MP Elementary School STEM Camp
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
Early exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) can spark curiosity and inspire creativity in young minds. That's why we're excited to launch our Elementary STEM Camp, designed to engage and empower 4th and 5th-grade students from underserved communities.
Purpose of the STEM Camp
This summer camp was about learning to code and about igniting a passion for problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. The camp provided high-achieving elementary school students in an area of need with the opportunity to dive into the world of STEM through hands-on activities. These students were be introduced to basic coding concepts via the Microbits platform.
By offering a camp designed around active learning and mentorship, we aimed to:
Equip students with foundational coding skills.
Help students envision future STEM careers by inviting STEM professionals to present.
Foster important soft skills like collaboration, leadership, and confidence.
Campers will learn how to write code and build relationships with mentors. It's a unique chance for them to explore their creativity and develop essential skills that will help them succeed in future STEM opportunities.
What Students Will Learn
Our curriculum is designed to engage students in a fun and interactive way while building their knowledge and skills in STEM:
Introduction to Coding: Students will learn basic programming principles using kid-friendly coding platforms.
Creative Problem Solving: Campers will apply their coding skills to create their own games, animations, and interactive stories.
Collaboration & Leadership: Through teamwork, students will tackle group projects that require collaboration, creative thinking, and problem-solving. They'll also work closely with mentors to develop leadership and confidence.
One of the most exciting aspects of the program is the opportunity for students to work closely with high school and college mentors. These mentors will not only guide students through their projects but also act as role models, providing inspiration and encouragement.
Why This Matters
In many underserved communities, students don't always have access to the resources or opportunities that spark an interest in STEM fields. By bringing this camp directly to them, Dream in NOVA is working to close the opportunity gap, giving students the tools and mentorship they need to succeed.
This camp is about more than just coding, our goal is to inspire these young students to see STEM as an avenue for creativity, and future career opportunities. Whether they go on to study computer science, engineering, or simply gain new problem-solving skills, we believe this experience will have a lasting impact.
Conclusion of Program
Students applied programming principles to bring their creativity to life through micro:bits. Projects included a solar energy model, clap and blow activated light sensors, a beating heart animation, rock paper scissors game, and more. We were thrilled to see the confidence in the rising 4th and 5th grade students as they showcased their work.
The students were ecstatic to take home their own micro:bit boards so they can continue exploring and building their programming skills! This couldn’t be made possible without our donors and Manassas Park City Schools.
We’d also like to give a special thank you to Mrs. Faten Hammad for serving as an awesome keynote speaker and a valuable resource to the community. She beautifully highlighted the power of community partnerships and work-based learning resources.
One of the biggest highlights of the camp is: it was led by one of MPCS’s very own students! Rising senior Gabriel Gonzalez served as the lead instructor, showing just how much impact high school students can have when given the opportunity to lead. Gabriel is a powerful example of student leadership in action. Read about the insidenova article on our work with Gabriel here.
We’re also grateful to volunteers Nisha Neels and Carlos Gonzales for their time, energy, and support in guiding this week’s cohort! We couldn’t have done it without all our amazing volunteers.
Interested in supporting the program or learning more? Get in touch with us! Together, we can inspire and empower the next generation of STEM innovators.
