Should Rey Mysterio Drink Gatorade? Cultural Competence in Afterschool STEM Programming

The afterschool hours offer children unscripted and flexible time to explore their spaces and interests so they can learn in and from their surroundings. They engage with the world, exploring natural environments and connecting with others through social relationships. For example, during informal fútbol games with friends, children learn how to position their bodies to block opponents and take shots on goal. At home, they view cartoons on television and delight in characters that float by escaping from gravity. With their families, they prepare the garden in spring by collecting earthworms and expelling slugs. While interacting with the world, they build relationships with family, friends, and community members to co-construct understanding and share knowledge. Although teaching Western science gives children access to science professions, this education should take place in socioculturally relevant ways using the contexts of children’s lives.

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