Sacramento Republic, SMUD partner up to bring soccer-based STEM game to schools

Sacramento Republic announced Wednesday it is releasing a new board game, centered on math and science, to help school children learn from competition.

STEM Goals, a soccer-based math game, was created exclusively for Sacramento Republic with help from Learn Fresh, a nonprofit that provides learning experiences for kids. SMUD joined Sacramento Republic to help create the board game.

The game is a simulated soccer game. Players must answer questions from science, technology, engineering and math disciplines, going up and down the field using stats from Republic FC players.

“With more kids falling in love with soccer, creating a connection with math and science will inspire them to focus on building skills that will help them grow,” said Republic FC President Todd Dunivant in a news release. “With the support of our partners at SMUD and Learn Fresh, teachers now have a new, exciting tool to help students discover more about science, technology, math, engineering, and innovation.”

To start the first season of STEM Goals, Republic FC and SMUD launched a 10-school tournament Wednesday. Each school will send its champion players to the Stem Goals Cup Final, to be held next year at a Sacramento Republic game.

Taylor Street Elementary was to host the first games between fifth- and sixth-graders Wednesday. The top two students would face two Sacramento Republic players.