PMSP believes that children begin to build STEM identity and interest at the very earliest ages. We are very fortunate to have deep and fruitful partnerships with the Early Learning hubs in our region. Together, we can leverage our expertise to create unique and powerful opportunities for preschool educators, children and families to engage in STEAM learning!

We support Early Learning Educators to teach STEAM

Early Learning Lending Library Playgrounds

Thanks to a generous grant from PNC Foundation, PMSP was able to expand our successful Lending Library Playground program to preschool and daycare programs. We purchased new lending library equipment designed specifically for preschool aged children. Interested educators applied, and we accepted them into the program with a focus on Preschool Promise and Head Start funded programs. PMSP provided the accepted educators with equipment on loan, as well as coaching in English or Spanish, and paid planning time to plan for how best to use the materials. As a result of the program, 24 educators received 48 hours of coaching and support. Educators reported an average of 24 hours of use of the Lending Library materials with the children in their programs.

Early Learning Washington County

From Wonder to Discovery workshop series

The From Wonder to Discovery workshop was designed to support early learning educators to connect what they might be doing in their Early Learning classrooms to the skills and mindsets that will help children succeed in STEM topics in elementary school and beyond. The workshop also digs into why access to STEM is an equity issue, and how early learning can be part of the solution. The ELWC Training for Trainers participants (see below) supports facilitating this workshop every summer. To learn more, follow here!

ELWC Training for Trainers

The ELWC Training for Trainers focuses on educators who identify as BIPOC and are multilingual and representative of the communities served by Head Start and Preschool Promise programs. The Training for Trainers provides an opportunity for preschool educators who are already growing in their leadership, either by becoming community or master trainers, to deepen their STEAM expertise with the goal of being able to develop and host workshops in languages other than English. Thanks to the leadership development opportunity of the cohort, Washington County is now able to host NGSS 101 workshops in both English and Spanish, with all materials available in both languages. To learn more about the ELWC Training for Trainers opportunity, follow here!

STEAM Wonderland

ELWC hosts events geared towards children and families in Washington County to come experience STEAM learning together in a fun and interactive environment. Events are hosted in both English and Spanish.

STEAM Curiosity Kits

As we often hear in early learning, “Parents are a child’s first teachers”, and the STEAM Curiosity kits support parents to better understand just how they can act as their child’s teacher when it comes to STEAM skill development. ELWC, with PMSP support, created the STEAM Curiosity Kits for infants and toddlers, and a second version for preschool aged children. The kits support families to incorporate STEAM activities into their everyday lives. The STEAM Curiosity Kits have been translated into languages commonly spoken in Washington County to ensure broad access for families.

Early Learning Multnomah

ELM, PMSP and five partners co-created STEM kits to promote culturally specific, simple and developmentally appropriate ways to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with young children. Together, we developed kits for seven culturally specific communities in six languages. The kits are designed to engage children and family’s curiosity in five key categories: Explore, Compare, Count, Shapes and Create.  Each everyday activity builds early STEM skills and vocabulary and prepares children for success in kindergarten. More importantly, each version of the kit is an authentic reflection of the African American, Arabic, Latino, Native American, Russian (Slavic), Somali, and Vietnamese cultures, showcasing children representative of each along with elevating members of each community working in STEM careers. Over 4000 STEM kits, including booklets and materials, have been created and distributed to families with the help of culturally specific partner organizations.