Middle School to Professional Development: Interdisciplinary STEM for Multiple Stakeholders

Abstract

The STEMITL project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between a Southeastern University\u27s middle grades education department and local PDS partner school districts incorporating six full-day immersive projects for seventh-grade students. During the 2016-2017 academic year, seventh-grade students were brought to the university\u27s newly constructed STEAM Center where middle grades practicum students implemented day-long interdisciplinary lessons co-designed by faculty and teacher candidates. Lessons incorporated social studies, science, mathematics, and literacy around a central theme of water pollution in China