At my host site, I was tasked with a variety of activities including developing and assisting with hands-on STEM education experiences for the patrons of the museum as well as students participating in STEM camps. When I wasn’t actively involved with students and patrons, I worked on developing science projects patrons could either purchase or check out to supplement their learning at home. These kits can be used for home school students, teachers in a school setting, libraries, as well as any other general public interested. The project focused on creating engaging, inquiry-based activities aligned with core science and engineering standards, using low-cost and accessible materials. Many of these materials are recycling parts from bottles, CDs, cardboard or other recyclables.

The primary goals were to increase interest and confidence in STEM among students, support teachers with creative lesson materials, and foster community engagement through interactive learning. Intended outcomes included improved student understanding of scientific concepts, greater participation from local families. I noticed that there was a gap in some of the “kits” available for patrons in the areas of engineering and life science, so I focused quite a bit of time developing kits for this area.

During my time at the host site, I created and implemented over a dozen unique STEM kits and lesson plans, including activities on water filtration, rubber band-powered vehicles, and light diffraction. I trained volunteers, led workshops, and collected student feedback to refine lessons. I also translated multiple kits into Spanish to increase accessibility for bilingual families.

This experience has helped shape my understanding of the importance of hands-on, student-centered learning. It expanded my curriculum design skills and showed me how to teach scientific ideas in ways that are tangible and meaningful for all learners. I now approach teaching with a stronger emphasis on exploration, real-world connections, and inclusivity.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: First Grade all subjects