Students in the extended school program have been learning more about science and engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related activities. In all of the grades, students have learned about what a scientist is and think about what they already know about science. Each of the classes has their students draw what they think a scientist is, what they do, and what they look like. In Ms. Rene’s third grade class, students talked about their existing knowledge about different kinds of science disciplines, including gastronomy, chemistry, and astronomy.
All of the grades also talked about what they thought a scientist looks like. Students drew what they perceived scientists to look like and the kind of things that they do. Some students drew boys and girls working with animals, playing around with chemicals, doing experiments, and being super 
heroes. This activity helped highlight the various stereotypes that exist around being a scientist and STEM related careers. Doing this activity helped reinforce the idea that anyone and everyone can be a scientist, as well as learning the different paths that can be taken to achieve a career in STEM, such as going to college. Students were very excited to learn more about science!
