Kirkwood to expand science labs, teachers to all elementary schools

The IDEA lab (imagination, discovery, exploration and adventure) launched at Keysor Elementary School last year, led by specialist Traci Jansen. Students in each class visit the lab for eight weeks during the year for hands-on lessons and experiments in earth, physical and life sciences along with outdoor environmental projects.

Recent projects have included sorting shark teeth and measuring the effect of soap on germs. The curriculum includes lessons in coding, digital animation, bioengineering, renewable energy and sustainability.

“This is their environment to explore, imagine and create with each other — and they have thrived,” said Jansen.  

Each school received $2,200 from the Kirkwood School District Foundation toward converting a classroom to an IDEA lab. A dedicated lab teacher will be hired at each school.

The goal of the program is to increase interest and confidence in science by introducing real-life applications, particularly for girls and Black students.

Disparities in math and science skills can show up early, according to a 2022 study of 11,000 elementary school students nationwide. In kindergarten, 16% of Asian students and 13% of white students tested at advanced levels in math compared to 4% of Hispanic and Black students. Similar scores played out on science tests, the researchers found.

The disparities in math and science skills “are constraining the country’s scientific innovation and economic competitiveness,” the researchers wrote.

Students who succeed in science in elementary school are more likely to go onto careers in STEM fields, where fewer than 10% of scientists and engineers are Black or Hispanic. About 15% of engineering jobs are filled by women, according to the Pew Research Center.

Most efforts to address underrepresentation in STEM fields have focused on high school, college and trade schools. The researchers suggest that programs like Kirkwood’s that target elementary students can help fill those career gaps by supporting talented young scientists.

“This is really a response to the research that tells us girls and students of color decide that they’re not good at math in elementary school,” said Kirkwood Superintendent David Ulrich. “We want to make an impact at the elementary level.”

The gap in test scores between white and Black students in Kirkwood is among the widest in the state. Across Kirkwood schools, 64% of white students scored proficient or advanced in math and science, compared to 16% of Black students in math and 20% in science on 2023 state tests.

Classroom teachers can use their students’ IDEA lab time for planning, or they can join in the instruction. The Keysor teachers report a higher level of engagement with science lessons since the lab opened, Jansen said.

“I like when we do all the research,” said fourth grader Lexie Luckett, 9. “You feel like you can do anything.”