When Lakeside Elementary first grade teacher Kailey Faris attended “Science on the Grand” at the Van Andel Institute last summer, she got an idea.
At the conference, she learned about a research-based, classroom-tested way for young students to expand their literacy in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
So, what do teachers do when they have ideas to help their students? They turn to the Foundation.
Faris applied for a $2,081.40 “STEM in Literacy” grant from the Foundation last fall. Lakeside first grade teachers have already used the materials in their classrooms.
"The STEM in Literacy grant provided the students with six opportunities to explore a book and then create a STEM project,” Faris says. “Each book was unique and had a different design element. We discussed the engineering design process and students worked through the process."
