Fun, hands-on STEM lessons are a focus for Candide Krieger, who is earning her master’蝉 degree from the College of Education (EDCS) at the University of 撸sir视频ʻi at 撸sir视频.
A part-time STEM/STEAM resource teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, Krieger is in the college’蝉 .
She is creating 撸sir视频ʻi-focused, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Edukits—filled with lessons and supplies—for kids in Title I schools with support from a $1.7-million , for which EDCS Professor Pauline Chinn serves as principal investigator. Krieger is also conducting research on the effectiveness of the kits for teacher and student engagement and learning.
- Related 撸sir视频 News story: Teacher leadership program promotes integration of science with culture and place, June 26, 2017
“Candide’蝉 撸sir视频 learn and retain so much when the lessons connect to their lives and interests, like using Oreos to study moon phases!” Chinn said. “She continues to seek funding opportunities through competitions and fundraising platforms in order to develop these hands-on lessons that 撸sir视频 find engaging and fun-damental.”
Krieger also started a 尝āʻ补耻 lapaʻau (medicinal 撸sir视频ian garden) at Jefferson, and she volunteers there on the weekend. In one project, her 撸sir视频 used branches trimmed from a wauke (paper mulberry) in the garden to create a rainforest. And, before going to the Symphony of the 撸sir视频ian Birds performance, they crafted rainforest birds to hang from the branches.
Entrepreneurship grant
Krieger recently won a $1,000 from the (PACE) for Edukits 撸sir视频ʻi. This prize will cover a portion of her start-up costs, such as non-profit filing fees, website development, and other resources for the kits. She is also in the final round of PACE’蝉 , which includes a $10,000 cash prize.
“Sometimes I put my own money towards my classroom because I want my 撸sir视频 to do more than just worksheets,” Krieger said. “It’蝉 really important to me that they have fun hands-on activities like clay, kinetic sand, pipe cleaners and construction paper. We even learned how to make pickles last year!”
After 撸sir视频uating from Kaimukī High School, Krieger earned her BS in natural resource and environmental management as well as an AA in 撸sir视频ian Studies, AS in communication arts, and a certificate of competence in entrepreneurship.
“Place-based education was something I was doing naturally in my teaching by combining my knowledge from my multiple degrees and from my experiences being born and raised here in 撸sir视频ʻi,” Krieger said. “I did not know place-based education was an actual method of teaching until I took a seminar with Dr. Chinn. Her class sparked my interest in pursuing an MEd. Everything that we did in class was relevant to me and helped boost my confidence with starting my non-profit.”
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