STEAM CREW

Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Mathematics

At Simons Valley School we have a program called STEAM.  This program runs first thing in the morning when our sister program called SPARKS occurs.  Students who participate in SPARKS are students who need a high intensity elevated heart level prior to learning to help them focus through out the day.  Students in STEAM, are those students who don't fit into the SPARK profile. STEAM students are identified by teachers in grades 4,5,6.  When students participate in STEAM they are not permanently in the 'spot' for the rest of the year.  We approach this program in rounds.  Through rounds, we are able to allow more students to participate in the iteration process. Student who participate in STEAM go through a series of design challenges utilizing the design loop.  They are then required to fill out a google form identifying their own project that they want to work on.  I tell students that their self identified project needs to help someone or themselves in some aspect of their life. They then proceed to work on their project during the STEAM time utilizing the THINK/MAKE/IMPROVE rubric as a guide to steer their thinking.  At the end of the round, which lasts about a month, students then pitch their idea to a panel of parents, students, and teachers during a lunch hour period.  Students participating in STEAM that have successfully pitched their ideas are then asked to share at our Parent Council meeting. Currently we are in our second round of STEAM and planning stages for myself has been an iteration process.   I am excited to see what our 2nd round of students will come up with to help someone.
If anyone has any idea's or current problems that you feel students would be able to help you solve by building a prototype and then pitching their idea; please leave a comment.