Project Lead The Way

At W.E. Chalmers Elementary, we are proud to offer all 680+ students the opportunity to participate in our Project Lead the Way STEM program. Students attend Mrs. Lori Nixon’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) class once a week for Science Technology Engineering and Math Lab.

PLTW helps students learn to solve real world problems using the engineering design process. 1. ASK - what is the problem? 2. EXPLORE - what materials will I need to solve the problem? 3. MODEL - draw and build a prototype to solve the problem. 4. EVALUATE - check to see if the model works or does not work, go back to previous steps as many times as needed to ensure the prototype works. 5. EXPLAIN - give an explanation of what was created and the process it took to create it. We can explain in many ways. Some of the students’ favorite methods include writing a journal article, talking to peers, and recording videos on educational websites like Flipgrid.

All Chalmers students are offered the opportunity to participate in a STEMposium each Spring. Those who wish to participate submit a form describing their project, which can be designed by an individual or a small group. If it is accepted, the students present that project in an open forum, similar to a Science Fair, and the community is invited to attend. This year there were 18 entries total, representing a variety of projects from trash-to-treasure to roller coasters to milk playdough.

Guest judges from the Gainesville High School engineering classes used a rubric to select the top ten winners. A student-led news crew interviewed participants and attendees as they voted for the Fan Favorite. The top three, as well as the Fan Favorite, were awarded prizes donated from community members.

FIRST PLACE: EDIBLE WATER BOTTLE BY ZELESTE & AMORE DE ALVA SECOND PLACE: PHASES OF THE MOON BY HUDSON BROWN THIRD PLACE:

TORNADO IN A BOTTLE BY BROOKLYN RODRIGUEZ FAN FAVORITE: PROPELLER CARS BY KINSLER DODSON, HUNTER FRANKLIN AND MASON ELLIS

GISD students are offered exposure to the PLTW program at all grade levels. We hope that our students continue to pursue PLTW/STEM as electives throughout their educational journey. A recent study shows PLTW students outperform their peers in school, are better prepared for post-secondary studies, and are more likely to consider STEM careers compared to their non-PLTW peers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations within the STEM fields are projected to grow 8 percent by 2029, compared to 3.7 percent growth in all other occupations.