Hands-On Learning Achieves 100% Engagement
STEM For Kids highlighted a pilot program at YaYa’s Yuniversity achieving 100% student engagement through hands-on Root Protocol curriculum without screens. The emphasis is on exploration and persistence in building. Can this model be replicated in other STEAM settings?
YaYa's Yuniversity is a licensed child care center in Waxahachie, Texas, run by Kenyatta Henderson. The center aims to educate children beyond traditional curricula to foster lifelong learners. Their schedule runs from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The "Root Protocol curriculum" likely refers to the Root Cause Protocol (RCP), a research-based lifestyle approach emphasizing food-based minerals, vitamins, and stress reduction to restore bodily balance. It focuses on the interplay of minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, often overlooked in conventional health advice. The RCP's phased structure starts at the cellular level, emphasizing minerals like magnesium, copper, and iron metabolism. STEM programs emphasize hands-on activities like building, experimenting, and coding to extend learning beyond the standard school curriculum. They are designed to introduce science, technology, engineering, and math in engaging ways. Experiential learning is a powerful way to keep students engaged in STEM, with one study indicating that 92.6% of participants were inspired to pursue STEM degrees and careers through hands-on lab work. STEAM education integrates the arts with STEM to cultivate inquiry, creativity, and problem-solving skills. STEAM helps students connect learning to real-life applications, fostering critical thinking and teamwork. Employment in STEM occupations is expected to grow by 10.4% from 2023 to 2033.
