Knott Co 4-H partnered with Knott Co GEAR Up to reach 8^th and 9^th graders with a STEM based learning opportunity.  The project reached 331 youth throughout the six elementary and two high schools. The GEAR UP representatives distributed the projects making them available at every school location throughout the county. 

    The STEM brown bag project gave the youth parameters and goals to build a bridge with the highest capacity.  The outcomes ranged from 7 to 53 units of weight.  The designs of structures contributed to the varying results.  Their materials included typical household items; straws, Q-tips, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and scotch tape.  The units of weight were measured in candy pumpkins.

    The 4-H STEM project included a career connection to engineering.  The career connection component gave youth the chance to learn about attributes of engineers.  Youth then identified which of those attributes they were already proficient at and utilized during the lesson.   Those responses included, “good communication skills, understand the scientific method and principles, structure planning, decision making, creativity and understanding social content. QR code and google forms were utilized to gather responses and data virtually.

    GEAR UP promotes collage and career readiness. This will be an ongoing partnership this year.