FMS's Native American Programs Department is paving the way for indigenous students to follow the academic and career pathway of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by launching the first-ever Native American STEM Festival this past week.
More than 150 elementary, 90 middle school, and 26 high school students participated in this one-of-a-kind experience where they were invited to experiment with water pressure, solve equations in a mathematical "cake walk," and even listen to the heartbeat of a sweet puppy!
This event made STEM fun and approachable thanks to the 21 STEM groups and 5 colleges offering hands-on activities to encourage students to try new things and be exposed to how interactive and engaging these pursuits can be. During the event, students were handed checklists to ensure that they were able to visit every booth. Each booth being unique and providing insight to how students could apply the content to their everyday life, or pursue it as a career someday!
At the end of the festival, students turned in their checklists for a chance to win some super-stylish NAP STEM Festival gear! This incentive encouraged students to ask questions about the booths and truly comprehend the sea of knowledge they were taking in!
This festival was crafted and tailored to the indigenous students at FMS by making sure to also include culturally relevant practices that align with STEM programs. We welcomed back Ms. TahNiBaa Naataanii, master weaver and mathematics enthusiast, to share how important it is to follow traditions and use math literacy to excel at doing so.
"We are so excited to promote the importance of STEM to our youth. This will be the first of many festivals that we share the significance of this valuable program to our students as young as elementary age all the way through high school," said District Instructional Facilitator, Carmelita Lee.
This amazing new event organized by the NAP will help the school strengthen High-Reliability Schools Level 3, specifically 3.6 and 3.3. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan.