The Seattle MESA Elementary Project gives elementary teachers the tools and skills they need to engage underrepresented minority students early in mathematics and science, and starts 400 Seattle students and their families on the pathway to college.

MESA teachers use hands-on/minds-on activities and investigations in math and science with their students. They encourage students to work in groups or pairs, talk to and share with each other, think and write critically, question results and look for answers. Students begin to think of themselves as scientists and as mathematicians. They see math and science outside the classroom as teachers bring real world experiences to the children.

MESA Elementary Students

• Identify and aspire to careers such as computer scientist, engineer, and scientist.
• Are more likely to see themselves as "good at math."
• Are more likely to help their peers with math and science.

MESA Elementary Teachers

• Express greater confidence about teaching math and science.
• Can relate math and science concepts to real-world applications.
• Receive funding support for classroom math and science materials and field trips.

As MESA elementary teachers use district-adopted math and science curriculum, they use MESA resources to extend their students' learning opportunities. This may be in the form of guest speakers, field trips, or presenting learning extensions and real-world applications. MESA helps to support the teachers in numerous ways, either in or outside the classroom. This support has a direct and positive impact on the students in the class.

MESA Day in May is the event that brings the MESA students together. Elementary students will find themselves paired with students from different schools while they tackle problem-solving challenges such as building straw towers, sail cars, and catapults.