I’m Enrolled

Program Enrollment

The Regional STEM Mentoring Program can be:

  • Tailored to teacher/school needs
  • Installed into an existing program platform, like:
    • After school STEM club
    • Summer school program
    • Camp programs
    • Lunch-time STEM clubs
  • Developed with support from one or multiple teachers
  • Hosted by one or multiple teachers at one school site, but in multiple locations

To begin the process of enrollment, contact staff today at sacSTEMfair@sacSTEMfair.org.

Teacher InformationParent InformationStudent Information

Welcome! We are excited to have you and your students enrolled.  Your after school or summer school program has been selected because the aim to enhance a STEM area is also your goal for your students. Since your program is STEM-based, we will select which STEM professionals area of expertise matches the level and area your students will be learning.
 
We look forward to working with you closely and seeing your students flourish under STEM!

What will the Program look like?

Mentoring is intended to extend the opportunity to participate in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) Fair to students beyond those students who complete projects at home or during school hours.  This program is a supplement to appropriate grade level school-year teachings and the program curriculum is aligned with the newly implemented Common Core Standards and the soon to-be-implemented Next Generation Science Standards.
 
Through this program, mentors will be trained to assist and guide students in the following areas:

  • STEM subject knowledge, extended to career pathways and options for further studies.
  • STEM fair project development, focusing on creating hypotheses to solving issues applicable to real life.
  • Execution of project goals and research through becoming an expert in the scientific or engineering design method & learning all necessary safety procedures when working on experiments.
  • Collaborative skills, project management, and other areas of Common Core relative to STEM projects.

Below is a short synopsis of the mentoring schedule:

Introductory Meeting

  • Model step-by-step scientific or engineering designs using hands- on experiments

  • Discussion of real-world problems affecting students

  • Meeting with summer school or after school teacher and mentor to sync and go through curriculum

Prior to Kick-Off Meeting

  • Model step-by-step scientific or engineering designs using hands- on experiments

  • Discussion of real-world problems affecting students

  • Meeting with summer school or after school teacher and mentor to sync and go through curriculum

At Kick-Off Meeting

  • Model step-by-step scientific or engineering designs using hands- on experiments

  • Discussion of real-world problems affecting students

Subsequent Meeting

  • Model step-by-step scientific or engineering designs using hands- on experiments

  • Discussion of real-world problems affecting students

  • Procedural and safety training for students performed by mentor

  • Resolution of identified problems – developed by students, directed by mentor
    ** This Step and below would most likely be carried out beyond the summer program and into the school year.

  • Application of hypotheses & design of experimentation – developed by students, directed by mentor

  • Experimentation performed by students, with mentor supervision

  • Results & data analysis performed by students, with mentor available for questions

  • Reflection performed by students, with mentor available for suggestions

Mentors will have curriculum that has been specifically developed by our Foundation as their guide, along with materials for short, simple 10-20 minute experiments. The mentor’s main focus is to inspire and guide the group of students through fun, hands-on experiments. Students are expected to develop and proceed with their hypothesis and experimentation on their own for the most part; however, they may need help in this area, depending on their skill level.

Welcome! We are excited to have your students enrolled.  The after school or summer school program that your child is enrolled in has been selected because the aim to enhance a STEM area is also that program’s goal for your students. Since the school’s program is STEM-based, we will select which STEM professionals area of expertise matches with what level and area your student will be learning.
 
One or more STEM professionals will join your child’s class as mentors to talk to the students about their careers and how they got to be scientists, technicians and engineers. Not only will they inform the class of jobs in STEM, but they will also take them through the scientific method or engineering process and help your student design their very own experiments!
 
Once the RSM Program is complete, your student will be armed with all the knowledge needed to participate in the Sacramento Regional STEM Fair! They will be given a STEM Fair Folder as well as provided information on how to put together a Project Board for a STEM Fair! Visit our Awards Page and see what great awards and recognition your student could earn!
 
We look forward to working with you closely and seeing your students flourish under STEM!

What does the Program Entail?

