Heilicher offers unique programs, including participation in statewide and worldwide STEM competitions worked into the curriculum. And not only do Heilicher students participate, they win. These are two programs lower school science teacher and Makerspace educator Susan Vlodaver leads:
Fifth Grade Mars Colonies
Heilicher fifth graders participate in the Cosmic Leap Foundation’s Space Colony Competition, for which they learn about the challenges of living in space, research and design their own Mars colonies, and build 3D models using recycled materials. They then submit video presentations to compete with teams from around the world and get feedback from STEM professionals.
This year, four of Heilicher’s teams received the highest possible rating of Cosmic, recognizing their innovative engineering, mental health focus, and architectural solutions designed for life beyond Earth. And out of the 92 teams in the elementary division that designed colonies on the Moon or Mars, it was one of the Heilicher groups who won the "overall best team": Simon H., Liam R., Milo W., and Ezra Z.!
Third Grade MN ZOOMS Zoo Enrichment Engineering
In teams, the third graders research, design, and engineer enrichments for zoo animals as part of the Minnesota Zoo’s ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge. This year, the third graders created enrichment designs for the white-cheeked gibbons and presented them to zoo officials. Out of around 1,300 projects, two Heilicher groups moved on to the next round: Elly K., Maya R., and Noa S., and Saul H., Ari S., and Harrison W.
The two teams presented at the Minnesota Zoo, and for their The Amazing Fruit Shoot, Elly, Maya, and Noa won third place overall for enrichment design in the elementary category! Their prize is for excellence in white-cheeked gibbon enrichment engineering and design for the 2024-2025 ZOOMS Enrichment Design Challenge.
Kol hakavod (good job, all honor) to Ms. Vlodaver and our fifth-grade and third-grade scientists!