Full STEAM Ahead: The Science of Skateboarding!

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Our grant proposal seeks to address the multifaceted challenges faced by youth in low socio-economic communities in Los Angeles by integrating STEAM education through skateboarding. These challenges include educational disengagement, limited access to quality STEAM resources, physical inactivity, lack of exposure to diverse career opportunities, and insufficient community support. Students in these areas often struggle to connect with traditional educational methods, leading to decreased motivation, lower academic performance, and higher dropout rates (which lead to larger issues like drug-use and gang-participation). The lack of relatable and engaging learning experiences contributes significantly to this disengagement. With the lack of necessary resources, such as materials for hands-on experiments, this disparity creates an educational gap, leaving students without the tools needed to excel in STEAM subjects and limited awareness of and exposure to various career paths.

By integrating skateboarding- a popular activity among youth- into a STEAM program, this will increase student engagement and motivation. Practical, hands-on learning experiences make STEAM subjects more accessible, interesting and best of all- fun! Bringing new and exciting educational resources, such as materials for designing and building skateboards and ramps will help bridge the resource gap and offers students a richer educational experience that will help create excitement around learning- as well as exposing these students to diverse career opportunities. By promoting skateboarding through our projects, all participants will have the opportunity to receive free skateboards and safety wear. We hope this will encourage physical activity which can improve students' physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Here is a list of some of the projects we plan to do through our programs: Physics on Wheels- exploring the science behind skateboarding, Gravity Defiers- the role of gravity in skate tricks, Tech Decks- creating digital designs for skateboard decks, Ramp Revolution- design and build ramps, Board Builders- engineering, designing and building a skateboard, Ska-Math- calculating speed, angles and trajectories for skate tricks, Board Biology- investigating the human body's response to skateboarding.

Teaching STEAM through skateboarding in low socio-economic communities in Los Angeles offers a transformative approach to addressing educational and social challenges. By making learning relevant and engaging, providing practical applications of STEAM concepts, promoting physical activity, expanding career horizons, and fostering community support, this program has the potential to uplift LA's most vulnerable youth. It not only enhances their academic and personal development but also contributes to the overall vitality and cohesion of the community. This holistic approach equips students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in their futures, breaking the cycle of poverty, creating confidence in education and opening up new opportunities for economic mobility and personal growth. And, it will be fun!

Success for the STEAM project using skateboarding will be defined and measured through a combination of student engagement, academic improvement, skill development, and community involvement. We will track attendance and participation rates to ensure high levels of engagement, while pre- and post-assessment scores and teacher evaluations will measure academic improvement in STEAM subjects. Skill development will be assessed through project outcomes, skill-specific rubrics, and student self-assessments, focusing on both technical abilities and soft skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. Surveys will gauge increased interest in STEAM fields, and the number of students pursuing additional STEAM activities will be monitored. We believe it would also be beneficial to assess mental health through surveys on our first and last days of programming.