Reach out today to talk Scale-Up! | | |
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SC STEM Hub
Collier-Scripps Hall
Office #214
2702 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
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Scale-Up 2025-26 in 5 Simple Steps | |
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*13 vetted programs selected for this year's menu.*
*Application window runs January 7 - March 3.*
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All About Balance
Allows children to become more curious and engaged as they actively explore the role of balance within the world of objects and with their own bodies.
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Barobo C-STEM Afterschool and Summer Robotics and Robotics-Math Programs
Integrates coding and robotics into PK-12 math education, using both virtual and hardware robots in a standards-aligned curriculum to enhance engagement and boost achievement.
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CodeJoy Presents: Micro:bit in the Wild
Uses micro:bit to teach educators about Environmental Literacy through hands-on activities with computer science.
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CodeXcursion: Teach Python Coding with CodeX
Provides opportunities for students to start with Python basics and progress to exciting projects like creating games and simulations.
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Drone Designers: Exploring STEAM Careers
Takes a multidisciplinary approach to introducing learners in grades 4–8 to the world of drones and coding, with an emphasis on their use in the arts and entertainment industries.
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Getting Started with Elementary OpenSciEd Curriculum
Reimagines the experience of science education to ensure that all students, regardless of their previous exposure to science, can excel in and outside of the classroom.
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Grow, Create, Innovate: The STEAM-Powered Art
Allows students to engage in standards-aligned activities such as the Reaction Game, which explores physics and chemistry through interactive play, The Operation Game combines logic with mechanical design while DNA Modeling merges biology with creative visualization. Students can also build an Automata, which integrates engineering with artistic design.
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MathNation.com
Offers comprehensive resources for middle and high school math. Math Nation+ uses interactive videos, practice tools and personalized learning paths to engage students in deep mathematical understanding.
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Overcoming Barriers to STEM Engagement: A Cross-Curricular Structural and Wind Energy Project Using Sketching as the First Step
Provides a hands-on project with wind energy technology that builds engagement with STEM. This project includes design of a scale tower to support a wind turbine, with load and deflection testing.
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Plant the Moon Challenge
A global science experiment, learning experience, and inspirational project-based-learning challenge. Students compete to see who can grow the best crops using lunar and Martian regolith stimulant.
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Physical Science, Biology, Environmental Science & Engineering
Provides an engaging, online lesson and problem bank for middle and high school science. The site was built by teachers in diverse classrooms and designed to be accessible to students on any level from middle school to advanced placement (AP)
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Spintronics: Engineer and Design Mechanical Circuits
Allows students to learn electronics through hands-on puzzles instead of complex math. Instead of imagining invisible electrons running through wires, the students can see the chains moving through the sprockets.
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STEAM Innovators K-8: Pathways for Future Leaders
Designed to make STEM concepts engaging by integrating the arts and blending creativity with science, technology, engineering and math to foster innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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Program Fact Sheets
Review the fact sheets that interest you most and select the program(s) that best fit your learners. To help locate information quickly, each Fact Sheet follows the same format:
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Info Webinars
Each program offers one or more online informational webinars. During the session, teachers meet program providers, receive an overview, and get their questions answered by program experts.
You must register for the webinar. Sign-up info can be found within the Fact Sheets. If you miss a webinar, they'll be recorded and posted by Iowa STEM.
Building Coordination
Sometimes teachers within the same building apply for the same program. Instead of competing for resources, talk with colleagues to coordinate your request into one program application.
- Multiple educators may be on a single program application.
- A building may submit applications for more than one program.
- All applications require administrator and implementing educator(s) consent.
Teacher Changes
Awards stay within buildings. They do not follow the teacher. So what happens if a teacher changes jobs? Often the person's replacement can be substituted up until the day training begins. Email Sarah right away if this happens after you're awarded Scale-Up. (sarah.derry@drake.edu)
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Ensure you have an IowaGrants.gov account.
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First-time users will need to set up an account in IowaGrants. Note: It can take up to three business days for a new account to be activated.
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For additional instructions on starting and finding a funding opportunity, check out these FAQs and tips to navigate the IowaGrants system.
