Grow MainStreet is a series of hands-on, competency based Business, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (B-STEAM) modules designed for later elementary and middle level students. Each module is aligned to academic standards, and integrates career and college exploration.
MISSION
Grow MainStreet through the delivery of a turn-key, easy-to-use, scalable, and inexpensive hands-on learning experience that can be accessed anytime, any place, and at any pace in person or online.
VISION
All students graduate career and college aware and prepared with the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to Grow Main Street and thrive in a global economy.
View Video Transcript
Hi there. I’m Vishnu, and I am a senior at City High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I’m Krishna, and I am a freshman at City High School.
We are currently interns at Maven Global. Our newest project redefines how we can help K-12 students interact with the real world and gain a deeper understanding of how the core skills they learn in their classes can be paired with technology to impact so many of the products they use on an everyday basis.
But first, a little about ourselves.
I started coding when I was seven. As my brother grew more interested in watching me click away on the keyboard, I taught him how to code when he was six.
When we had a chance to join Maven Global as interns, we were asked to bring our student input to this project to give our peers the opportunity to learn these critical skills.
Our vision was to figure out how we can help more students learn 21st-century skills at younger ages in an entertaining and interactive way. We realized that we need a new way to inspire confidence, grow a strong foundation and help students harness their potential.
The answer: Grow Main Street.
This plan contains six modules:
- Apparel and Fashion
- Construction and Design
- Farm to Fridge
- Health and Informatics
- Water and Waste
- Safety and Security
Each module contains a series of hands-on units and lessons centered around a specific industry.
Let’s look at the Farm to Fridge module as an example of how they work.
Students first learn about the dairy supply chain and the impact a small shock can have on the system. Next, they study the science behind pasteurization and why it is needed for dairy products to meet FDA guidelines.
This is followed by lessons on enterprise resource planning and the role it plays in planning and coordination. Afterwards, students have a chance to build their own IoT temperature sensor devices and learn how grocers use them to monitor the temperature of refrigeration.
Once device assembly is complete, students use CAD software to design their own casing units and then learn how to load a 3D printer to bring them to life.
Students then learn how to use Google Cloud Pub/Sub and IoT Core to connect their devices and push the data to the cloud. They also load encryption keys to ensure cybersecurity protection is in place.
The hands-on activities wrap up with students learning how inflation can impact a person’s ability to buy dairy products, as well as its effects on the supply chain and business sales.
After students finish the hands-on exercises, they are presented with different employers, college programs and high school Career and Technical Education opportunities based on geolocation and asked to make a logical connection between what they did and what they saw.
The final step of the lesson is for students to create reflection videos about what they understood from the hands-on activities and the module from a broader perspective.
Thank you for letting us share what we are working on here at Maven. We hope you invest in your students and help them find a pathway to prosperity so we can Grow Main Street.
Funding
Districts may use ESSR II funds and 23g funds to purchase material kits for student, as well as 3D printers. The platform mavin.cloud) and GMS curriculum is included at no additional cost. Five of the modules require unit kits, and two of them only require a 3D printer for students to produce their deliverables. At minimum, districts who apply will be awarded $300 per student who were identified non-proficient/partially proficient on the math and ELA portions of 3-7 MSTEP, PSAT8, and SAT. The actual allocation will be determined once the application closes on October 31 and the list of eligible districts is compiled, which may increase the per student allocation.
To be eligible for 23g, districts must develop plans that describe the evidence-based actions the district is taking to keep kids on track. The legislation also requires that plans developed for eligibility purposes be included in a district’s MICIP plan. Click on the hypertext below for step-by-step directions to update your MICIP plan by October 31, 2023, in order to be eligible for state funding.
GMS Objectives
- Increase expectations, opportunity and support for all students to engage in powerful learning opportunities that have value beyond success in school.
- Increase competence, confidence, and connection of student with B-STEAM.
- Create pathways to prosperity for all students to attain high demand, high-wage jobs in critical industries like agriculture, construction, defense, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Modernize education system and create a B-STEAM Culture.
How GMS Works
Grow MainStreet is a series of hands-on, competency based modules designed for later elementary and secondary students. Each turnkey module is aligned to academic standards, integrates career and college exploration, and can be facilitated in-person with a certified teacher, substitute, or another employee or volunteer. The seven GMS modules, emphasize competencies in:
- 3D Design
- Rapid Prototyping
- Additive Manufacturing
- Materials Science
- Computational Thinking
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Internet of Things
- Cybersecurity
- Informatics
Implementation is flexible to fit the needs and curriculum within individual schools, including:
- Adding a single module as an annual capstone activity
- Adding Multiple modules at specific grade levels to complement and extend existing units of study
- Using all of the modules within an exploratory course
- Creating a STEM based after school and/or summer enrichment program to address unfinished learning and help students prepare for postsecondary education and the workforce.
Districts may use ESSR II funds and 23g funds to purchase material kits for each student as well as 3D printers. As part of the purchase, the platform and GMS curriculum is included at no additional cost. Five of the modules require unit kits, and two of them only require a 3D printer for students to produce their deliverables.
To be eligible for 23g, districts must develop plans that describe the evidence-based actions the district is taking to keep kids on track. The legislation also requires that plans developed for eligibility purposes be included in a district’s MICIP plan.Click on the hypertext below for step-by-step directions to update your MICIP plan by October 31, 2023, in order to be eligible for state funding. (Note: $300 per non-proficient/partially proficient student on the math and ELA portions of 3-7 MSTEP, PSAT 8, and SAT as the minimum allocation for 23g if all districts apply and are deemed eligible. The actual allocation will be determined once the application closes on October 31 and the list of eligible districts is compiled.)
Construction and Design
Apparel and Fashion
Transportation and Energy
Safety and Security
Farm to Fridge
Health & Informatics
Water and Waste Management
Grow MainStreet Express Lane (9 wk Middle Level B-STEAM / Exploratory Course)
