Science Learning with Hero Elementary: Blended Learning Resources to Reach Students Identified as Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

Hero Elementary is a transmedia educational initiative aimed at improving the school readiness and academic achievement in science and literacy of children grades K-2. With an emphasis on Latinx communities, English Language Learners, youth with disabilities, and children from low-income households, Hero Elementary celebrates kids and encourages them to make a difference in their own backyards and beyond by actively doing science and using their Superpowers of Science. The content is aligned with NGSS and CCSS-ELA for K–2.

This report summarizes findings from a case study with 4 large afterschool programs serving students from low-income backgrounds. We asked: 1) Do the design features of Hero Elementary support access to science learning for K–2 students identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged? 2) What adaptations do educators make to Hero Elementary resources to provide greater access to the content for their students identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged? The findings suggest that Hero Elementary is effective in engaging socioeconomically disadvantaged students in science learning and in helping them to see science as an academic topic in which they can excel.