^{Explore and savor the Catawba River District • Sept 23-24}

Hundreds of area 5th graders attend STEM Outdoor Learning Fair

By Christopher Lux and Rich Haag

On Friday, Sept. 23, more than 300 fifth-graders spent the morning at the U.S. Whitewater Center, getting hands-on lessons at the STEM Outdoor Learning Fair. Groups of students from Mountain Island Elementary School, River Oaks Academy and Ida Rankin Elementary School moved from center to center throughout the morning, getting a chance to learn by doing.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These subject areas are essential in the development of students. Experts say that these are the subject areas that will help young people get good-paying jobs in the global workplace.

UNC Charlotte's Center for STEM Education designed a dozen learning centers for the fair, including: a recycling center where students will make a recycled notebook; eco-hikes to study soils and animals; green-career presentations; and the Grease Goblin, which demonstrates what happens when grease if poured down a drain.

Glimpse of the future K-20 Learning World

The fair is a glimpse at the future of K-20 Learning World. The center, the Catawba River District, Gaston and Charlotte-Mecklenburg educators and others are working to create a network of permanent learning centers throughout the Catawba River District.

Jeffrey Ruppenthal, principal of Mountain Island Elementary School, said the Outdoor Learning Fair was Mountain Island’s first real connection with the Catawba River District’s ambitious K-20 Learning World.

He praised the event for allowing his students to "participate in engaging, hands on, inquiry based science activities in a beautiful outdoor setting.”

To ensure all 3,367 students at the Catawba River District’s seven elementary schools master their science, math, technology, engineering and math skills, the Catawba River District has formed a collaboration of educators in the team called the K-20 Learning World. K-20 means pre-kindergarten through PhD research—a continuum of learning. The approach features many components, including enhancing hands-on learning at a series of learning laboratories throughout the community, at schools and in parks.

Learn more about K-20 Learning World

CLICK HERE to learn more about this bold initiative to provide hands-on STEM learning centers throughout the Catawba River District.

RiverTime 2011 - A weekend of events in the Catawba River District - Sept 23-24, 2011

Scenes from STEM Outdoor Learning Fair at the U.S. National Whitewater Center on Sept. 23.