The afterschool expanded learning opportunity (ELO) programs have been a Literacy Coalition offering for years, and one longtime recipient site is the school at Faith Lutheran in North Palm Beach. Students there have essentially grown up with Stories and STEM over the past five years.
“Stories and STEM creates a connection between books and hands-on activities. This connection between literacy and real life is the reason that the children in our center get so excited about new books and the opportunity to read them,” said Faith Lutheran School’s Afterschool Director Evelyn Lawrence. “Stories and Stem has taught me to incorporate literacy into activities that I choose for the children as well. I find the activities to be more engaging when I can relate a book to them.”
The relationship has grown to the point that kids at Faith Lutheran are no strangers to trying brand-new experiences, exploring strange topics and checking out the newest books with Stories and STEM. They have even become the pilot site for many new activities, from designing zipline racers to cracking geodes and a kid favorite – volcanoes.
“I liked that the volcano kept going higher and higher and got all over us,” said Mason, who was thrilled to take his safety glasses home so he could keep experimenting with his little brother Casen.
The children not only enjoy the program’s activities, but the books are a huge hit and have opened kids like Frank up to new series such as Squish by Matthew and Jennifer Holm. The main character is an amoeba who goes through many challenges the kids can relate to like being part of a team or learning about plants and other organisms in the pond – even parasites!
Young Nataly is going into second grade and loves Pete the Cat and Curious George, so connecting science to her favorite storybook characters is a bonus. “My favorite book was the MARS book because you can choose your own adventure!” said Anthoni, who is headed for middle school.
One of the most inspired children is Hailey, who has been enjoying Stories and STEM since 2019. “I feel happy, excited, and creative because the experiments make something up in my head that I can do at home,” she said. Her favorite activity this year was breaking apart geodes and then looking at them along with minerals like salt and even fossils under a microscope.
We are also proud to share that Stories and STEM was nominated for Prime Time Palm Beach County’s Presenting Excellence in Expanded Learning Award for the second year in a row.
