Cade Museum Foundation Inc

OPERATION FULL STEAM IS AN EXPLORATORY OUTREACH PROJECT OF THE CADE MUSEUM DESIGNED TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR UNDERSERVED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA. IT PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM) FOR STUDENTS AS THEY MOVE FROM SECOND TO FIFTH GRADE IN THREE TITLE I SCHOOLS. THE MUSEUM IS IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL SEE THE STUDENTS THROUGH 4TH AND 5TH GRADE WHERE STANDARD 5TH GRADE SCIENCE TESTING IN THE SCHOOLS WILL MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, THE PROJECT AIMS TO CULTIVATE GREATER INTEREST IN STEAM DISCIPLINES AMONG STUDENTS FROM CULTURALLY AND SOCIOECONOMICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, INSPIRE THE PURSUIT OF FURTHER EDUCATION, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE INNOVATION ECONOMY.

THE CADE MUSEUM FOR CREATIVITY AND INVENTION, IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, WILL HIRE AN ADDITIONAL OUTREACH EDUCATOR AND A PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR TO EXPAND ITS REACH INTO UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES USING ITS MOBILE MUSEUM AND LAB. THIS WORK AIMS TO CLOSE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY PROVIDING CRITICAL STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH) EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER CREATIVITY AND DEVELOP AN INVENTIVE MINDSET. THE MUSEUM WILL PARTNER WITH FOUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ON-SITE STEAM EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN IN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE MAJORITY OF THESE YOUTH WILL BE FROM TITLE I AND RURAL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE MUSEUM WILL EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS THROUGH BIMONTHLY MEETINGS.