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Check out the STEM Scale-Up Application Help Guide
Questions? Please reach out to Sarah at sarah.derry@drake.edu. Iowa STEM can help you through it.
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Keep the Timeline in Mind
- Jan. 7, 2025: Educator application opens
- March 3, 2025: Educator application submission deadline.
- April 2025: Awarded educators notified.
- May 2025: Program providers introduced to awarded educators to begin planning.
- Summer 2025: Professional development/training in preparation for program implementation 2025-26 school year.
- July 2025 - April 2026: Scale-Up Program Implementation
NOTE: Awardees must attend training to receive materials. Trainings will be scheduled in May 2025. Some providers have already selected dates and noted them in the Fact Sheets.
If you're interested and unsure if you qualify to apply or if you're not sure which program may best fit your needs, please reach out to Dr. Sarah Derry at the Hub: sarah.derry@drake.edu. Please put Scale-Up Question in the subject line so she notices your note first.
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These programs were selected by teachers, administrators, and community partners. Considerations included documented learning success, content standard correlation, 21st century skills inclusion, and sustainability after the implementation year.
Ideas for incorporating materials:
- use for daily classroom curriculum
- enrich individual units
- improve or meet challenging standards
- enliven before/after school programs
- add to station rotations, indoor recesses, or class parties
- serve as a tool for community or school libraries
- utilize with 4-H, Scouts, and other organizations
- share via homeschool networks
Anytime during the year, educators may call upon Iowa STEM and/or program providers for assistance in implementation. Some programs develop Facebook pages and other forms of communication that connect educators well past the initial year.
In spring 2026, there's a short mandatory evaluation that helps Iowa STEM know if programs fulfilled students' needs. Information will be used to build a better menu for the next year.
Want to see or try out a past Scale-Up?
Check out our small lending library. The following options were part of past Scale-Up menus.
- Daily Math Fluency
- EiE Kits: Bubble Wands, Magnets, Parachutes, Seeing Animals Sounds
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Storytime STEM Kits & BeeBots: Moon and/or Earth Day
- Ramps & Pathways
- All About Balance
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Looking for Other Resources? | |
Our SC STEM Hub Advisory Board consists of folks throughout the South Central Region. If you need assistance and would like a local perspective, please reach out to the Hub with your specific ask, and we can put you in contact with one of our experts. | |
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Manager
Dr. Sarah Derry
2023-24 Board Members
- Bridgette Andrews
- Ashley Cook
- Creighton Cox
- Sherry Ford
- Magan Lewis
- Mahesh Mathrubutham*, pictured
- Ronda McCarthy
- Alison Mohr*
- Joe Murphy
- Amber Pargmann
- Laura Williams
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2024-25 Board Volunteers
- Ken Bozer
- Alexis Cordts
- Kate Corrigan
- Drew Emerson
- Casey Howard
- Jessica Schellhorn
Grant P.I.
Dr. Ryan Wise
Events & Communication
Lisa Morlock
*=chair
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Exhibitors Needed! Make a Difference with STEM | |
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A last-minute cancellation opened up a spot within the STEM Festival of I'll Make Me a World in Iowa's Education Day. If you'd like to be considered, please email Lisa at the hub. We'd love to hear from you!
Here are the event details:
- EVENT: IMMAWII Education Day STEM Fest
- DATE: Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9:45am-1:45pm
- SET-UP: 8:45-9:45 am; we'll be onsite by 8am
- PLACE: Horizon Event Center
- ADDRESS: 2100 NW 100th St, Clive, IA 50325
- LUNCH: A box lunch is provided for all festival volunteers.
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JANUARY
- January 7--STEM Scale-Up App for Educators Opens
FEBRUARY
- February 7 -- I'll Make Me a World Education Day
- February 8 -- I'll Make Me a World Celebration Day
- February 12 -- STEM Day at the Capitol
- February 19 -- Noche de Ciencias, Ottumwa
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February 28 -- Due: ICEC Game Jam Videos
MARCH
- March 3 -- Scale-Up Applications Due, 4:49pm
- March 11 -- Future Ready Fest, DMACC
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