Elementary STEM Expo
Elementary STEM Expo Information
Science · Technology · Engineering · Mathematics
What is the Elementary STEM Expo?
The Elementary STEM Expo is a student-centered educational experience with the primary goal of promoting student use of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real world problems. Related project objectives include helping students understand the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific investigation, learning how to set up an experiment using controls and variables, interpreting data, recognizing the need for repetition and replication, and learning how to use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding.
What does a STEM Expo project look like?
Students are encouraged to be creative and design, build, and experiment with topics that interest them. Ideally, projects should be geared toward the use of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real world problems. Originality is key!
Ultimately, each school will decide the type of project in which students will engage, such as a traditional science fair project, an engineering project, or a coding project.
Student representatives chosen from each school to attend the SJCSD STEM Expo will NOT have their projects judged; however, they will have the opportunity to share their projects and compete in various STEM challenges.
What is most important?
Safety is of the utmost importance and parents must take measure to ensure their children are safe as they work on STEM projects at home. Teachers must ensure the same level of safety as students work on STEM projects at school. All possible safety concerns associated with student STEM projects should be considered at each step of the process. There is no such thing as being too safe.
How are student representatives for the SJCSD STEM Expo selected?
Each school is allowed to decide how to choose their representatives, e.g., classroom competition, schoolwide, competition, afterschool program, etc. The number of student projects per school at the SJCSD STEM Expo is limited to one project from third grade, two projects from fourth grade, and three projects from fifth grade. Student projects may be completed by an individual or a team of two students.
The STEM Expo will take place at [insert date, time, and location and address].
For more information about your school STEM Expo, please contact your science teacher.
Ryan Zimmerman
Program Specialist
Science & Social Studies K-5
