Amanda (left) and Eli, fifth graders at the Dale Street School, complete a hands-on activity as part of a chemical reactions and mixtures kit provided by nonprofit Science & Engineering Education Development and funded by the Mass Cultural Council. Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools.
Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden and Dale Street School Principal Stephen Grenham are pleased to share that a $5,000 grant awarded to the school is being used to help enrich fifth grade science programming.
The grant, received in March, was awarded as part of the Mass Cultural Council’s STARS Residencies, which aims to fund programs that last three or more days and bring students and teachers together with practicing artists, scientists and scholars to create rich cultural experiences.
The grant, which was acquired with the help of scientists Dr. Liz Bless and Dr. Sandy Pearl from nonprofit Science & Engineering Education Development (SEED), was used for a series on chemical reactions and mixtures in fifth grade classrooms.
The grant funds STEM kits, videos and lessons for teachers to use to help guide in-class hands-on learning. The videos provide directions and then students are given time to complete scientific activities such as making predictions, running experiments, recording results and discussing findings related to the series topic.
The chemical reactions and mixtures kits are currently being used by all of Dale Street's fifth grade classrooms. Students who are learning remotely are also participating in the activities and have the materials at their homes.
"On behalf of the Dale Street students and staff, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Bless, Dr. Pearl and the Mass Cultural Council for giving us this wonderful educational opportunity," Principal Grenham said. "These informative and interactive science lessons are hands-on and engage and empower students. Students and staff thoroughly enjoy the incredible lessons Dr. Bless and Dr. Pearl have created and look forward to the next lesson to see what they will learn. As a principal, that is what I love to see and it is what kids deserve."
Dale Street's fourth grade students and teachers received a similar Mass Cultural Council STARS Residencies grant in the fall and used SEED kits to complete hands-on learning and activities on physical waves.
