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Innovative Elementary School STEAM Learning Experiences Combine Live Theatre, FIRST® LEGO® League Jr.MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Minneapolis-based nonprofit, NTC Research Foundation, is joining forces with FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. and The National Theatre for Children to launch a first-of-its-kind national program that provides proven STEAM learning experiences for elementary school students. STEAM is the national movement to nurture student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), while integrating the Arts to foster innovation. The program, dubbed Bee on the Team (BOTT), is set to launch in early 2017 and aims to reach more than 200,000 students in 500 elementary schools in desperate need of hands-on STEAM enrichment education opportunities – in school, after school and at home. BOTT will feature:
"There's nothing out there like this integrated STEAM experience for students, teachers and families," stated Ward Eames, chairman of NTC Research Foundation. "BOTT offers elementary school students hands-on, in-class STEAM education experiences combined with after-school community-based FIRST LEGO League Jr. teams, all tied together by the motivational and social norming impact of live educational theatre." "We're excited about this new collaboration with NTC Research Foundation, and the unique STEAM education opportunities we'll be able to offer to hundreds of thousands of students nationwide," said Kim Wierman, Director, FIRST LEGO League Jr. "Together, with the support of corporate sponsors, FIRST and NTC Research Foundation will demonstrate that the melding of the arts and STEM provides rich, multi-faceted learning experiences that the whole community can take part in." How BOTT works After the theatrical event pumps up students and teachers to become more involved in STEM topics, BOTT provides each classroom teacher with supplemental STEAM curriculum designed to make elementary science come to life. The unique combination of the theatrical event, classroom-friendly software, and inspiring, standards-based science projects helps build students' confidence to ask questions, define problems and design their own solutions. Students then head home to encourage their parents to enroll them in a FIRST LEGO League Jr. team that's forming in their school. FIRST LEGO League Jr. introduces STEM concepts to kids ages 6-10. Guided by adult coaches, teams explore real-world scientific problems and create posters to illustrate their journey of discovery. They also construct a motorized model of what they learned using LEGO Education WeD 2.0 kits. Where do corporations fit in? FIRST is supported by a strong network of national corporations, and educational and professional institutions. In fact, more than 200 of the Fortune 500 companies are involved in FIRST. NTC Research Foundation's projects are funded by corporate, nonprofit and government agencies seeking to understand the power of live events and enrichment programming in schools as educational catalysts for behavior change. Together, NTC Research Foundation and FIRST are seeking corporate sponsors to bring BOTT to life in 500 schools across the country. BOTT is so compelling that Eames and Wierman guarantee sponsors will reach 500 schools, 200,000 students and 320,000 parents on behalf of their "Signature" Sponsors. "We're incredibly confident in our innovative and engaging educational programs that, simply put, if we're unable to deliver on this guarantee, the sponsor doesn't pay," Eames said. For sponsors interested in learning more about Bee on the Team, NTC Research Foundation will host a webinar at noon CST on December 6 featuring NTC's Eames and Mark Giordano, vice president of development at FIRST. To learn more, sign up at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/rf8kl3boj42z&eom. About NTC Research Foundation NTCRF introduces health and wellness, financial literacy, STEM-related subjects, character development, energy efficiency, environmental issues and peer-to-peer education to K-12 students through programs developed by The National Theatre for Children. The programs routinely reach millions of children throughout any given school year. The NTC Research Foundation is proud to deliver programs to students who may not have the opportunity for such enrichment programs without the generosity of our sponsors. About NTC About FIRST® Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432324
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovative-elementary-school-steam-learning-experiences-combine-live-theatre-first-lego-league-jr-300350744.html SOURCE NTC Research Foundation |