Kindergarten students at Northside Elementary School are broadening their horizons through a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math class.
The goal of the STEAM class is to spark student's natural curiosity, teach them problem solving skills and encourage out-of-the-box thinking, according to teacher Eumia Fullerton. The new class replaces art in the school's lineup of special class rotations, and incorporates art standards into a curriculum designed to encourage creativity and engage students.
On Friday morning, a room full of five-year-olds were building three-dimensional sculptures using cardboard circles. In the process, they were learning about art, engineering and working collaboratively.
Earlier in the week, the students had each colored and cutout a cardboard dot about three inches in diameter. On Friday, they learned about sculptures and the importance of making them pleasing to the eye as well as structurally sound. They also learned that the librarian needed something to decorate the library.
After the lesson, Fullerton led the students through a collaborative design process to decide how to solve the librarian's problem, what kind of a sculpture to build and how to hold it together without glue or tape. Once a final solution was decided on, students were called up to each add a dot to the growing structure.
The project is just one example of the way Fullerton is incorporating STEAM subjects into the class. Next week, the class will be learning about animal habitats and making clay animals. Later in the year, students will be learning about lab safety and doing experiments, and doing projects such as making elephant toothpaste.
Students are also learning the meaning of words such as artist, collaborate and engineer, and studying scientists and engineers who have made an impact in the world. Maker space, an area in the classroom where students have creative freedom to make designs out of all kinds of materials, is also an important component in the class.
Principal Michelle Paden believes the class will help students become more engaged in learning in all areas, including disciplines that don't fall under the STEAM umbrella, such as literacy. Students can't help but learn literacy standards while they are studying STEAM subjects, she said.
The idea for Northside Elementary's STEAM class was born when the school's longtime art teacher left last year. Paden saw the opening in the special class rotation as an opportunity to think outside the box. Art standards are already well covered in the student's classroom activities, and continue to be covered in the STEAM class, so Paden wanted to add science and engineering, something that many students haven't had a chance to experience. The class is also a great fit with the Next Generation Science Standards, which will be fully implemented next year.
Paden hopes to prepare kindergartners for the jobs that will be available in 20 years when her young students graduate from high school and college. Fullerton hopes to open her young student's minds to the possibilities so they can be the next generation of innovators.
Paden and Fullerton also hope the class helps all students, but girls in particular, become more interested in STEAM fields. Only 11 percent of engineers are women, yet 50 percent of the population is female, Fullerton said. The classroom focuses on being gender neutral, and emphasizing that building is a fun activity for both girls and boys, she said.
Students love the STEAM class just as much as long-time favorites such as recess and P.E., according to Paden. During parents night last week, students were very excited to take their parents and show them the new classroom.
"They love it," Paden said. "I'm amazed at how creative they are and how they are developing problem solving skills."
General News on 09/25/2016