The STEM Alliance teaches pre-K students about the solar system

Pre-K students at Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer School orbited around the room, simulating the movement of the planets, during their STEM lesson on Friday, May 3, 2024. Larry Spitzer, an educator from The STEM Alliance, visited the school dressed as an astronaut to teach pre-K students about the solar system.

The STEM Alliance, which partners with schools to provide STEM-focused lessons to students, visits several pre-K classes throughout the District each week. Students learn about various scientific concepts using fun and engaging methods of instruction.   

Students first learned about the solar system, and then eight of them were assigned one of the planets. They each went around a table to demonstrate how the planets orbit around the sun. Mr. Spitzer also shared facts about each planet with the students.

“I love that this is very interactive, and exposing young children to scientific concepts is really important,” said Helen Murray, pre-K teacher at NMHZ. “This is not something that they would normally be exposed to. The idea of doing an interactive lesson where they were literally the planets orbiting around the sun – and not just someone telling them about it – is a great way to learn about the Earth and solar system around them.”

Students also viewed models of constellations and colored planets to learn about how they look.