Boom, Holiday Season!
And just like that, it’s December!
The holiday season, the school break, and the start of the New Year all roll into something that can certainly be stressful, but also a perfect opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and a time to build new goals for the coming year. As we reflect on STEM Pre-Academy’s last year, we are grateful for the new teachers we have met, the goals we have achieved, and everything we learned along the way. Many thanks to all of you who have accompanied us on this journey.
Climate Conscious Inquiry at Kaimuki Middle School
⭐️ Contributed by Lianna Lam, Science Teacher at Kaimuki Middle School
In Spring 2022, Kaimuki Middle students embarked on a Climate Conscious Inquiry: they learned to draw connections between science and food by using chemistry and heat transfer, and how to infuse climate consciousness into their food preparation by buying local, using plant-based vs versus animal-based products, and growing their own food. The resulting cookbook was shared at our Learning Celebration, and is full of delicious student-made recipes for dishes like garden japchae, banana croquette, scrambled eggs and tomatoes, and salsa.
As part of the Climate Conscious Inquiry, students explored photosynthesis using the STEM Pre-Academy CO2 toolkit. Students dove deep into the process of photosynthesis and tested which conditions enhance plant CO2 absorption. Groups of students used plants and organisms from our Green Lab Garden to build their own mini-ecosystems, and tested them under various light conditions. After analyzing the CO2 levels of the various mini ecosystems, students made the connection that photosynthesis is Nature’s solution to climate change! They asked themselves, “How could we apply our knowledge of photosynthesis to help with climate change?” Some of their ideas were to help with reforestation, support ocean health, and eat a more plant-based diet.
Mahalo to STEM Pre-Academy for helping us make photosynthesis visible and tangible so we can be part of the climate solution!
Learn more about Kaimuki Middle School’s Climate Conscious Inquiry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozaFIGlQYcY
Moving on Up!
With sadness (and great pride) we inform you that STEM Pre-Academy Program Assistant, Caroline Wood, has advanced to a new, exciting phase of her career. She will remain in the UH System family, working as a business analyst. Caroline was instrumental in the advancement of our program for five fruitful years, and she will be greatly missed!
And now a quick peek and what we have in store for you in the next couple of months!
C-MORE Activity Workshop: A Deeper Look at Human Impacts on the Environment
As stewards of the legacy C-MORE Marine Science Kits, the STEM Pre-Academy is thrilled to offer an exciting workshop and panel discussion focused on Human Impacts on the Environment.
Attendees will hear about research being conducted at the University of Hawaii in marine biology while seasoned C-MORE Kit users will anchor the discussion with their best practices and lessons learned adapting the kits for their middle, high, and university undergraduate classrooms. We will discuss how the C-MORE Kit relates to NGSS, and creative options for interdisciplinary activities. We will also host a live hands-on demonstration at the UH STEM Pre-Academy offices in the Mānoa Innovation Center on O‘ahu.
This hybrid (online and in-person) event is open to all educators across Hawai‘i.
C-MORE Workshop: Human Impacts on the Environment
Coming in January / February, 2023!
Click to confirm your interest in attending!
Pop In for Our First Pop-Up Research-Inspired Event!
As STEM Pre-Academy has strived to advance STEM education in Hawaii middle school classrooms, one thing has always been clear – the inspiration from the passion, stories, and experience of our island STEM community. To continue the trend, we are launching a new pop-up event. These less formal gatherings hope to introduce you to the breadth and depth of the UH research community and its relevancy to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in today’s classroom.
The first pop-up will focus on engineering and space research. STEM Pre-Academy Engineering Intern Deborah Higa will speak about her path into engineering and share inspirations and challenges from her journey. Also featured is one of Deb’s mentors, UH Space Systems researcher, Dr. Frankie Zhu. She will talk about her exciting space research and her journey into engineering and mentoring the next generation of innovators.
Stay tuned for more information about this exciting virtual event OPEN to all!
Pop-Up Event: Engineering and Space Research
Coming in February, 2023!
Click to confirm your interest in attending!
New Engineering Design Process Collaboration Web Page!
STEM Pre-Academy has explored the Engineering Design Process with Hawai‘i schoolteachers and engineering mentors for more than ten years. A rich compendium of curriculum resources has resulted from those experiences – many created by participating teachers, and others adapted from external sources for use in Hawai‘i classrooms.
After five years of intense collaboration with the Pacific American Foundation, we have united these resources in a single place, the Engineering Design Process Pipeline Exchange! Come and explore the growing collection!
From all of us at STEM Pre-Academy, may this holiday season be joyful, rejuvenating, and full of reflection on all the incredible things that have happened in the last year.
As always, let us know if you have questions, comments, or just want to chat! And feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested!
Alden * Deb * Keoni * Lowell
Deana * Dannen