Few children would agree that failing a class and then attending school in July qualifies as a fun summer.
But that’s exactly what happened over 17 days last month, thanks to a program co-developed and implemented by Fordham’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP).
About 100 sixth graders who failed at least two subjects discovered the excitement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the “Grade 6 STEM Learning Lab” at Yonkers High School.
Fordham consultants worked with teachers in their classrooms to instill a problem-solving approach to the lessons, and held professional development sessions on the collaborative style afterward.
The result was a hugely successful poster presentation session on July 29 at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus.
Twelve-year-old Jean Hakim beamed as he explained what he and his classmates researched on air pollution.
“We measured our carbon footprints,” said Hakim, who will enter seventh grade in the fall. “We learned about hybrid cars and then we got to poke around in one in the parking lot. It was so much fun.”
Hakim’s enthusiasm was matched by the roughly 100 children who presented their findings at Duane Library in front of their peers, family and teachers.
