The Bright Beginnings Center, preschool for the Hopedale Public Schools, recently joined schools across the state in celebrating STEM Week from October 21st through October 25th. The 2024 celebration of STEM focused on encouraging STEM learning and opportunities for Massachusetts students from birth to post-secondary education and beyond. 

An initiative that stems from the Massachusetts Governor’s Office and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, many organizations across the state offered resources and learning opportunities for students throughout the week including Boston’s Museum of Science. 

At the Bright Beginnings Center, pre k STEM learning centers around the Wee Engineers program, which is a curriculum program developed by the Boston Museum of Science. Given the yearlong incorporation of STEM topics and learning, it was easy for teachers to incorporate STEM Week into their October plans. 

“We love incorporating hands on, play based learning at BBC,” said Principal Kristen Poisson, “and STEM lessons lend themselves so well to that. In our Wee Engineers units we often see children become so invested in solving a problem using materials. It’s wonderful to see that kind of agency at such a young age.”

Throughout STEM Week at BBC, students across the school’s eight classes participated in lessons that focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. One favorite across many classrooms was the task to building a structure for the five little pumpkins to sit on. This assignment was in conjunction with the early childhood fall favorite poem, “Five Little Pumpkins.” 

Cross curricular learning is often a trademark at the preschool, says Poisson, “teachers often work a social studies or science theme into their ELA and math lessons and the entire day of curriculum just has that nice flow. Pumpkins and autumn are a big focus right now but things have changed where preschoolers aren’t just learning about pumpkins being a symbol of the season, they’re using cubes to measure them or comparing their size using scales. Our young students are really able to explore these great STEM concepts.”

As part of the public school system, the Bright Beginnings Center follows the curriculum frameworks set out by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for pre k students. These frameworks set standard learning objectives for all curricular areas, including social emotional learning and approaches to play for early childhood students. 

“We find this sets our students up for success in kindergarten,” says Poisson, “because the Standards continue in a progressive way across the curriculum and across the grade levels.”

As for STEM learning, BBC students will continue to learn and grow as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians throughout their school year beyond STEM Week. 

“It was a great celebration and acknowledgement of STEM,” says Poisson, “and we look forward to recognizing it each year.”