary. 

These tools will ignite a passion for STEAM and provide screen-free, hands-on creating experiences for hundreds of students year after year. Through Lego Education Science Kits, students will engage in problem-solving, collaborative projects, and connections through science models. The Chomp Saw allows students to safely take ideas from the drawing board to the real world, just like an “Old School” shop class from the 80s. Strawbees connectors continue to be students' favorite for hands-on engineering. 

Grant’s objectives:
The goal of this grant is to provide students with more hands-on opportunities to explore science, engineering, and design. With LEGO Science Kits, the Cardboard Chomp Saw, and Strawbees, students can collaborate to build, create, and solve problems. These tools make learning fun, creative, and screen-free for all grades at Wilson Elementary.

Ultimately, the goal is to empower students to see themselves as creators, engineers, and inventors.

Correlation with campus/district goals:
This project supports our school goals throught science and inquiry learning, as well as district goals, by helping students think critically, work together, and expand the CISD STEAM program at the elementary level.

Implementation process:
We will use the tools in STEAM classrooms and during hands-on lessons and projects. Students will work in small groups to build, experiment, and problem-solve using LEGO Science Kits, Strawbees, and the Chomp Saw. Each grade, from Kindergarten through 5th grade, will participate, reaching over 500 students annually.

Will your grant support students in the following school years?
Yes. These tools are durable and reusable, so students will continue to benefit for many years. Each year, new classes will utilize them to explore STEAM, providing every student at Wilson Elementary with a hands-on learning experience.

Items you plan to purchase with grant money

Lego Education Science (classroom set) $2,400 total (free shipping)

Chomp Saw  (6) $1,614 total (shipping free from Amazon)

 KG/1st Grade STEAM Lego Kits (12)  $1,500 total (free shipping

Strawbees STEAM Classroom Kit (1) $800 plus shipping  $50 total is $850

Chomp Saw guide plates (2) $70 total (shipping free from Amazon)

In the event my grant is not fully funded, this is minimum amount I would need to get started on this project: 

Minimum amount would be $3,210 for Lego Science and three Chomp Saws