ABC CREATE L.E.A.D.S. Communities + Families

ABC CREATE L.E.A.D.S. aims to surround learners of all ages (and particularly those who are historically underrepresented in STEAM) with opportunities to explore a range of STEAM-based skills. With our partners, ABC CREATE will create community-based events designed to engage families and community members along with school-aged learners in hands-on CS/STEAM/future-ready activities.

Early Childhood/Elementary CS/STEAM Family Event

Middle and High School CS/STEAM Family Event

Elementary CS/STEAM/Robotics Camp

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STORIES OF IMPACT: Burrell School District
STEAM Beyond the Classroom: Family Engagement and Community Connections

“Parents are curious about the different types of STEAM activities their children are engaged in during the school day. We want to both increase their overall awareness of what the students are learning, and also encourage a variety of STEAM experiences at home.”

April Sites, STEM Coordinator/Personalized Learning Coach
(Burrell Story Link)

 

Early Childhood/Elementary CS/STEAM Family Event

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ABC CREATE L.E.A.D.S. will host two CS/STEAM Early Childhood/Elementary CS/STEAM events for local families and the community. Attendees will engage in a variety of activities that promote computational thinking and CS/STEAM learning. They will learn about the importance of computational thinking and why it’s important to help children develop the skills it promotes. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage in some hands-on exploration of tech tools and learn how educators are using these devices to enhance their instruction.

Roy A. Hunt Elementary's first Family STEAM Night

On a beautiful Thursday evening this May, nearly 30 New Kensington-Arnold families chose to spend their evening at Roy A. Hunt Elementary's first Family STEAM Night. Volunteer educators and community partners guided 5th and 6th grade students and their families through STEAM stations. At one station, participants programmed drones to simulate how pollination occurs when a bee travels from one flower to the next. Other stations offered hands-on learning with circuits, the Finch robot, LEGOs, and engineering.

May 2023 Quarterly, Page 5

 

Middle and High School CS/STEAM Family Event

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As learners grow, ABC CREATE L.E.A.D.S. will work with community partners to host CS/STEAM/future-ready events for families with middle and high school age children to expose parents/caregivers to CS/STEAM/future ready skills. During these events, the learners and their adults will not only have a chance to experiment with technologies, but will also be able to network with STEAM role models who can provide examples and information about the many pathways STEAM skills can open. Industry and post-secondary partners will be on hand to showcase possible next steps in education and careers that utilize CS/STEAM/future-ready skills.

 

Burrell Community Connections

On April 13, 2023, Huston Middle School hosted an event that brought students, families, businesses, and the community together. Event go-ers learned about and networked with local businesses, participated in STEAM activities, saw a showcase of student achievements, and connected with the community. They even enjoyed food trucks!

Elementary CS/STEAM/Robotics Camp

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Together with community partners, ABC CREATE L.E.A.D.S. will host two elementary CS/STEAM/Robotics camps in the New Kensington-Arnold area. Children who attend camp will engage in a variety of hands-on activities and projects that promote computational thinking and CS/STEAM learning.

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September 2023 Quarterly, Page 5

ABC CREATE was thrilled to collaborate with Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and Books Bridge Hope this summer to engage more than 20 elementary students from the New-Kensington area in hands-on learning as part of a STEAM Camp.

The camp demonstrated what is possible with the collaboration and expertise that exists across ABC CREATE. Eight practicing teachers, one retired teacher, and two pre-service educators stepped in to lead activities. It was wonderful to see these teachers from five different districts come together and lend their talents with such positive energy.

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