STEM Summer Institute 2026

Place-based environmental education projects for upper elementary students showing examples of how to weave together Next Generation Science Standards with the rich cultural heritage of Montana’s tribes through Indian Education for All initiatives. Beginning with an exploration of Yellowstone’s extremophiles, where students analyze energy flow and chemosynthesis while honoring the traditional stewardship and sacred connections of the Crow and Shoshone people to this unique landscape. Building on traditional native knowledge from a variety of environments, students learn how resources of the land were used for survival. The theme of environmental mastery travels through the biomes; tundra, prairie, desert, and deciduous forest, highlighting Indigenous engineering, investigations into pH natural chemistry, long-term observation to translate temperature data into a physical tapestry of environmental change and finally, the "Prairie’s Renewal" project demonstrating the intentional use of cultural burning by Plains tribes as a sophisticated tool for ecosystem management and nutrient cycling. Collectively, each project emphasizes that science is deeply embedded in the history of the land, encouraging students to develop a profound sense of stewardship by combining modern scientific inquiry with the enduring wisdom of Indigenous perspectives.

In this hands-on session, educators will explore a simple beadwork tool using pony beads and wooden dowels to investigate patterns, counting, and mathematical structure through culturally grounded design. Participants will experience the activity as learners, reflect on connections to student choice and social-emotional learning, and consider ways to adapt the tool to grade-level standards and classroom contexts. This session models how tactile, culturally meaningful materials can humanize mathematics and deepen student engagement across grade bands.

This session explores how NotebookLM can serve as a reliable, teacher‑curated knowledge hub in STEM classrooms where students often struggle with attention during lectures and face increasing risks of misinformation from open‑ended AI tools. By consolidating vetted articles, datasets, and reference materials into a single notebook, teachers can limit unreliable sources while giving students a safe space to verify concepts and support their lab investigations. The approach reduces the need for heavy lecture and note‑taking, allowing more time for hands‑on, inquiry‑driven activities while ensuring students build understanding from accurate, intentional resources.