Cereal City Science

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My students are always looking forward to “doing” science, and yes, I say doing because the Cereal City Science Kits offer inquiry-focused, hands-on opportunities to learn the science and engineering concepts. – Kristen Miller, Kindergarten Teacher, Kalamazoo Public Schools

Program Type

Curriculum/Instructional Materials
Teacher Development/Training
Hands on/Project-Based

Target Audience

All Students

Teachers/Educational Leaders

Location

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan

Grades

Pre-K - 5
Grades 6 - 8

 Promising link

Program Impact

The Cereal City Science vision is to continue to serve the 300 current districts, their teachers, and students within Michigan currently using our program. In addition, CCS is planning to expand beyond Michigan to provide instructional resources, teacher preparation and professional development that will inspire and prepare students for STEM careers and the use of their sense of reasoning and science and engineering competencies in all future endeavors.

 

Program Overview

Cereal City Science by Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center has developed a Kindergarten through eighth grade three-dimensional science curriculum that is aligned with the Michigan Science Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.
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The purpose of the program is to provide good, STEM-based, problem solving, science instruction in the classroom with opportunities for students to engage in all four strands of science proficiency (physical science, life science, earth science, and inquiry and technology). The shift from inquiry–based science instruction to three-dimensional learning moves students from raising a scientific question that can be answered through investigation to the recognition of a problem that can be solved through investigation and design.

The changes in curriculum reflect more focus on reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving. The curriculum provides teachers with classroom instruction and science materials that include opportunities for interaction in the classroom, where students plan and conduct investigations, talk and write about their observations and emerging understanding, and discuss ways to test them. Each unit undergoes an extensive development and evaluation process.

How To Get Involved

Corporate supporters are welcome and encouraged to participation on our Policy Advisory Committee. The Committee is made up of area educators, business people, professionals, and philanthropists whohave an interest in the STEM education of area youth. 

Funders and Partners

The Cereal City Science program has developed into a self-sustaining not-for-profit program that is able to operate without annual support from funders and partners. The partnerships and funders in the Battle Creek community are supportive and generous when there is a need to deliver special programs to underserved populations and to improve upon the CCS curriculum. CCS has received the support of:

  • Kellogg Company – start-up and development support
  • WK Kellogg Foundation – program improvement and realignment support
  • Binda Foundation – program improvement and realignment support
  • Battle Creek Community Foundation – program improvement and realignment support
  • United Way of Greater Battle Creek – Science and Literacy Integration
  • Duncan Aviation – Student scholarships, business and warehouse management guidance
  • Denso Manufacturing – Business and warehouse management guidance/curriculum realignment
  • Davis Oil – Curriculum realignment
  • TRMI – Curriculum realignment 
  • AAAS – Curriculum realignment

Contacts

Nancy Kerre, Science Educational Consultantr
nancy@bcamsc.org
269-213-3905

View website

Design Principles

The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy.

  • Accomplished
  • Developing
  • Undeveloped

Overarching Principles

  • Need

    Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.

  • Evaluation

    Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.

  • Sustainability

    Ensure work is sustainable.

  • Replication and Scalability

    Demonstrate replicability and scalability.

  • Partnerships

    Create high impact partnerships

  • Capacity

    Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.

STEM Principles

  • Challenging and Relevant Content

    Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience

  • STEM Practices

    Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.

  • Inspiration

    Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.

  • Under-Represented Groups

    Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.