STEAM Stories

STEAM STORIES

After School Program

STEAM Stories is an after school offering on Mondays for students in Grades PreK to Grade 1.  The students listen to a story and then work on STEAM projects related to the story.

The first week story was Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.  This book is about how a simple dot can lead to beautiful self-discovery when you are brave enough to persevere, be creative, and try new things.

The students completed three dot related activities.

First, students colored a sheet from QuiverVision.  The Quiver app is an augmented reality coloring app which turns pictures the students color into 3D digital representations which seem to float above the page.  The student's dots looked like beach balls above the paper and they could try to "hold" the ball with their hand.

Second, students created colorful spin art dots using SNAP Circuits. SNAP Circuits are a tool to introduce circuitry to young students who do not have the fine motor skills to work with wires.  All the components of the SNAP Circuits snap together.

Third, they also created digital graphic pointillism pictures using Pixie for the iPad.

These activities were in conjunction with International Dot Day on September 15, 2018 and the students received a certificate for their work from the Reynolds Center.

*******************************************************************************

This past week we read Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.  This story about a young inventor who learns from her great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) that when that it is okay if the first attempt at a project or design does not work.  The story explains that a first attempt is just that - a FIRST attempt.  An inventor or engineer goes on to have a second attempt and a third attempt, ...

For their project the students attempted to make a paper helicopter with the Rose Revere, Engineer pattern.  They found that these paper helicopters did not spin very well.   We discussed the Engineering Design Process and use it as they then created a second attempt using a different pattern and tested it.  These helicopters spun much better.

Early Childhood in the Innovation Lab

Early Childhood in the Innovation Lab

Even the youngest students at HCA enjoy working on challenges in the Innovation Lab.  While these students are developing their problem solving, technical, and mechanical skills through challenges, they are also working on their collaboration and communication skills. 

Kindergarten has worked with Zoobs and Zometools to explore "What Do You Do with an Idea?" and the engineering design process.

After listening to the story The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, PreK students were challenged to work with partners to collaborate on a Zometool shape.  Zometools are more challenging building manipulatives and students had to demonstrate perseverance and to remember that it is acceptable to make mistakes as long as they try again.

Nursery students were challenged to build together with plastic cups.  They decided that they wanted to build a zoo so we included the plastic animals.  They worked well together and came up with many creative solutions for the animals - they were surrounded by cups, on the cups and in the cups.

Our youngest friends are ready for their first video with the green screen!

A matter of perspective

Every grade has been welcomed back to the Innovation Lab with an introductory challenge.  For the Middle School this challenge involved Google Earth. They refreshed their technical skills while collaborating with a partner to take multiple images of the same landmark from different perspectives.  

While completing this challenge students were asked to respond to the question "How do you view the world?"  Their responses were thoughtful and enlightening.  

"I view the world as something that is always changing. Even the tiniest changes can make a difference."

"I view the world as a big question because we don't have all the answer to this world."

"I view the world as a place where all creatures can live and prosper."

"I think the world is beautiful, but it's not perfect.  I love seeing gorgeous sights and I hope I can see more of them."

"Earth is a very diverse planet, and we should try to preserve it, and protect its life."

"I view the world as a place where there is good and there is evil.  And when we are focusing on the evil, it is important to remember the good."

"I view the world as a bunch of different things - like a sea of opportunities, sea of people and dreams, full of wonders and mysteries, discoveries, something that we have to love and keep healthy, one of God's creations and most importantly my home."

Welcome

Welcome to the Holy Child Academy Innovation Lab blog.  This blog will be a window into the happening in the STEAM Lab.  Each week student activities and projects will be highlighted.