IHADLA Summer Program for Boyle Heights 5th Graders Included STEM, College Prep, and Field Trips

Our rising “I Have A Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles (IHADLA) 5th graders at Sunrise Elementary in Boyle Heights began preparing for college this summer!

The Boyle Heights Program 19 Dreamers just completed fourth grade and will begin fifth grade in the fall.

As their final project for the summer, the Program 19 class was divided into four teams, and each team chose a college that all members were interested in. The teams researched the college’s history, academic programs, admissions requirements, mascots, and sports. They also built models of their college’s campus using arts and crafts supplies. The teams then presented their research and models to the rest of the class and competed for the titles of “Most Creative,” “Best Presentation,” “Best Team Effort,” and “Best Research.”

In the following video, the student Dreamers share their dream careers, which they wrote on their graduation caps:

In the following video, one of the Boyle Heights Dreamer teams presents what they have learned about Pasadena City College.

IHADLA 5th grade boyle heights pasadena city college model
Pasadena City College Model

Models from two of the other Boyle Heights Dreamer teams:

IHADLA 5th graders college prep Life Pacific College, Echo Park
Model of Life Pacific College in Echo Park
IHADLA 5th graders boyle heights UCSD model college prep
UCSD model
IHADLA summer program boyle heights college preparation
Final summer project during which teams chose colleges of interest to them

Our annual summer program helps our Dreamers transition into the upcoming school year. The program lasts four weeks, and this year it consisted of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum and enrichment activities. During the first two weeks, the Dreamers reviewed their school work from the previous school year, and during the last two weeks they prepared for their upcoming fifth grade curriculum.

In addition to participating in math and English classes, respectively taught by Mr. Pachano and Ms. Bonilla, the Dreamers were able to participate in enrichment activities, such as swimming at the local YMCA, and science projects facilitated by Ms. Glo. We were fortunate to have Ms. Glo back this year to help the Dreamers with some fun science projects.

The Boyle Heights Dreamers Participated in Two Field Trips During this Year’s Summer Program

The program ended with of a couple of fun field trips – a Sierra Club Hiking Trip to Eaton Canyon Falls and a trip to Knott’s Soak City!

The Dreamers are sporting tie-died shirts they made in their summer program art class.

IHADLA Boyle Heights Sierra Club hiking field trip to Eaton Canyon Falls.
The Dreamers wearing the tie died shirts they made in art class during their Sierra Club hiking field trip to Eaton Canyon Falls.
Sierra Club hiking field trip to Eaton Canyon Falls sporting tie died shirts the Dreamers made.
Sierra Club hiking field trip to Eaton Canyon Falls sporting tie died shirts the Dreamers made in art class.

The IHADLA Summer Enrichment Program in Boyle Heights Included a STEM Kite Making and Flying Science Project

kites IHADLA boyle heights summer program
Making and Flying kites
kites IHADLA boyle heights summer program
Making and Flying kites
Teacher Ms. Glo helping IHADLA Dreamers with kite enrichment project.
Teacher Ms. Glo helping Dreamers with their kite making and flying science project.

The Summer Enrichment Program in Boyle Heights Included a STEM Building Project

STEM Science project: tower building
Dreamers created a tower building using paper, tape, and 1 squared cardboard for Science Project
STEM science project testing weight bearing
Ms. Glo tested the weight-bearing capability of the tower the Dreamers created with books

STEM Science Project: Mapping the Planets

STEM science project: mapping the palnets
Mapping the planets

Swimming at the Boyle Heights YMCA was Part of Summer Enrichment Program for the Boyle Heights Dreamers

Thank you to the Boyle Heights YMCA for allowing us to use their pool.

Boyle Heights IHADLA Summer Program Enrichment pool

Boyle Heights IHADLA Summer Program Enrichment pool

Boyle Heights IHADLA Summer Program Enrichment pool