This Cause Connector project will help provide 1,000 STEAM packs for students in Southeast Ohio. 

The Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery aims to leverage the expertise of its connections and bring programs to elementary students in school and at home. This goal will be achieved by providing STEAM packs for students, teachers, and families. These packs will be formatted as booklets, videos, and synchronous virtual sessions, to accommodate each student’s situation and accessibility during the pandemic.

The activities in these packs engage participants by connecting in-school and out-of-school learning during a time when students are lacking many hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

While adapting to the pandemic, the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery quickly realized that while most programming could become virtual, some communities with a lack of access to broadband would struggle to stay connected. Thinking outside of the box and working with local partners like Community Food Initiatives and Central Ohio Music Therapy, STEAM Kits for students was born. Kits provide elementary students with access to materials and workbooks for hands on activities and experiments, mirroring problem solving techniques used in real life.