The program, which includes 120-150 students per trimester, has integrated HS students to serve as facilitators over the last three years. 

The First Program STEAM and Robotics Program uses an inquiry-based approach to teaching programming and problem-solving and encourages students to evaluate their solutions and constantly redirect their thinking. While this design process builds both critical thinking and problem-solving skills, it also allows room for more direct teaching of life skills.  

Due to the challenges of each assignment, the Dalton faculty and HS mentors are able to teach directly and model collaboration, flexible thinking, persistence, emotional flexibility, communication, critical response, and many more invaluable skills to the FP students. 

The HS students see many similarities between the FP program’s processes and their own experiences at Big Dalton. 

The FP students are enjoying the opportunity to work side-by-side with their high school mentors.