Throughout my internship so far, I’ve worked on a diverse range of projects, from assisting with robotics lessons at South Penn Elementary to participating in native garden planting at the Appalachian Lab, and teaching sensory experiences at the Frostburg Farmers Market. These projects have provided me with hands-on opportunities to apply STEM concepts and integrate them with agriculture in various settings.
My past experiences have been a major asset in this internship. Attending STEM camps run by the Extension Office and 4-H during elementary and middle school laid the groundwork for a lifelong passion for science. Later, agriculture classes in high school and college just deepened my love for science. Additionally, my classroom placements as part of my education minor have strengthened my teaching skills, particularly in the area of STEM education. I was lucky enough to be part of one of Jessica’s first 3rd grade robotics lessons, which, along with growing up with a younger brother who was deeply involved in 4-H robotics, helped expand my familiarity with robotics from an early age. My internship work on the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm at my college has also given me practical insights into sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. All of this prior knowledge and experiences have made it so that I was able to dive right in and be able to teach lessons alongside Jessica and Sarah from the beginning.
One of my primary goals for this internship is to deepen my understanding of STEM education and its application in unconventional environments. I aim to collect knowledge and strategies that I can later integrate into my bachelor’s thesis, which involves developing a STEM-focused classroom on my college’s farm for K–12 students. Through this experience, I also hope to gain a better understanding of how educational outreach works at the Extension Office, particularly in teaching agriculture and environmental science to a wide range of learners, from elementary students to adults.
During this internship, I look forward to learning about how to design the programs and events that the Extension Office and 4-H develops and does for the community. I’m excited about expanding my knowledge on topics such as native plant propagation, sustainable farming practices, and community-based environmental education. These new insights will not only enhance my teaching practices but also equip me with innovative strategies to bridge the gap between STEM and agriculture. Not to mention, this experience brings me one step closer to achieving my lifelong dream of teaching science to others.
Here’s a quick summary of what I did this week:
Monday & Wednesday: I assisted Jessica with robotics lessons for third graders at South Penn Elementary. In the photo from the classroom, I’m holding the class bunny!
Wednesday morning: I helped Sarah plant a native garden at the Appalachian Laboratory.
Friday morning: I joined Sarah at the Frostburg Farmers Market to teach Kindergarteners from Beall Elementary about touch and scent in the garden.
Friday evening: I assisted with a native plant pop-up event in Frostburg, part of the “Sunshine and Seeds” event series along Main Street.
Comments
Post a Comment