By now you’ve probably heard the term “STEM” (sometimes STEAM) when it comes to education – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math. At Friends Christian School, our students, preschool through 8th grade, are introduced to elements of STEAM in everyday learning. Our teachers encourage a STEM approach to learning that allows our students to tap into their creativity and imagination in all aspects. Here are some of the ways that our campuses incorporate STEAM in everyday learning.
Our students in Pre-Kindergarten (PreK) are introduced to a variety of STEM concepts through many hands-on activities. So far this year they’ve done some fun ABC bubble science, they’ve made predictions, tested & recorded results of which letters of the alphabet can or cannot blow bubbles and why, read the Bible story of the Tower of Babel, and were challenged to design & build their tallest structures by themselves.
Some other projects they’ve done included making predictions and tested whether items would sink or float. Each child tallied class results on their clipboards, and they’ve also explored the properties of light by building with clear magnetic tiles on a light board.
On our Elementary campus, our students enjoy a state-of-the-art STEM lab where they often visit and conduct science labs they read about in their books! This year with COVID restrictions, many of our labs are conducted outdoors, which add a fun element to their learning!
For Middle School students, there isn’t a dedicated STEAM focus, but the areas of speciality in STEAM are prevalent while on campus. For math, Mrs. Ilg, who teaches Math, is most proud of the fact that students learn to enjoy math. Many students come into her class in 7th grade and math is not their favorite subject. Her goal is to get them to see the fun in math. She integrates rhymes and movement in math to get the kids learning with their entire body and the kids just absolutely love it!
This year in Science, Mrs. S. Gray shares that she is utilizing technology for students to create their own website, record podcast episodes of their podcast “Think Like A Scientist” on Spotify, make interactive infographics, using Seesaw and Flipgrid to either tell or show what they know, and create an interactive display that showcases student created videos to describe the geologic time scale. Students are also engaged in designing solutions to problems such as structure safety during landslides and earthquakes and also how to provide clean water to 3rd world countries. In her 7th/8th grade tech elective, students learn 3D printing and coding skills by creating a video game, an app, and also program a Lego robot.
Our students gain the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and drive advancements in science and technology through what they are introduced to through STEAM in everyday learning, which will help them gain the skills required to succeed in today’s challenging world. STEAM opens the door to a more meaningful curriculum that is relevant to our students and the world they live in.
STEAM fosters creativity, builds resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, teaches problem solving, and encourages adaption. All of these skills are fantastic to carry through onto our students high school years and beyond! Our students are getting a head start in preparing for the jobs of the future!