Stem For Flathead Valley Schools Incorporated

TO BRING STEM TO MONTANA FLATHEAD VALLEY SCHOOLS BY GIVING STUDENTS THE TOOLS TO BECOME INNOVATIVE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

WE SUPPORT 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH A PHYSICS OF FLIGHT AND ENGINEERING AEROSPACE PRINCIPLES FOR AIRCRAFT AND ROCKETS. OVER 400 STUDENTS ARE PART OF THIS PROGRAM WHERE WE SUPPLY ALL THE MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE WATER BOTTLE ROCKETS THAT ARE TESTED AND IMPROVED ACCORDING TO THE ENGINEERING PROCESS. THE CULMINATION OF THEIR WORK IS A COMPETITION BETWEEN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS AT THE FLATHEAD VALLEY ROCKET RALLY WHICH IS AN EVENT ORGANIZED BY THIS NON-PROFIT. THE SCHOOLS COMPETE FOR 1ST-3RD PACE MEDALS IN 5 CATEGORIES OF PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN. SINCE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OR FISCALLY CHALLENGED RURAL SCHOOLS WITH FISCALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS, WE PROVIDE BUS TRANSPORTATION AND LUNCH TO ALL PARTICIPATING STUDENTS AT THE RALLY.

ONE OF OUR KEY PROGRAMS IS OUR STEM RESOURCE LIBRARY AVAILABLE TO ALL THE SCHOOLS WE SUPPORT. THE LIBRARY HAS RESOURCES FOR TEACHER EDUCTION AS WELL AS CLASSROOM LAB MATERIALS THEY CAN USE TO GIVE THE STUDENTS HANDS-ON LAB EXPERIENCES IN APPLYING AND/OR PROVING THE CONCEPTS THEY HAVE LEARNED DURING CLASSROOM LECTURES. THE TEACHERS CAN SCHEDULE CHECKING OUT THE MATERIALS ACCORDING TO THEIR CURRICULUM. THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE TEACHERS IN GIVING CLASSROOM LECTURES ON THE MATERIAL WHILE ALSO EDUCATING THE TEACHERS SO THEY CAN DO IT THEMSELVES IN SUBSEQUENT CLASSES. THIS RESOURCE HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND IT ACCORDINGLY TO INCLUDE MORE SUBJECTS AS WELL AS A GREATER NUMBER OF LAB MATERIALS TO HANDLE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS SIMULTANEOUS USE.

ANOTHER STEM SUPPORT OFFERING WE PROVIDE IS GUEST LECTURES AND PHYSICS DEMONSTRATIONS. THE VOLUNTEER GUEST LECTURERS DESCRIBE THEIR EDUCATIONAL PATH AND CAREER EXPERIENCES TO GIVE STUDENTS A FLAVOR OF A "REAL WORLD" CAREER IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE AIRCRAFT DESIGN, MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, ROCKET SCIENCE, PHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND METEOROLOGY. OUR PHYSICS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO PROVIDE A "WOW" FACTOR TO SPARK THEIR INTEREST IN SCIENCE. PHYSICS TOPICS COVERED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDE THERMODYNAMICS, STATES OF MATER, CRYOGENICS, ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM, ELECTROSTATICS, LIGHTNING, FORCES OF MOTION, GRAVITY, AND LIGHT AND SOUND WAVES.