Brooklyn City School District Expands STEM and Career Exploration Opportunities
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While working in the Innovation Center’s makerspace, 4th graders learned the basics of coding and working with Finch robots. Students then applied their knowledge by creating their own Macy’s Day parade route based on the biography “Balloons on Broadway.”
Introduced during the 2022-23 school year, the Innovation Center is located in the Brooklyn School Media Center and provides students in grades k-7 expanded opportunities to engage in creative, STEM-based learning experiences.
The Innovation Center features a maskers-ace area that includes an exciting assortment of learning stations for students, including 3-D printers, a Cricut smart cutting machine, Mosaic 3-D art boards, and Snap Circuit Stations which allow students to build simple electronic circuits .
Students also have access to Finch Robots which provide diverse learning activities based on the needs of students at all experience levels which encouraging inquiry, problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills. The Innovation Center also includes an Animation Station where students can create and edit stop-motion videos, as well as a collection of household materials for hands-on building including pipe cleaners, yarn, clay, and various plastic gears and more!
The district is also preparing to launch two new initiatives for Middle School students at the start of the 2023-24 school year. The Career Explorations Program will provide students in grades 4-7 the opportunity to explore a variety of different career opportunities. As as result, students will have a clearer understanding of the educational and career paths they wish to pursue once they transition to High School. Through project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch class, students in grades 4-6 will utilize engineering based technology and increase the amount of exposure to important STEM-based skills.