STEM at GSLS

Students at Good Shepherd Lutheran School have the unique and exciting opportunity to learn in our new, state-of-the-art STEM Lab.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and encompasses skills and knowledge that are an essential part of our modern lives. STEM education creates and promotes critical thinking, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. All classes at Good Shepherd Lutheran School regularly use the lab to explore and apply science concepts, master technology skills, and design and build inventive and skilled makers’ projects. The STEM lab is a place that encourages innovation and creativity and allows students to combine imaginative ideas with technical and scientific abilities. Our lab is equipped with tools such as a laser cutter, laptops, ipads, and digital microscopes.  

At Good Shepherd Lutheran School we believe science should be engaging, accessible to all learners, and that it must include exploratory processes that bring scientific concepts to life.  Our science curriculum is designed by STEMscopes, an award winning, research--based national leader in STEM curriculum. Our science program aligns with The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and has been proven to be both an engaging and effective means of providing necessary skills and concepts to young learners.  In our lab, students have interactive, hands-on, learning experiences that allow them to build strong connections and deep understandings of the natural and physical world around them.   

In addition, GSLS students are enrolled in a weekly technology class in our STEM Lab. Here students learn how to use technology in an efficient and responsible manner within a safe and monitored environment.  The technology curriculum focuses on the use of productivity tools, coding, graphic arts, keyboarding, effective research skills and safe and appropriate online conduct and citizenship.   

Our STEM Lab is a collaborative workplace where students can create! We also offer Makerspace enrichment where students design their own projects based upon their interests and ideas (solar cars, ukuleles, pencil boxes, family logos, etc). They use both low-tech and high-tech tools and work with a master builder to design, construct, and test innovative projects.