Pasco School District

Pasco, WA

Science and Arts Showcase

Introducing young learners to various careers is one way to help students appreciate their classes and develop new interests. The Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) at Rowena Chess planned a Science and Arts Showcase for students to experience fun in learning and become more aware of college and career paths in these subjects. The activity featured students’ work at each grade level in science, art, music, and language arts. School leaders invited community members to conduct learning activities with the students and exhibit their own products and information from their STEM-focused careers (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and math). Students created invitations for their parents, and community and school board members received handwritten invitations.

Students displayed and explained their class projects, which varied by grade level. For example, all grades had science units on the life cycle, but older grades had more advanced requirements. A Principal’s Award was given to one student from each class whose work was exemplary. In their art classes, students created Doodle for Google projects. Their work was on display in the hallways with stickers so that families could vote on their favorite doodles. The honor choir of the music program sang twice during the Showcase to share their talents.

Community members viewed and celebrated students’ work. Some conducted hands-on activities with students to demonstrate how STEM subjects are used in their own occupations. For example, a mechanical engineer provided a tabletop demonstration of how erosion affects the supply or quality of public utilities (e.g., water, electricity, gas). An astrologer from the planetarium engaged students in studying the stars, and Master Gardeners from the university showed and discussed local bugs and their contributions to the ecosystem.

Over 160 parents, 70 teachers, and 17 community members came together to make the Showcase a positive experience for students and families.

Science and Arts Showcase is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2019.

Monster Math Night

Monster Math Night enabled students and parents to have fun with math, while students practiced math skills to meet grade level standards. Teachers at each grade level created or assembled two math game stations. They also were on hand to encourage parents to support their children by playing the same games at home. Community partners brought games and activities such as estimation jars, and contributed prizes that were raffled off for families throughout the evening. A local casino donated playing cards and dice. Administrators greeted families and distributed packets of math cards, dice, and instructions for playing simple games at home to practice grade-level math skills.

Monster Math was held the night before Halloween to maximize the excitement of the season. Students dressed up in their costumes and
earned “Monster Bucks” at each game they played. They could spend what they earned to buy math manipulatives and other fun things at the Monster Store before they left. Everyone had a monstrously good time. Students and families were not tricked. They were treated with fun materials to use to play math games at home.