The SMILE STEM Pathway

The STEM Pathway

The Path to Success

SMILE CLUBS: PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

SMILE Clubs function as a pathway from elementary school, through middle and high schools, and on to college. Seven of our fourteen SMILE communities have clubs at all levels. Below is a brief summary of how we want our pathway to help students progress through SMILE Club activities.

Two elementary students work on a science experiment together.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: "BECOMING SCIENTISTS"

In becoming scientists, fourth and fifth grade students demonstrate skills and attributes that enable them to:

  • Make careful observations
  • Use tools to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
  • Connect their understanding of relevant content to predictions about results and/or changes in the system
  • Work as a member of a team
  • Share what they learned with others

MIDDLE SCHOOL: "GROWING INTO PROBLEM SOLVERS"

To grow as problem solvers, sixth through eighth grade students demonstrate additional skills and attributes that enable them to:

  • Identify a need or define a challenge/concern within a community
  • Frame the above problem and then break it into smaller components that foster learning and investigation
  • Connect their understanding of relevant content to the problem and its possible solutions
  • Experience the role of teams in generating a variety of options or ideas to address the identified problem
2 young teens supporting a teen that is using a prosthetic leg.
A group of students talking to each other around a table in Austin Hall.

HIGH SCHOOL: "SERVING AS INFORMED COMMUNITY VOICES"

To serve as informed voices in the community, ninth through twelfth grade students demonstrate additional skills and attributes enabling them to:

  • Understand the nature of their community and its needs, define broader problems and identify potential solutions
  • Use evidence and science content to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
  • Connect their understanding relevant science content to the needs of and possibilities for a community
  • Formulate and deliver persuasive presentations; share with interested stakeholder related science content and possible solutions