STEAM Schoolwide Programs for Rapid City, SD Elementary Schools
What Dakota STEAM Learning Delivers to Rapid City Schools
Dakota STEAM Learning delivers in-person STEAM schoolwide programs to K-5 elementary schools in Rapid City and the surrounding Pennington County area. We pack up our materials and come to you — your school does not need a makerspace, a lab, or any special setup.
During each session, our team teaches the STEAM lesson while your classroom teachers use the time for planning, professional development, data review, or anything else that supports your school’s priorities. When we leave, your classrooms are just as you left them. No mess, no prep burden, no substitute plans.
Session format: Each session runs between 60 and 210 minutes and covers one engineering project and one art project. We can serve up to three grade levels per day, rotating through them on your schedule.
The Innovate Package: Rapid City schools can book a single STEAM day or a full-year partnership of up to 12 sessions. A full year of 12 sessions gives each grade level up to 18 hours of dedicated teacher planning time over the course of the school year.
Serving Rapid City Area Schools and Pennington County
Rapid City Area School District serves more than 13,000 students across 17 elementary schools in Rapid City and the surrounding Pennington County area; from Canyon Lake to Corral Drive, from General Beadle to Pinedale. Dakota STEAM Learning works with schools across this district and throughout the Black Hills region.
Places we have visited:
- Murdo, SD
- Kadoka, SD
- Philip, SD
- Martin, SD
- Ft. Pierre, SD
- Rapid City, SD
Whether your school is in the heart of Rapid City or out toward Box Elder and the surrounding communities, if you are a Rapid City Area School District elementary school serving K-5 students, we are ready to visit.
We also serve Pennington County schools outside the city limits — including rural elementary schools in the surrounding area that are part of neighboring districts. If you are in the Black Hills region and want hands-on STEAM enrichment for your students, contact us to confirm we can reach your school.
What Rapid City Principals and Teachers Gain
When Dakota STEAM Learning is in your building, your educators are free. We have supported Rapid City and Black Hills area schools where teachers used that time for:
- Grade-level planning and curriculum alignment
- Reviewing student assessment data
- Meeting with instructional coaches or district administration
- RCAS-required professional development and training sessions
- Observing colleagues or attending in-building professional learning communities
Our founders Deanna and Jamie are former public school teachers with training in trauma-aware practices, PBIS, and conscious discipline. That means every student in the classroom – including students who need additional support – is in an experienced, professional educational environment while their teacher plans.
No substitute plans needed. No classroom prep required from your staff. We arrive, we teach, we pack up.
What South Dakota Schools Are Saying
Philip Elementary had an amazing experience partnering with Dakota STEAM! The hands-on activities were engaging, well-organized, and perfectly designed for our elementary students. Our classrooms were filled with excitement, curiosity, and collaboration as students explored real-world problem solving through STEAM.
The Dakota STEAM team made the entire process seamless — from planning to presentation — and their passion for student learning truly shines. Opportunities like this are invaluable for our rural school, and our students are still talking about the experience!
We are so grateful for this partnership and can’t wait to work with Dakota STEAM again.
Mrs. Skye Holsether
Also Serving the Black Hills Region
Dakota STEAM Learning does not stop at the Rapid City city limits. We serve K-5 elementary schools throughout Pennington County and the broader Black Hills region; including communities near Box Elder, Summerset, and the surrounding rural areas. If your school is within reasonable travel distance of Rapid City and serves elementary students, reach out and we will confirm whether we can schedule a visit.
For schools in other parts of South Dakota — from Fort Pierre to Kadoka to Murdo — visit our South Dakota communities page to see the full list of areas we serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve Rapid City Area School District (RCAS) schools?
Yes. Dakota STEAM Learning delivers in-person STEAM schoolwide programs to K-5 elementary schools in the Rapid City Area School District and throughout Pennington County. We travel to your school; whether you are in central Rapid City or in one of the schools further out toward the county boundaries.
How do you handle scheduling with an RCAS school calendar?
We work around your school’s schedule entirely. When you contact us to book, we confirm available dates that fit your calendar; including early release days, professional development days, or regular school days depending on how you want to use the time. We are flexible because every school’s schedule is different.
Can you serve multiple schools in the same Rapid City area trip?
Yes. If your district or cooperative wants to coordinate visits across multiple elementary schools in the same area on the same or adjacent days, we can structure that. Contact us to discuss multi-school arrangements for Rapid City or Pennington County schools.
We already have after-school STEAM programming at our RCAS school. Is your program different?
Yes, very different. Dakota STEAM Learning operates during the school day, not after school. Our program runs inside your existing classrooms during regular instructional hours, with your classroom teachers free to use that time for planning or professional development. We are not an after-school or extracurricular program; we are an in-school service that gives your staff planning time while your students receive hands-on STEAM instruction.
How do I get a quote for my Rapid City school?
Contact us through our contact page or by phone. We will confirm your school’s availability, discuss session preferences, and send a detailed quote based on your enrollment and scheduling needs. We respond within one business day.
