An enthusiastic group of 6th and 7th grade students from the South and West sides of Chicago spent four weeks of their summer vacation learning how to engineer a product, program a computer and apply algebraic skills and concepts. For five full days a week, students participated in the ChiS&E Summer Enrichment Program focusing on algebra in the real world, computer science and engineering design.
On Friday, July 29, 2016, the skills the students acquired will be demonstrated before their families and friends during the ChiS&E Summer Student Showcase. The event takes place from 9 -11a.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 750 S. Halsted Street, Lecture Hall F.
Organized and presented by the Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program (ChiS&E), a non-profit organization, the summer enrichment program is designed to enhance algebra skills and concepts and prepare students to be algebra ready by 8th grade. Students also learn what it means to be an engineer. The summer curriculum was developed based on student needs as identified by a pre-assessment at the close of the spring session.
Launched in 2008, the Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program serves African-American and Latino students and their parents in low-income communities on Chicago’s South and West sides. Beginning in Kindergarten, children receive training in specific areas as Little Civil Engineers (K), Little Chemical Engineers (1st grade), Little Electrical Engineers (2nd), Little Mechanical Engineers (3rd) and Little Structural Engineers (4th grade). Through third grade, these young scientists participate in six sessions at the University of Illinois at Chicago and two sessions at the Museum of Science & Industry.
Fifth graders are young mathematicians, and sixth and seventh grade students are known as Young Physicists and Physics and Math students, respectively. Following 7th grade, students participate in the 4-week summer pre-engineering program.
In addition to classroom activity, students spent consecutive Fridays experiencing off-site learning at the International Museum of Surgical Science, the Field Museum of Natural History and the Adler Planetarium.
The mission of Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program (ChiS&E) is to increase the number of historically underrepresented African American and Latino students who are motivated and academically prepared to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This is accomplished through highly engaging, age appropriate hands-on science and engineering activities.
