Project Lead the Way

Celebrating what we believe to be the largest grant ever awarded by MEF, we presented Raelynn Pfaff with an award to be shared by Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School. The grant for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum in the amount of $21,276 will allow the two brand new schools to welcome 5th and 6th graders with PLTW in the first year of teaching and learning in the new schools.

Mrs. Pfaff says, "Project Lead The Way is a problem-based curriculum that is designed to pique students’ interest by building a sense of curiosity and excitement. The curriculum encourages creativity and challenges students to use critical thinking skills and innovation to solve problems. Interactive lessons integrate STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) concepts in a way that allows students to experience real-world problems. Students will use the engineering design process to explore, brainstorm, create, and develop their ideas to solve these problems. This collaborative process will also help students develop their soft skills that will be essential in their future careers.

We are proud to be a part of helping these two new schools get off to the best start for Maize 5th and 6th grade students.

 

The district is already using PLTW in both high schools and middle schools. By providing earlier opportunities for students to experience real-world problem solving, students will be able to build upon this understanding. This “scaffolding of knowledge” will help students become more confident and competent in these subjects and will open their eyes to the possibilities and pathways that are possible in middle school, high school, and beyond.

The PLTW modules purchased with the funds from this grant include:

  • Infection: Detection, Modeling, and Simulation

  • Matter: Properties and Reactions

  • Ecosystems: Flow of Matter and Energy

  • Patterns in the Universe

  • Earth’s water and Interconnected Systems

 

Support Opportunities

Many of our schools are in need of resources to support STEAM and STEM education initiatives: robotics kits, coding, engineering concepts - and the list goes on!

If you would like to help support these kinds of programs and initiatives, please contact MEF Executive Director, Travis Bloom, to discuss ways you can help.

316.350.2029 | tbloom@usd266.com