Eco-STARS advances STEM elementary education

EcoSTARS is a partnership of integrated environmental science learning between pre-kindergarten (PK)--12 grade schools and the University to increase student learning and enthusiasm for STEM subjects.

St. Kate's education faculty train elementary education majors and classroom teachers to conduct STEM investigations, create fieldwork experiences for elementary students and provide mentoring during lessons at partner schools.

Curriculum is drawn from GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment; more on this below), Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WET (Water Education for Teachers).

The EcoSTARS program allows St. Kate's elementary education majors to gain valuable classroom experience before their student-teaching assignment — while in-service teachers learn to become more accomplished STEM educators.

St. Catherine University began the first EcoSTARS partnership in fall 2006 with the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District., thanks to the generous support of the Jeffers Foundation, HP Fuller, Inc., Qwest Foundation, and the Xcel Energy Foundation.

This successful partnership created the momentum to move the EcoSTARS model in fall 2008 into other schools, including Northrop Urban Environmental School in Minneapolis and Crossroads Elementary in St. Paul.

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Education

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• St. Catherine University
• STEM
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