Program Overview

What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and is a nationally-recognized acronym for these four subjects. Schools across the country are emphasizing these disciplines and we would like homeschoolers to have the same opportunity.
What does a STEM-Educated student look like?
STEM-educated students do more than simply study technology and engineering alongside science and math. According to Janice Morrison, Executive Director of Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, a STEM-educated student exhibits the following characteristics, among others†:
• Problem-solvers—able to frame problems as puzzles and then able to apply understanding and learning to these novel situations (argument and evidence)
• Innovators—“power to pursue independent and original investigation” (Gilman, 1898) using the design process
• Inventors—recognize the needs of the world and creatively design and implement solutions
• Self-reliant—able to set own agendas, develop and gain self-confidence and work within time specified time frames
• Logical thinkers—using the logic offered by calculus and found in 60% of all professions world-wide; able to make the kinds of connections to affect an understanding of natural phenomena
• Technologically literate—understand the nature of the technology, master the skills needed and apply it appropriately
Science
The science component covers traditional science concepts, but we give your student a hands-on learning experience that they cannot find anywhere else.
The fourth grade science curriculum is designed to introduce general science concepts in the context of a Biblical Worldview that supports God as the sole author of Creation but also describes a world which displays the effects of sin. In-depth studies will include simple animal classification, the solar system, weather systems, and landforms with an emphasis on rocks and volcanoes.
The fifth grade science curriculum emphasizes the truth of Psalm 139, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Critical thinking skills will be sharpened as students study introductory life science concepts that clearly define the difference between animal anatomy and physiology and humans, who are made in God’s image. This course lays a strong base to prepare the students for the rigors of Life Science in middle school.
Math
Math is fun at Living Science! We do more than just put a textbook in front of your students and have them work problems. We use hands-on techniques that get your students excited about math, but never at the expense of teaching traditional math skills.
Using McGraw-Hill’s Math Connects curriculum, we will cover standard mathematical topics such as place value, applying multiplication and division facts, and developing an understanding of factors, fractions, decimals, and probability.
Our goal will be to ensure that your student has the proper math foundation for sixth grade and beyond.
Engineering & Technology
“My child is in fourth grade! They aren’t ready to be an engineer! Right?” Wrong!
Actually, some of the most basic skills needed to be successful in engineering or technology can be learned from an early age. You need teamwork, project management skills, organizational skills, and research skills that will benefit students through the rest of their schooling and on into their careers.
And, one of the biggest obstacles to being able to use technology is comfort. How many of your parents ever used a computer? E-mail? The internet? If not, it is probably because they were not comfortable with such things.
We used to say, “An eight-year-old can program a VCR.” Now, they don’t have any idea what a VCR is, but they can program your DVR, dishwasher, and espresso machine better than you can. Why? Because they are comfortable with them. So, our first goal is to get your students comfortable with engineering and technology ideas so that they can begin to learn more and more advanced concepts each year.
We will start with fun tools like “Cubelets,” small cube-like robots that are simply attached to each other with magnets yet are powerful enough to introduce concepts like inverse functions! (Refer to picture on brochure.) Programming will begin with a great software package called “Toon Talk,” which uses a “Lego-like” programming interface that teaches kids how to build functions, loops, and other high-level concepts. From these basic building blocks, we will establish a robust understanding of complex topics.
The Future
We are introducing this in fourth- and fifth-grade to get students used to this type of focused curriculum. As classes move through the program, we will add additional grades. Lord willing, our plan is to have high school students plan a capstone engineering and technology project in eleventh grade and enlist individual and corporate support to execute that project as a graduating senior.
And, beyond high school, we hope that your student becomes eligible for scholarships directed toward STEM programs. There are a lot of financial resources being directed toward this. We want your student to be a part of this “wave of the future!”

†Morrison, Janice S., “Attributes of STEM Education: The Student, the School, the Classroom.” TIES STEM Education Monograph Series (Baltimore 2006).