SARSEF

Every child. Thinking critically. Solving problems.

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SARSEF

Every child. Thinking critically. Solving problems.

Notice and Wonder

  • Grade PreK–12
  • Year-round
  • In-person throughout Southern Arizona
  • Activty

SARSEF can bring quality, hands-on STEM education to you, whether in the classroom or outside-of-school time.

Our programs meet students and educators where they are

Through a diversity of programs that engage students, educators, and caregivers, every child gets to experience hands-on STEM learning with SARSEF. We offer adaptable programs that engage students in early childhood through high school with practices in noticing and wondering. Whether you need standards-aligned activities or only have an hour of time, SARSEF can bring STEM to you.

Educators and caregivers have the opportunity to learn along with their students

To succeed in science and engineering, students need the support of the adults in their lives. When educators, administrators, mentors, and caregivers understand and feel confident in their role in a student’s science journey, outcomes improve. SARSEF programs are designed to be engaging for students while also developing skills for the adults in their lives.

4,335 Students noticed, wondered, and grew their STEM skills with us in 25–26

95 Schools partnered with us to notice and wonder in 25–26

Teachers say, “After every session, students would ask when SARSEF is coming back. They really enjoyed the program because it is different from what they do, and they become creative.”

How it works

Available at all levels — kindergarten through high school — for classrooms, grade levels or whole school assemblies

Connect

  1. Let us know what offerings you’re interested in
  2. Complete a consultation with SARSEF

Plan

  1. Work with SARSEF to choose a curriculum that works for you
  2. Schedule your sessions

We come to you

  • We bring all the materials with low preparation required
  • Fill out a survey at the end of the program

In the classroom

SARSEF teaches PreK-12th grade students that they are already scientists and engineers. Through hands-on STEM learning, students are challenged to notice and wonder about their world around them. Students are motivated to investigate real-life problems, think critically and create meaningful solutions.

How do you go from student curiosity to completing a project, all while including state standards?

What Do We Wonder is a multi-session curriculum led by a SARSEF educator who facilitates hands-on learning with a class to practice noticing and wondering, building a testable question, and collecting and analyzing data. WDWW is designed with the student at the center as they engage with the best science and engineering practices through hands-on experiment design, data collection and scientific communication around a real-world relevant problem to the students. All materials are provided by SARSEF and curriculum content is grounded in Arizona Science Standards and encompasses math, language arts and social studies standards.

Participation in this program is subject to facilitator bandwidth. Priority is given to educators and classrooms in Title 1 schools.

Introduce students to the excitement and wonder of science and engineering projects! Sometimes generating an idea for an authentic research project is the hardest part. A SARSEF educator will facilitate students and educators working together to identify an issue they care about as they are guided through developing a science or engineering research project. Students leave ready to investigate their topic with a roadmap for their research journey or engineering design solution. Educators take away a better understanding of their supporting role in the process of student research.

Engage the entire class in strategies for using observations and natural phenomena to generate ideas and questions. These wonderings can lead to research questions and student-driven investigations, as well as data collection and analysis. High School outreach can take the form of a multi-session research series or a one-time workshop.

Outside the school day

SARSEF offers out-of-school opportunities that can engage the whole family in STEM concepts. These opportunities are flexible in time and location, and can be modified to fit any need.

SARSEF Afterschool is an out-of-school outreach program that offers hands-on exploration through science investigation and engineering design solutions. Students will engage in four to five lessons and activities around science and engineering in the real world. SARSEF’s curriculums cover various topics including forensic science, astrobiology, and ecology. With your school’s support, SARSEF will be facilitating the fun!

If your school is hosting students this summer, bring SARSEF in to take some programming off your plate. Our Afterschool Specialist will come to your summer program with hands-on STEM your staff doesn’t have to prep. Work with us to build your ideal schedule and get kids playing and learning with SARSEF this summer.

Roadmap to a Rockin’ Project is a community program in which a SARSEF educator facilitates students and the adults in their lives working together to identify an issue they care about as they are guided through developing a science or engineering research project. Students leave ready to investigate their topic with a roadmap for their research journey or engineering design solution. Parents, caregivers, and educators take away a better understanding of their supporting role in the process of student research.

Roadmap to a Rockin’ Project is a 1-2 hour workshop that can be held in classrooms, community centers, libraries, and school auditoriums. SARSEF is able to facilitate these workshops at the multi-school or district level. Please work with neighboring schools or a district coordinator to bring this program to your school.

Planning a STEM night for students and their families? Invite SARSEF to be a part of it. We have a variety of science and engineering activities designed specifically for families to engage in together. Collaborate with us to bring even more STEM to your family engagement night. Depending on availability, we can attend with a small exhibitor table or run a full dedicated workshop.

Offer your teachers confidence in teaching standards-based science and engineering processes and practices!

Using phenomena-based learning, SARSEF outreach professionals guide teachers on how to engage their students in creating quality science and engineering research projects by identifying meaningful and relevant real-life challenges. Teachers will explore thought-provoking hands-on activities, lesson design, and resources to make science and engineering experiences accessible to all students.

Sessions can be held virtually or in-person statewide in Arizona.

Sessions provided in the past include:

  • The Power of Inquiry: Designing Preschool Research Projects
  • Student-Centered STEM Exploration: Noticing and Wondering in Their Worlds
  • Ready for Research: Implementing Authentic Research in the Classroom
  • From Chaos to Cosmic Conundrums: How to Hold a Stellar School Science Fair
  • Together in Inquiry: The Power of Whole Class Science Projects
  • Empowering Innovation: Digital Tools for Next-Gen Science Fairs
  • Mentorship and Community Support in Student Research
  • Data Literacy in the 21st Century

These sessions are available for Professional Development, Faculty Meetings, Teacher Consultations, and more. SARSEF will design Professional Development to meet your needs.

SARSEF educators tailor programs to your needs!

Beyond those programs listed, SARSEF educators can tailor programs to your school’s individual needs! After a brief consultation, SARSEF educators will help build a plan that works for you.

We prioritize serving learning communities and students underrepresented in STEM. Notice and Wonder program participation is subject to organizational bandwidth. Please schedule a consultation today!

To schedule a consultation or sessions, please contact one of our Directors of Education:

Katherine Larned Ortega (Preschool-8th Grade) – katherine@sarsef.org

Brianne Loya (High School) – brianne@sarsef.org

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