Tara Jensen

Jensen’s innovative teaching project, “Discovery Lab,” is a hands-on learning environment that engages pre-K through 4th grade students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through inquiry-based exploration and real-world problem solving. Students investigate STEM concepts through interactive projects that encourage critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. Throughout the year, students will participate in engineering and science investigations focused on design, motion and forces, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. Activities planned include building and testing structures such as bridges and towers, designing systems that move through air or water, and conducting experiments related to plant growth and sustainability. Students will also explore food systems, observe plant development and contribute to projects such as pollinator gardens. Robotics and coding are introduced in the upper grades, where students design and test robotic solutions while learning about motion, efficiency, and problem solving. The Voya grant will be used to purchase additional STEM supplies to expand the lab and allow more students to participate.