step up to stem begins

EAPrep Partners with Time Warner Cable to Prepare Students for High School
Posted on 08/19/2015
STEP UP TO STEM – WEEK 4
STEM campers saved the best for last—it was dissection week at camp! Our middle school students received an exciting preview of their upcoming year in science as they began a comparative anatomy study. Students learned about different body systems as they dissected a sheep brain, eye, kidney, and heart. “At first, I thought it was going to be so gross," said camper Zoe Z., “but it was actually awesome and I didn’t even want to stop for lunch!"

stem week 4

stem week 4

Our high school students also got a sneak peek of their upcoming year in Biology as they learned how scientists classify organisms based on Kingdoms, Phylum and Domains. Beginning with simple organisms such as starfish and crayfish, students were able to identify key characteristics that place organisms into different classifications. By the second day, our high school students had dissection procedures down pat and worked on more challenging specimens such as rats and squid.

stem week 4

On Wednesday, students had the opportunity to visit the New Braunfels’ Snake Farm. Campers talked with animal caretakers, zoologist, and a herpetologist about their careers and daily responsibilities. Students also had the opportunity to learn snake handling and feeding and learned about primates, alligators, exotic hoof stock, birds, cats and of course, snakes. Our STEP UP to STEM camp would not have been possible without the support of Time Warner Cable and Connect A Million Minds. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity that our students experienced this last four weeks.


STEP UP TO STEM – WEEK 3
East Austin College Prep's Step Up to STEM students walked straight into a crime scene this week! Students became part of a forensic crime team and gathered evidence to solve a murder, bank heist, and car crash. The full range of STEM skills were utilized to compile data — science, technology, engineering and math! Teams were taught advanced math and physics skills to determine bullet trajectory, car speeds, and calculated density of gold bars. Students also learned about biotechnology as they identified blood types, DNA karyotyping, performed Kastle Meyer tests to identify blood stains and electrophoresis to determine DNA patterns. Both students and teachers were amazed to extract real strands of DNA from bananas and strawberries. Other clues and tests included fingerprinting, mystery powders, ink chromatography, hair analysis and tire tracks.

step up to stem forensics

As part of the forensics component of the STEM program, students skyped with Ms. Bernadette “Rosie” Franco, who works as a coroner tech for the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner. “I began my love of science in the 8th grade, and knew science could take me where I wanted to go”, said Franco. “The field of forensics is only growing and expanding," and she told students “the career opportunities are endless."

step up to stem forensics

Students finished out the week with a visit to the new Texas Museum of Science and Technology, where they toured the Human Body Exhibit. This incredible exhibit allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of the human body while viewing donated cadavers.

We want to thank Time Warner Cable and Connect a Million Minds for the tremendous support. Stay tuned for next week's Zoology activities and a trip to the Snake Farm in New Braunfels.



STEP UP TO STEM – WEEK 2
It’s time for BattleBots! After a week of learning to build and program their robots, the Step Up to STEM students put their robot to the ultimate test! From obstacle courses to ramps, students learned to troubleshoot and re-program their robots to fighting condition as they battled it out on the mat with fellow campers. “I built a forklift so I can lift up other robots and flip them over,” says Miranda G. who went on to win the robotics contest. “I really enjoy modifying the robots, it can be frustrating at times because it is a lot of trial and error but that's why you have your teachers.”

stem robots

Learning Fun 101 provided the Lego Robotics kits and curriculum, guiding students to design, build, program and compete using a combination of inquiry and critical thinking skills. “The East Austin College Prep students have been a joy! They are a bright, creative group of students that will certainly be the leaders of tomorrow!” said JoAnn Nolte, owner of the company.

stem believe it or not

Students also traveled to San Antonio to see the wacky and weird side of science, technology, engineering and math at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. Students explored the 18,000 sq. ft. museum with 18 different themed galleries of the “really weird”. Students got a first-hand physics lesson in the spinning tunnel exhibit, and experienced the effects of gravity and inertia. The Headless Chicken and Two Headed Lamb exhibits were a favorite of both students and teachers and led to some great discussion about biology.

We want to thank Time Warner Cable and Connect A Million Minds for the tremendous support. Stay tuned for next week’s Forensics and Biotechnology themed activities!


STEP UP TO STEM – WEEK 1
step up stem
Josh Piland from Learning Fun 101 Robotics teaches incoming EAPrep 9th graders Eric Maldonado and Alexis Buneo how to program a robot on the first day of camp.


This week, East Austin College Prep kicked off the STEP UP to STEM Summer Program in partnership with Time Warner Cable's Connect A Million Minds Initiative-- in support of addressing America’s declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). STEP (Summer Transitional Enrichment Program) targets rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students as they navigate the often difficult adjustment from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school by offering an academically rigorous and community-building summer experience.

"The school administration saw the importance of celebrating and supporting the transition from middle school to high school," says Joycelyn Jurado, Director of East Austin Children's Promise an initiative from Southwest Key Programs that provides East Austin College Prep with wraparound services like the school's summer programming. "We want to meet the physical, mental and emotional development needs that happen in this period of a young person's life."

step up to stem

The four-week camp will focus both on strengthening academic skills related to STEM and developing leadership and transition management skills designed to address this critical transition period in the lives of the students.

In the next few weeks, students will visit several museums and companies in Central Texas including McKinney Roughs Outdoor Center, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, and the Texas Museum of Science and Technology. Field trips provide a hands-on experience for the students with direct access to experts utilizing authentic tools and materials in a given field. "We hope students are able to gain an experience that bridges the real world and the classroom," says Jurado.

step up to stem