Thanks to a $6,551 grant from the Bender Scientific Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Broadalbin-Perth will expand Project Lead the Way to more than 450 students in grades 3-5 starting in the fall.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides teachers with curricula and learning materials that help students develop such skills as problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, communication and collaboration while exploring real-world challenges in the areas of computer science, engineering and biomedical science. Broadalbin-Perth introduced the PLTW “Launch” curriculum for students in grades K-2 during the 2018-19 school year.
B-P will use the grant to purchase teacher and student materials for each of the four PLTW units in grades 3 and 4, as well as two of the units for grade 5; the district will use other funds to purchase materials for the other two grade 5 units.
Beth Tomlinson, who teaches PLTW at TLC, reports that participating students in grades K-2 demonstrate more confidence in trying new things, and that they learn that making mistakes is a good thing that helps them improve on their ideas.