STEAM begins!

Our first STEAM time! 

The excitement was palpable in the room as student came in and sat in the circle. Students shared what the letters of STEAM stood for. They quickly figured it out:

Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Math

There were lots of discussions about whether items like watches and glasses are technology. The kids settled on technology as being something that makes life better for people. 

Students watched this video of Molly and her chore-working creations. They looked for elements of STEAM within this video.

Then students were given a challenge to create the highest house possible with playing cards. No other rules!

They went right to it.

And we are off and running. And we discovered the only rules of STEAM time:

1. Use the material and tools to make things

2. If you can imagine it you can make it. 

3. Use failure as an opportunity. 

We are going to use these design elements for our STEAM challenges. Thanks for helping us meet the Donor's Choose goal and for your support!

(post by Katy Farber, working with the STEAM team here at OQS as a professional development coordinator at Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education at UVM).