Officials with the Tennessee Valley Authority have announced the winners of their annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — or “STEM” grants — and several schools in the News Edge Listening area are set to benefit.
In Christian County:
+ Leaders from Sinking Fork Elementary School received $3,500, which they will turn to the Panthers’ “Garden of Growth.” This greenhouse will help educate students about plant biology, environmental science and sustainable agriculture — and is especially necessary for fourth-grade students, who must be able to construct an argument on how plants use their internal and external structures to support their survival, growth, reproduction and behavior.
+ Heritage Christian Academy received $1,500 to be used for various Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics projects in second-grade classrooms. Basic building materials like Popsicle sticks, LEGOs, magnets, card stock, cotton balls and more will allow students to choose materials, brainstorms, design, test and find solutions to unique problems.
In Todd County:
+ South Todd Elementary received $5,000 to spend time introducing different career options, and how those choices can impact what is an agriculture-based community. Students kindergarten through second grade will use budget items to learn the basics of coding with bee-bots, and by third through fifth grade will be using more innovative tools in their problem-solving with Sphero robot class sets.
+ Todd County Middle School nabbed $5,000 for a 3D printer, which will help develop problem-solving and creativity skills in a hands-on setting.
+ And Todd County High School also received $5,000, where they will learn not only how to program unmanned vehicles, but will also have access to a 3D printer in order to create products to be sold in the school store.
