Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
One of our program's goals is to enhance our curriculum in the areas of Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The open-ended nature of our classrooms allows our students to engage in engineering activities each day. For example, our students are often seen using blocks to make marble runs or ramps. Additionally, our Teachers often design specific activities to help our students hone these skills through meaningful activities. Both our preschool and Kindergarten curricula have specific mathematics goals and assessment tools that help our Teachers to plan developmentally appropriate math lessons each day.
We guarantee that you will not find a STEM program for young children that compares to ours!
We guarantee that you will not find a STEM program for young children that compares to ours!
Technology
Both the Maryland Model for School Readiness and NAEYC standards call for the developmentally appropriate use of technology in early childhood classrooms. Research further tells us that the use of technology in the early childhood programs must not be a goal unto itself. The purpose is not to teach children how to use computer. They can do this as they get older, just as they can learn to drive a car later in their lives (Wardle, 1999). Appropriate use of technology in the classroom is to expand, enrich, implement, individualize, differentiate, and extend the overall curriculum.
At GCDC, we believe that technology must be fully integrated into the overall curriculum in developmentally appropriate ways or its use can negatively impact children’s learning. Intentionality is key. Use of technology is planned, purposeful and aligned with specific curriculum and assessment goals.
Teachers have access to tablets as needed. We continue to add interactive boards to the classrooms. In 2011, an interactive board was added to the Rockets classroom. In 2012, one was added to the Satellites classroom. In 2013, one was added to the Constellations classroom. In 2014, one was added to the Milky Ways classroom.
Each classroom serving children ages three and up have both a Mac and PC for the children’s use.
At GCDC, we believe that technology must be fully integrated into the overall curriculum in developmentally appropriate ways or its use can negatively impact children’s learning. Intentionality is key. Use of technology is planned, purposeful and aligned with specific curriculum and assessment goals.
Teachers have access to tablets as needed. We continue to add interactive boards to the classrooms. In 2011, an interactive board was added to the Rockets classroom. In 2012, one was added to the Satellites classroom. In 2013, one was added to the Constellations classroom. In 2014, one was added to the Milky Ways classroom.
Each classroom serving children ages three and up have both a Mac and PC for the children’s use.
GCDC Annual Science Fair
The GCDC Parent and Child Science Fair offers our students a hands on opportunity to learn about the scientific process.
GCDC Annual Egg Drop Experiment
The Great Egg Drop is an experiment where each parent and child team at- tempts to create a device that can keep a raw chicken egg intact when dropped 15.5'. Each parent and child team create something that can absorb the energy the egg gathers as it accelerates towards the ground. A hard surface will crack the egg so teams have to think carefully about how they can protect it.
Paper Plane Contest
Parent and child teams build paper airplanes to help children understand the concept of lift, drag and thrust. Teams can choose to build two different types of paper airplanes. One paper airplane should be designed to fly as far as possible. The other paper airplane will need to stay in the air as long as possible.
NASA Scientists Go To Preschool Speaker Series
With the support of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Education Office, the Scientist Go To Preschool Speaker Series allows GCDC students gained first hand knowledge about NASA missions in developmentally appropriate ways. Students have the opportunity to learn from some of the most brilliant minds in the field. They have learned astronauts, Nobel laureates, engineers, scientists, statisticians, meteorologist, paleontologists, etc. Our students also learn from mission specialists about the missions that are supported by GSFC. Our Scientist Go To Preschool speakers present information to our students in fun and developmentally appropriate ways. The goal of this program is to introduce our students to many opportunities that await them in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