STEM Fairs are a major competition for middle school and high school students. Each spring, thousands of young people exhibit a STEM project they have developed across California. At the Sacramento STEM Fair, students from the greater Sacramento area present projects they have developed during the school year, in one of the following seven categories: Applied Engineering, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Biology & Health Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Software & Technology, Physical Sciences & Math, and Sustainable Technology.  Competitions are held throughout the Sacramento Region, and many are organized by the partners of the Sacramento Regional Science and Engineering Fair Foundation (dba NorCal STEM Education Foundation) Network.
 
To develop their STEM Fair projects, students sometimes need specific assistance that their schools or parents cannot provide. In other cases, students are required to carry out their project with the help of a STEM professional. A mentor can be an invaluable resource for a student who wishes to complete a project in compliance with the STEM Fair Rules, or whose project requires special assistance in order to advance further. At the same time, the student has an opportunity to further explore the world of science, engineering, and research.
 
In short, a mentor is an experienced scientist, technician, engineering or mathematician who volunteers his or her time and skills to:

  • STEM subject knowledge, extended to career pathways and options for further studies.

  • STEM fair project development, focusing on creating hypotheses to solving issues applicable to real life.

  • Execution of project goals and research through becoming an expert in the scientific or engineering design method & learning all necessary safety procedures when working on experiments.

  • Collaborative skills, project management, and other areas of Common Core relative to STEM projects.

  • Transfer knowledge;

  • Guide students in terms of future studies and scientific or engineering careers.

Mentoring is intended to extend the opportunity to participate in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) Fair to students beyond those students who complete projects independently at home or during school hours.  This program is a supplement to school-year teachings and will range in difficulty dependent upon grade level and individual student achievement. The program curriculum is also aligned with the newly implemented Common Core Standards and the to-be-implemented Next Generation Science Standards.
 
Through this program, students will receive assistance, guidance and direction in the following areas:

  • STEM subject knowledge, extended to career pathways and options for further studies.

  • STEM fair project development, focusing on creating hypotheses to solving issues applicable to real life.

  • Execution of project goals and research through becoming an expert in the scientific or engineering design method & learning all necessary safety procedures when working on experiments.

  • Collaborative skills, project management, and other areas of Common Core relative to STEM projects.

Mentoring is intended to extend the opportunity to participate in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) Fair to students beyond those students who complete projects independently at home or during school hours.  This program is a supplement to school-year teachings and will range in difficulty dependent upon grade level and individual student achievement. The program curriculum is also aligned with the newly implemented Common Core Standards and the to-be-implemented Next Generation Science Standards.
 
Through this program, students will receive assistance, guidance and direction in the following areas:

Your student will be encouraged to continue their STEM research and development after the summer school program has ended. Participation in the Sacramento Regional STEM Fair (Sac STEM Fair) is a perfect culminating event for students to participate in.

Hooray! You’re enrolled! What does that mean? Well, it means that you will have one or more STEM professionals join your class as mentors to talk to you about their careers and how they got to be scientists, technicians and engineers. Not only will they inform you of jobs in STEM, but they will also take you through the scientific method or engineering process and help you design your very own experiments!
 
You will be a STEM expert in no time!

What does the Program mean?

As a student participant in the program, you will have a mentor visit your summer or after school class for one hour a week to guide you and a group of your classmates through inquiry-based hands-on experiments and the scientific and engineering design process.
 
The mentor will inform your group about their career path and where it has taken them! Many scientists and engineers have great stories to tell. The mentors will also help your group develop your own hypothesis based on the STEM area that you are interested in. They will help with research and development of your experimentation.
 
At this point you will have great beginnings of a STEM Fair project. You are encouraged to register with the Sacramento Regional STEM Fair! During the Mentoring Program you will have access to scientific and engineering knowledge that will really help you make your science fair project a breeze! You will also be given a folder explaining all the rules and regulations so that you know when and how to apply and what experimentations is allowed!

Get ready for a program full of experimentation and have fun!!

Get Involved

Sign up to be a Mentor.
Signing up is simple – register online now!

Enrollment

Enroll your students’ class, after school, or summer program.

Sponsorship

Visit our Sponsors page to learn more on how to become a supporter!