Presentation description

Fort Washakie School on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, serves a predominantly Native American population and faces significant academic challenges, including high absenteeism and a graduation rate of around 34.8%. These rates are well below the national averages for Native American students and the general U.S. population. To address these issues, we developed a specialized STEM curriculum integrating Place-Based Education (PBE); which leverages local attributes, such as climate, ecology, culture, and history, to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. By incorporating locally relevant elements, this curriculum aims to create a sense of belonging and connection to science among Native American students. Three STEM modules; Air Quality, Renewable Energy, and Mental Health, were developed and will be aligned with Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) standards to ensure integration into the school's courses. These modules include lecture slides, teaching notes, and companion guides to support both students and instructors. This PBE approach has shown to improve community engagement, problem-solving skills, retention rates, and students' sense of agency. By fostering a connection to the local environment and addressing environmental challenges, this project aims to increase interest in STEM at Fort Washakie School, and provide an equitable learning environment adaptable to other communities facing similar challenges