​​I teach at a middle school composed primarily of military families, so many of them are unaware of what the Ala Wai Canal is. Based on my experiences from the STEMS2 program, I wanted to create a place-based unit that involved creating and throwing Genki Balls (mud balls that have microorganisms in them to help digest canal sludge) as a means of building connection and teaching about the Ala Wai Watershed. Through student reflections, I also wanted to assess the effectiveness of some of the STEMS2 pillars, specifically a`o (reciprocal teaching), mo`olelo (personal stories), and advocacy. Without being told the importance of the pillars, students used a Likert scale to rate the effectiveness of the pillars, and also reflected on why they thought a pillar (of their choosing) was effective.

STEMS² Pillars: Aʻo, Moʻolelo, Sense of Place, Advocacy