KPS Elementary students measure, build, and create during a K-5 STEM activity
K-12 STEM Lab
STEM labs (science, technology, engineering, and math) are a growing trend in education institutions across the United States because they offer students the opportunity to combine their own ideas with concepts from multiple disciplines in a hands-on application. This type of environment builds the most valuable skills for any career:
A STEM lab at Kulm Public School will be an incredible asset because it spans multiple disciplines and will be a resource for every student, kindergarten through senior high. Each elementary class will have approximately 3 hours per week of lab time, while high-schoolers will have the opportunity to sign up for the class for credit. Other classes and extracurricular activities will benefit from the space as well – our high school entrepreneurship class could create and test ideas for new products, the Science Olympiad team could work on their annual projects, an after school or summer day camp centered around STEM projects – the opportunities are endless.
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education has partnered with Creative Learning Systems to offer a comprehensive STEM lab package, including curriculum, at a lower price so rural ND students are able to reap the benefits of a STEM lab. The one-time purchase of a K-12 lab for a 12 student class is $89,871. The KPS Foundation has already received financial pledges from local businesses, organizations, and the school board to make this happen, and we are applying for several grants to get us to the $90,000 end goal.
- self-motivated learning
- collaborative problem-solving
- innovative, critical thinking
A STEM lab at Kulm Public School will be an incredible asset because it spans multiple disciplines and will be a resource for every student, kindergarten through senior high. Each elementary class will have approximately 3 hours per week of lab time, while high-schoolers will have the opportunity to sign up for the class for credit. Other classes and extracurricular activities will benefit from the space as well – our high school entrepreneurship class could create and test ideas for new products, the Science Olympiad team could work on their annual projects, an after school or summer day camp centered around STEM projects – the opportunities are endless.
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education has partnered with Creative Learning Systems to offer a comprehensive STEM lab package, including curriculum, at a lower price so rural ND students are able to reap the benefits of a STEM lab. The one-time purchase of a K-12 lab for a 12 student class is $89,871. The KPS Foundation has already received financial pledges from local businesses, organizations, and the school board to make this happen, and we are applying for several grants to get us to the $90,000 end goal.
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Left photo: One of Kulm's Science Olympiad teams prepares for their state competition. Our students regularly outperform the largest schools in the state at this nationwide, project-based science competition.
Below photo: 7th graders Emily Kinzler and Chayse Entzi researched and constructed a working wind turbine and took 1st place at state in the wind power category. 
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