Expanding our NES STEM Club to include a Robotics Club for 4th and 5th grade students will provide meaningful, hands-on learning that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Robotics introduces coding, engineering, and problem-solving in an engaging way that builds confidence and prepares students for future STEM opportunities. Many of our students have limited access to technology outside of school, and this club helps bridge that gap while nurturing interest in high-demand careers. With grant support, we can offer quality materials, enhance instruction, and continue inspiring young innovators at a crucial stage in their development.

Our school serves approximately 700 students, with 49% of our student body identifying as Hispanic and a significant portion classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) and economically disadvantaged. Many of our students come from low-income households and do not have access to extracurricular STEM programs or the resources needed to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics outside the classroom. These barriers create opportunity gaps that can limit academic growth, career readiness, and exposure to high-demand STEM fields. At present, our students have minimal access to hands-on STEM experiences, and no robotics program currently exists at our elementary. This project addresses the urgent need to provide equitable access to quality STEM education by expanding our current STEM Club and introducing a dedicated Robotics Club for 4th and 5th grade students. The program will serve approximately 20 students annually, with priority given to those who have limited enrichment opportunities. Adding robotics will not only increase student engagement but will also build essential skills in problem-solving, engineering design, coding, and collaboration—skills that are critical for success in both academics and future careers. We are fortunate to have parents and community members who are willing and eager to assist our students with the robotics portion of the program, offering valuable mentoring, technical support, and real-world insights. As STEM-related careers continue to grow at nearly twice the rate of non-STEM careers nationwide, it is more important than ever to expose students to these fields early, especially those from historically underrepresented groups. By creating a pathway into STEM through engaging, hands-on learning experiences, we can spark students’ interest, boost confidence, and support long-term academic achievement. This project will help level the playing field by ensuring all students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to develop 21st-century skills and envision themselves as future scientists, engineers, and innovators. 
Our students deserve access to transformative learning experiences that prepare them for success in a technology-driven world. The STEM/Robotics Club will be a powerful step toward equity, opportunity, and lifelong impact—with the support of a dedicated school community behind them.

To address the opportunity gap facing our district population, our elementary school proposes launching a Robotics Club for 4th and 5th grade students as part of our ongoing STEM enrichment initiative. This project aims to engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning that develops critical thinking, collaboration, and technical skills, preparing them to become literate, responsible citizens capable of applying academic and social skills in any life setting, in alignment with our district’s mission. Students will work in teams to design, build, and program VEXIQ robots to complete real-world tasks, with at least 80% of participants demonstrating growth in problem-solving and collaboration, measured through pre- and post-program surveys and teacher observations.  The program will operate within the school building twice a week after school, using existing classroom space and supported by trained staff and community volunteers. All planned activities, including team projects, robot builds, and an end-of-year showcase or local competition, will be completed by May 2025 with a proposed elementary district competition in May 2025. With grant support, we will purchase age-appropriate robotics kits, software licenses, storage materials, and supplementary STEM resources to equip our Robotics Club. Activities will take place in a designated classroom 1-2 days per week for one hour after school. We plan to serve approximately 20 students annually, with equitable access ensured through sign-ups focused on 4th and 5th graders, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Students will engage in a cycle of engineering challenges where they design, build, test, and improve their robotic creations. Lessons will be scaffolded to start with basic programming and gradually increase in complexity. The program will incorporate opportunities for students to compete in friendly in-house challenges and participate in local or regional competitions when possible. In addition, parent and community volunteers with technical experience will assist with mentoring, fostering stronger school-community partnerships. 
By introducing a Robotics Club into our existing STEM program, we will not only enhance academic learning but also inspire a generation of problem solvers, innovators, and confident learners. This project supports equity, opportunity, and engagement for students who need it most—and will serve as a model for personalized, mission-aligned learning experiences across our district.