Round Rock ISD fourth-grade students are now using Hot Wheels to learn Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum after Mattel donated $36,000 worth of Hot Wheels® Speedometry kits to District elementary campuses.
Mattel donated a total of 241 Hot Wheels Speedometry kits to 37 Round Rock ISD campuses, including the District’s curriculum department.
Hot Wheels Speedometry encourage inquiry and real-world, problem-based learning through play, hands-on activities and in-depth lesson plans, according to Hot Wheels. The curriculum is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and combines Hot Wheels and the corresponding track to accelerate learning.
“Teachers are so excited to have access to high-quality and engaging materials for their students,” said Vicky Arms, Round Rock ISD elementary science coordinator said. “Our hope is that these kits provide engaging STEM experiences for more than 27,000 students in Round Rock ISD elementary schools.”
The partnership aligns with Goal 1 and Goal 2 of the District Strategic Plan, which states “we will implement, enhance and support innovative teaching and learning tools” and “we will provide uniform access to technology in order to effectively integrate it into the classroom to provide real world experiences and support the curriculum,” respectively.
The District’s elementary curriculum staff has already provided hands-on training to 200 teachers and instructional coaches to ensure the Hot Wheels Speedometry are used effectively. The curriculum staff also kicked-off its inaugural STEM Leadership Academy this year with the kits and created an instant STEM challenge to demonstrate the kits. The STEM Leadership Academy invites one teacher from each elementary school in Round Rock ISD to participate in a six-month intensive study of STEM and how to integrate the disciplines into authentic daily experiences.
“We applaud Round Rock ISD for embracing the curriculum district-wide,” said Robert Goodwin, executive director of the Mattel Children’s Foundation. “The staff’s enthusiasm for engaging students with a fun and familiar toy, to ultimately teach them about math, science and problem solving, is wonderful and inspiring. These are memorable lessons they will be able to apply throughout the rest of their education and lives.”
