AIMS Supports Arts and Engineering in FUSD Winter Camp

by Paul Reimer

In December 2021, AIMS began a project to support Fresno Unified School District’s first ever Winter Camp, a 10-day program over the winter break for elementary students. The camp was held at 24 school sites across the district, providing over 1,000 students academic support and enrichment activities. Education and Leadership Foundation (ELF) secured 100 local college students to serve as tutors for the program. AIMS provided curriculum and training for the Arts and Engineering Enrichment Academy, an afternoon portion of the winter camp program designed to engage students in hands-on STEAM activities. Our support included professional development training for the ELF tutors as well as curriculum and materials for the classroom activities.

The AIMS curriculum engages students in explorations of structures, motion, and machines, using simple materials and creative experiments. For one activity during week 1, students build colorful card structures using only index cards and scissors. They are encouraged to explore different construction techniques and test their theories about how to build taller and stronger structures. In week 2, students construct catapults to launch pom poms using craft sticks, pencils, plastic spoons, and elastic bands. They refine their designs and perform experiments to test accuracy and distance. In week 3, students create mazes to “program” automated hexbugs to move in desired directions toward a final destination. The three week program ends with a maker faire during which students invite family and community members to view and interact with their projects.

 

ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED

In the weeks leading up to the winter camp, we assembled 100 boxes of materials for classroom use, including aluminum foil, cardstock, various types and colors of paper, craft sticks, envelopes, glue, Hexbugs, ping pong balls, marbles, rubber bands…just about everything you need to design and engineer! And it just wouldn’t be right if we didn’t include a big bag of wooden cubes!

 

COLLEGE TUTORS PREPARE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS

Prior to the winter camp sessions, AIMS hosted the group of 100 ELF tutors and introduced them to the curriculum and activities they would be facilitating with FUSD elementary students over the winter break. Tutors engaged in the activities as learners themselves, followed by reflection time oriented around ways to facilitate the activities with elementary students in the program. They explored ways to “set the tone, be flexible, encourage collaboration, ask questions, make connections, and promote reflection.” Most importantly, tutors were encouraged to “be a force for playful and joyful exploration!”

 

LET CAMP BEGIN!

During the three-week camp, students were excited to engage in the activities and enjoyed the opportunities for creative construction and exploration.

Marlene Avila, a college tutor participating in the program, reflected on her experiences working with students during the camp:

By working in the Winter Program we hoped to make an impact on students. What inspired us to participate in the winter camp program was the opportunity to help and teach students. Teaching them how learning can be fun by creating hands on projects that would ultimately teach them subjects like Math. Letting students use their creativity and imagination in order to complete a project allowed them to develop self-confidence. We let them think, make mistakes, and learn to accomplish something by trial and error.

Students can learn through creativity, imagination, and fun interaction….By working together they can achieve great things. There are so many different ways to solve a problem when different minds work together.

A big thank you to Valerie Martinez at Fresno Unified and Ricardo Guevara, Program Manager at Education and Leadership Foundation, for their creative collaboration, energy, and support!