Product Overview of Kid Spark Education
Kid Spark Education is a comprehensive STEM education program designed to engage students from Pre-K through 8th grade in a progressive and immersive learning experience. The program is tailored to develop essential STEM fluencies, fostering a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Key Features
Curriculum
Kid Spark Education offers a structured and progressive curriculum that spans multiple grade levels:
- Pre-K – 1st Grade: Focuses on foundational STEM fluencies, including units such as “It’s All About the Blocks,” “I Am an Engineer,” and “Making Things Strong… Making Things Move.” Each unit includes a unit overview, four lesson plans, and a unit assessment.
- 2nd – 5th Grade: Students delve into applied mathematics, mechanical and structural engineering, and robotics & coding. The curriculum includes five units of instruction, such as “Kid Spark Basics,” “Mechanisms & Movement,” and “Robotics & Coding 101”.
- 6th – 8th Grade: Covers advanced STEM concepts including structural and mechanical engineering, physics, rapid prototyping & 3D printing, computer science, and robotics. The program includes eight units of instruction, following the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework.
STEM Labs
The program includes robust and reusable STEM labs designed to support hands-on learning:
- Foundational Fluencies STEM Lab (Pre-K – 1st Grade): Equipped with large-scale and small-scale building components, these labs facilitate collaborative learning and help students build sophisticated prototypes.
- STEM Pathways Lab (2nd – 5th Grade): Features a broad range of technologies, including structural building components, articulating components, and robotics and electronic components. The lab is centered around the Spark:Bit Robotics Controller, which introduces students to coding using Microsoft’s MakeCode programming environment.
- Advanced STEM Labs (6th – 8th Grade): These labs support more complex projects in structural and mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, and coding and robotics, preparing students for real-world STEM applications.
Professional Learning
To ensure educators are well-prepared to implement the program, Kid Spark Education provides:
- Professional Development Courses: Offered through an online learning management system, these courses help teachers understand how to use the program materials and resources effectively in their classrooms.
Functionality
Student-Centered Learning
- Students are empowered to take the lead in their STEM learning, from brainstorming to designing, experimenting, and refining their solutions. This approach helps students absorb STEM concepts by seeing them in action.
Convergent to Divergent Learning Format
- The curriculum follows a convergent to divergent learning format, where students first learn new content through guided instruction and then apply what they have learned through open-ended design challenges. This format encourages creative invention and problem-solving skills.
Alignment with Educational Frameworks
- Kid Spark programs align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education, ensuring that students engage in practices such as asking questions, developing models, planning investigations, and analyzing data.
Inclusive and Accessible
- The program is designed to be highly effective, easily managed, and affordable for schools, aiming to disrupt educational inequity by providing equal opportunities for STEM education to students of all backgrounds and abilities.
By integrating a progressive curriculum, hands-on STEM labs, and professional learning opportunities, Kid Spark Education equips students with the skills and confidence to excel in STEM fields and prepares them for a technologically driven world.