Full STEAM Ahead in Lower School!
This year St. Andrew’s Lower School students will make new discoveries as they learn to problem solve and work together in Science Technology Engineering Art and Math (STEAM) Lab classes. During their first week of school, students are already in the Lab building the tallest standalone structure using spaghetti and marshmallows. But the purpose of the STEAM Lab extends beyond any single task.
Before beginning any project, students are first learning “why” they’re in STEAM Lab: to make mistakes, and to work together to fix them. Students watch the brief clip “The Wisdom of Geese” to understand the power of teamwork, and how each team member’s ideas can fuel problem solving. The clip “Stuck on an Escalator” shows students that they are never truly stuck in a problem.
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Understanding the purpose of STEAM Lab releases a level of enthusiasm in students that takes Director of Curriculum & Instruction Geoff Harrison by surprise. He says, “They are so excited to tackle these projects, their energy is immediately visible. They’re not being graded, and there is no ‘prize’ for the winner. But they still give it all they’ve got.”
The learning process in STEAM Labs can extend over several days. After working in pairs on the spaghetti and marshmallow towers, students will reconvene later this week to improve upon their current design.
Launching a STEAM Lab this year came after much research and planning by Geoff Harrison and Lower School Head Kama Bruce. The STEAM Lab is just one way they hope to “change the culture of education,” by removing unnecessary obstacles to harness students’ inherent enthusiasm for learning.
