Built on the inspiring stories of curiosity, perseverance, and achievement by young people in the 2018 National Geographic Documentary Film, Science Fair, the DREAM to STEAM project will build local capacity to improve student participation and success in science fairs.
DREAM to STEAM will select 24 high school teachers from Atlanta, DeKalb, Clayton, and Fulton school districts for participation in a yearlong fellowship program. Teachers must be nominated by their district and have the support of their high school principal to participate. The fellowship program includes:
- Workshop: A one-day professional development workshop about how to develop science fair projects and support students.
- Curriculum: A downloadable curriculum that provides high school teachers with strategies for supporting their students with STEM fair project development.
- Mentors: Local STEAM mentor network that supports the high school students with STEM fair project development.
- Media & Materials: DVDs of the film Science Fair, as well as a film viewer guide and other educational materials for students.
- Online Course for Students: The students of the fellows will have access to SEM Link‘s Experimental Design Course which provides high schools students with strategies for STEM fair project development.
- Teacher Stipend & School Funding:
- A $500 teacher stipend for their participation
- $250 support for their school’s science fair
- $1,500 award to support STEAM/science projects at three of the participating schools that achieve the highest total number of students participating and/or projects submitted; highest percentage of students in the school participating in science fairs; and overall quality of projects submitted.