STEM and develop critical thinking, explore and express new ideas to reach their goals. Given these basic requirements, FLATE has developed curriculum tools to help students prepare and succeed in Hi-Tech careers. The curriculum is also a handy tool for educators as it sheds light on new ways to tailor instruction. This new curriculum integrates common industry tour experiences and the new standards into a four-day lesson plan to build learners’ background knowledge in STEM areas, expand their vocabularies, and promote reading and writing success.

The new curriculum is aligned with common core/FL standards using the Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS) model. This model uses a multiple-strategy

instruction that promotes student development in reading, comprehension, vocabulary, content-area knowledge, and critical thinking about complex texts, and complements learning experience of students during industry tours. There are eight lesson plans that focus on different processes and/or aspects of manufacturing. Each lesson includes activities for four-day, 50 minute lesson plan. Topics covered include: Assembly, Automation, Electronics Assembly, Materials Selection, Product Design, Quality Measures: Metrology, Subtractive Machining, and Fabrication–Joining Welding.

manufacturing day in Florida curriculum in October. FLATE also pre-tested the curriculum during a professional day workshop for technology and industrial teachers from the School District of Hillsborough County. According to the survey, the CIS workshop was deemed successful. Out of a total of 18 survey results, 66.67% stated the lessons are very good/excellent way for teaching literacy. Same percentage also stated the lessons plans were clear and understandable. More than 50% of the respondents also agreed the lesson plans would be a valuable addition to the classroom.