Kid Spark Professional Learning

Kid Spark Professional Learning Grades: Pre-K – 8th Grade Number of Students: NA - Educators  Number of Lessons: NA Hours of Content: 90 minutes Additional Resources: Professional Learning Sessions Overview Digital Brochure Highlights: Enhance your staff’s proficiency with Kid Spark programs through direct support from a Kid Spark Learning Specialist. Our professional learning sessions, available both in-person and virtually, are designed to be highly engaging and hands-on, helping educators become confident STEM mentors. We enjoy working closely with educators to ensure they have the skills and confidence needed to inspire their students. Curriculum or Lesson Topics: Early Childhood STEM & Literacy Program Training (Grades Pre-K - 1st) This interactive virtual training introduces educators to Kid Spark’s Early Childhood STEM + Literacy Program. Developed for Pre-K–1st grade learners, this program supports all children in developing a love for STEM and building strong early literacy skills from the very start. Participants explore the Early Inventors STEM Lab through hands-on activities that highlight how materials support the development of early engineering concepts like strength, movement, and structure. The training walks through two core lesson types: STEM Foundations lessons, which follow a structured sequence to build early math and problem-solving skills, and Storytime Inventing lessons, which integrate literacy by using storybooks to inspire design challenges while strengthening early reading and communication development. Educators will explore lesson architecture, instructional resources, and strategies to support inclusive participation. Educators will take away: Introduction to the Early Inventors STEM Lab and its components Hands-on experience with STEM Foundations and Storytime Inventing lesson examples Review of curriculum structure, lesson types, and instructional resources Strategies for integrating literacy into hands-on STEM instruction, including vocabulary development, letter-sound awareness, and comprehension Resources for implementation and continued learning, including online tools and supports Upper Elementary STEM Program Training (Grades 2nd - 5th) This interactive virtual training prepares educators to implement Kid Spark’s Upper Elementary STEM Program for grades 2nd–5th. The session focuses on how students engage in hands-on learning across key STEM areas, including engineering, applied mathematics, coding and robotics, and renewable energy through real-world challenges. Educators build familiarity with the structure of the program, including unit progression, standards alignment, assessments, and available instructional resources. The training also emphasizes strategies that support student thinking, collaboration, and confidence, helping guide learners from structured experiences to more independent design and problem solving. Educators will take away: Introduction to Kid Spark’s STEM Pathways Lab and its components Hands-on experience with lesson examples and engineering challenges Review of curriculum, lesson structure, and assessments Techniques for engaging students in collaboration and problem-solving Resources for implementation and continued learning, including online tools and supports Middle School STEM Program Training (Grades 6th - 8th) This interactive virtual training prepares educators to implement Kid Spark’s Middle School STEM Program for grades 6th–8th. The session focuses on how students engage in hands-on learning across advanced STEM areas, including mechanical and structural engineering, physics, rapid prototyping and 3D printing, and coding and robotics through real-world challenges. Educators build familiarity with the structure of the program, including unit progression, standards alignment, assessments, and available instructional resources. The training also emphasizes strategies that support student thinking, collaboration, and STEM identity development, helping guide students toward more independent design, innovation, and application of skills. Educators will take away: Introduction to Kid Spark’s STEM Pathways Lab and its components Hands-on experience with lesson examples and engineering challenges Review of curriculum, lesson structure, and assessments Techniques for supporting student collaboration and tracking progress Resources for implementation and continued learning, including online tools and supports