Early STEM
What it is?
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) may sound scary, but parents, caregivers, and children already use STEM every day!
Why it is important?
As parents and caregivers, we hear about the importance of teaching and learning STEM so that our children will be prepared for the future. The Early STEM is connected to five important early literacy practices: Observe, Build, Design/Create, Question and Explore!
Videos to Engage Your Child in STEM activities:
Early STEM Framework
How does it work?
The Early Learning Washington County (ELWC) Early STEM framework includes four different elements:
Early STEM Professional Development
Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) into Preschool education!
Last September 2021, Early STEM offered a bilingual two-part professional development training workshop for early childhood educators and parents. Each 3-hour on-line training session incorporated Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), with an engineering focus, and the goal of creating core knowledge, learning environments and curriculum for preschoolers. Forty providers participated accruing a total of 240 hours of professional development.
Currently, our team is working on the Training Needs Assessment for 2022. Information will be available soon.
STEM Kits
Multilingual STEM CURIOSITY Kits designed to increase parent-child interactions have been created. ELWC has created the kits with the ELWC Parent Advisory Council, Portland Metro STEM Partnership hub (PMSP), culturally specific agencies, community-based organizations, Head Start programs, childcare providers, and K-12. To date 2,000 kits in four languages (English, Spanish, Arabic and Somali) have been distributed in Washington County and an additional 1,700 kits in English and Spanish are about to be distributed.
Are you interested in distributing STEM CURIOSITY kits? Email Juana Garcia at juanag@unitedway-pdx.org, and we will contact you.
Training for Trainers
Training for Trainers: Building Confidence and Expertise as a STEM Educator and Trainer is a Training for Trainers for 12 Black, Indigenous, Latinx/e, Asian, and Pacific Islander (BIPOC) educators who want to become in an Early STEM Master Trainer and/or Community Trainer.
Now accepting applications! Click here to read more about this opportunity and to apply for one of the 12 spots.
STEM Summer Camp
What a huge success! 2021 marked the first ever Early Learning Washington County (ELWC) offered Early STEM Summer Camps.
In partnership with TierrAgua and The Iraqi Arabic School, no-cost summer camps were offered including Measomerican/Indigenous communities of Mexico and Guatemala and those who speak Arabic.
- The goals of the camps were to:
Offer free Early STEM Summer Camps during the months of June through September to children in Washington County. - Bring culturally responsive Early STEM education to children and families who have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. All teachers/staff, volunteers were Mesoamerican Indigenous or Arabic speakers.
- Provide more opportunities for parent-child interactions through Early STEM activities.
If you are interested in sponsoring a program, please reach begonar@unitedway-pdx.org- The goals of the camps were to:
Early STEM Videos
Developed and produced by the parent leaders of the Early Learning Washington County Parent Advisory Council in English and Spanish to train parents in conducting STEM activities with their children.