From our classroom to yours: why “STEMterprise” is a must-try!
Blog post written by Dana Connors, Grade 3 teacher from Ottawa, Ontario.
Hey fellow educators!
My name is Dana Connors, and I teach grade 3 at St. Philip School at the Ottawa Catholic District School board. I’ve been teaching for 18 years, and like many of you, I’m always on the lookout for engaging projects that truly resonate with students and cover essential curriculum expectations without adding a mountain of extra work. That’s exactly what I found with the Ontario Farming “STEMterprise” project.
Why we chose “STEMterprise”
What initially drew me to “Good in Every Grain” was its unique blend of science, literacy, and health education all rolled into one hands-on experience. The idea of students creating their own granola bars and developing advertisements felt like a fresh and exciting way to tackle the curriculum. Honestly, my main reservation was wondering how I would fit it into our already packed year. But let me tell you, it was surprisingly flexible!
What happened in our classroom
We primarily tackled the project within my class, but we also partnered with another class for some of the activities, which added a fantastic collaborative element. The Good in Every Grain program provides clearly outlined lessons and fantastic slides that were our main guide. The videos and activities were incredibly engaging and presented information in a clear and concise way, which really helped my students grasp the concepts.
One of the best parts? The program offers plenty of room for creative freedom. While the slides are comprehensive enough to follow exactly (and meet all science standards while also covering literacy and health!), they also give you the flexibility to adapt and integrate your own ideas. If you’re new to a topic, short on time, or just unsure where to start, you can absolutely rely on the provided materials. But if you’re like me and love to personalize, there’s ample space to pick and choose lessons or expand on areas that really spark your students’ interest. A huge bonus is that the lessons are short enough to fit into a single class period, or you can easily stretch them out over multiple days if you want to delve deeper, making it perfect for any timetable!
Our culminating task was a huge hit! Students worked in groups to create their own granola bars, applying all the knowledge they had gained about grains, nutrition, and even marketing. They then developed advertisements for their creations and showcased them to their classmates and our fantastic visitor from Good in Every Grain, Lindsay. It was incredible to see their creativity and understanding come to life!
The response from both students and parents was overwhelmingly positive. Students were genuinely excited about the hands-on nature of the project and the chance to be innovative. Parents were thrilled to see their children so engaged and learning about healthy eating in such a practical way.
So what? My tips for you!
If you’re an educator considering STEMterprise, here are my top tips:
- Don’t be intimidated by the scope. The program is incredibly well-structured, making it easy to integrate into your existing curriculum.
- Embrace the flexibility. Whether you follow the lessons precisely or use them as a springboard for your own ideas, the program adapts to your teaching style and your available time.
- Leverage the provided resources. The slides, videos, and activities are high-quality and make teaching the content a breeze.
- Get creative with the culminating task! While we loved making granola bars, the project’s finale doesn’t have to involve food. Students could focus on creating amazing packaging designs, compelling advertisements, or even a marketing campaign. The sky’s the limit for how you want students to showcase their learning.
- Consider a visitor! Having Lindsay from Good in Every Grain visit added an extra layer of authenticity and excitement for the students.
I learned so much along the way about how engaged students can be when learning is hands-on and relevant to their lives. This program was so great that I would absolutely do it again, and I would wholeheartedly encourage other educators to give it a try. It’s fun, it’s easy to implement, and your students will love it!
