Developing a STEM Summer Camp

KEY POINTS

• Adapt classroom material.
• Make meaningful and fun activities.
• Get creative with technology.

When students spend the summer disconnected from the classroom, they can often experience what has come to be known as the “summer slide.” Stepping away from STEM material for long stretches can cause students to forget much of the information they acquired during the previous school year. When this happens, teachers then have to spend valuable class time on intensive review at the onset of the fall semester. There are ways to combat the “summer slide.” Keep students’ minds thriving over the summer months by developing a STEM summer camp that can be easily adapted from the classroom material.

TRANSFERRING CLASSROOM MATERIALS

Often the same lessons you apply to your standard classroom can be adapted to suit a summer camp. First, search for and determine a theme, then pull main concepts from your lessons that will fit well. Next, condense the material covering those concepts into a one-week or two-week module. Remember to choose lessons that are centered around hands-on learning experiences to keep things fun and engaging.

DEVELOPING CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

Once you’ve decided on your theme and topics, focus on developing creative activities to accompany the material. These can range from small creative tasks in a makerspace area to taking on real-world problems in the community and trying to solve them using STEM concepts and skills. You can find a wide variety of activities that can be adapted to a summer camp setting via online resources. Pinterest and websites from STEM organizations are excellent examples.

FINDING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY

Finally, to keep your camp relevant and your students engaged, be sure to incorporate the use of technology into your activities. Robotics camps are on the rise and could be a great central focus of your summer camp. Other computer science applications could include VR headsets or circuit-building kits. Focusing on 3D modeling and 3D printing is another excellent option. With the right technology, activities, and adapted material, you’re well on your way to a productive and engaging summer camp that will keep your students from slipping into the “summer slide.”