About the project

Research shows that reading texts with S.T.E.M. themes is one of the best ways for students to build literacy skills (including how to read, write, and reason with the language and text) while learning S.T.E.M. content and cultivating dispositions of science (Pearson, Moje, & Greenleaf, 2010; NRC, 2014).

This spring and summer, Haverhill Promise plans to build on the success of 2021’s Literacy Lunches series, only this time focusing on S.T.E.M. themed children’s books and project-based learning activities. Children will enjoy a free meal together while listening to a story related to science, technology, engineering, or math. They will then participate in an engaging, hands-on activity or experiment that promotes problem solving, creativity, and curiosity while reinforcing the vocabulary and themes they just learned in the story. In addition to the summer S.T.E.M. literacy series, Haverhill Promise volunteers will develop free take-home kits with a book and materials to complete a S.T.E.M. activity which will be dispersed throughout the year through local food pantries and after school programs. 

The S.T.E.M. Literacy Series will be geared toward children ages 5-10. More information, including dates and locations of programs will be released in the spring of 2022.

This Series is made possible by our Generous Partners

In September of 2021, Edwards Vacuum, in collaboration with Marwick Associates, Equity Industrial Partners and Dacon, broke ground on the new 135,000 SF Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Haverhill. To mark the occasion, a $20,000 check was presented to Haverhill Promise to fund the S.T.E.M. Literacy Series.

We are excited that 850 children will be fed lunch while their minds are fed science and will be given books to take home. “These are the future technologists who will be developing products at Edwards,” explains Debbora Ahlgren, General Manager of Edwards Vacuum. Adds Lauren Nowicki, program creator and Chief Communications Officer for Dacon “We are not only creating the foundations of a building, but are building foundations for life.” (From an announcement on the Dacon website)