Akron Life August 2022

EDUCATION

By Avery Savage

Skill Sharpener Students can experience STEAM education through these opportunities.

Akron Urban League Sometimes students don’t get many STEAM lessons or need more help with those subjects, so the Akron Urban League STEAM Academy offers third through fifth grade students in-person and virtual science, technology, engineering, arts and math programs that involve after-school discussions and projects from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Research-based curricula are used through activities to develop understanding and follow STEAM principles such as problem-based learning, creativity and critical thinking. akronurbanleague.org

Hartford STEAMM Academy At this middle school, medicine is an important part of STEAMM education, which is why there is an extra letter in the acronym. The school, a part of the Canton City School District, teaches STEAM based learning and career tech to fourth through eighth grades. All students take Gateway to Technology courses exploring flight, medicine, nanotechnology, environmental conservation, robotics and other topics. Specialized courses include agriculture, computer programming, strings orchestra and more. A Career Connections class also prepares students to enter the workforce by developing interview and email skills, among others needed to become an employed adult. ccsdistrict.org

Akron Zoo Animals make STEAM learning fun with the help of the Akron Zoo. Its ZooMobile summer camps bring zoo animals to schools for lessons about wildlife with hands-on activities like creating habitats for the animals. The zoo also recently developed new programs for Stark County students, including one for fourth and fifth graders that teaches STEM themes and lessons about inclusion, communication and empathy. It has partnered with the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM middle school for a STEM Enrichment Challenge, which tasks students with brainstorming animal enrichment stimulation ideas. The zoo offers several other summer camps, after-school events and programs about animal care, conservation and more. akronzoo.org

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