STEM @ The Library

2014 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Maricopa County, Ariz., AZ

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

STEM @ the Library is a program for children 4-11 years old at the Fountain Hills Branch Library in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The goal is to provide after-school, weekend and family STEM night programs that help children explore science, technology, engineering and math through fun hands-on, science-related activities which build knowledge and awareness of the environment, geology, chemistry and sustainability. The emphasis is the introduction of STEM to children in their early years as a means of increasing their interest in science and science related fields while reducing their anxiety and fear of failure. Test scores showed that Arizona students could apply basic math skills but were not capable of complex problem solving, making generalizations, or drawing conclusions. Such skills are necessary to develop applied knowledge and further both social and material interactions.

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