The Sacramento Children’s Museum in Rancho Cordova has launched a new program to bring “STEAM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities to local elementary schools for free. This program is called Van Go! and has recently hit the streets. First and second graders at Sunrise Elementary School were lucky enough to experience the “Building & Engineering” lesson this week. Each class spent an hour experiencing hands-on learning activities that included building a house or a car with a Rigamajig large scale building set, building towers with marshmallows and spaghetti, and creating parachutes to be sent through a wind tunnel.

Teachers often have a need for outside resources that they can use to supplement and enhance their current lesson plans, but such resources can get costly. The Sacramento Children’s Museum wanted to help by bringing resources directly to Rancho Cordova elementary schools at no cost. The Van Go! program activities range from literacy-based programs, to science and STEAM programs, to creative and artistic lessons. Each student who participates also receives a free pass to the Sacramento Children’s Museum.

“The City of Rancho Cordova is a vibrant community that values education and the arts for our youth,” said Council Member Linda Budge. “We are proud to be able to bring the Van Go! program to Rancho Cordova elementary schools, thanks to a $40,000 grant from the voter-approved Community Enhancement Fund.”

The Van Go! program is made possible through a partnership with the City, Sacramento Children’s Museum, and school districts, as well as a grant from the City’s Community Enhancement Fund.