Schools add more STEAM, STEM to curriculum

Today’s schools across America are incorporating more STEM into the classroom curriculum and are even adding an additional category, STEAM. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEAM represents the same with the addition of Art/Design into the mix. This movement provides support for efforts to prepare our students for jobs that may not even yet exist. The emphasis in no way excludes language arts, math, and social studies; these are folded in.

In Joy Martin’s third-grade classroom at Cameo Elementary, students have been working on one of their STEM projects. Sitting at a table with Martin and several of her students, they explained. The first stage was, using a writing prompt, students had to create a presentation about their favorite planet. In order to choose a favorite they had to research all of the planets, using multiple resources required by their teacher: computers, science books, classroom reference books, and digital tablets.

As a kick-start to their research, Martin partnered her third graders with a group of fifth graders who assisted the third-graders with their research in groups of, generally, two fifth graders to three third graders. “The kids love to coach each other,” Martin remarked; interesting how helping others often brings out the best in us.

The finished student projects are represented in several ways: through original art and writing; a “foldable” representation with multiple elements; and a digital presentation using various resources, one of which is “Educreations.”

The young students who shared their finished digital work with me were Anjulie Villegas, Dalilah Mercado, Kaitlynne Sorto, and Jaslene Lopez. They explained their process and answered my questions about their favorite planets. They were quite the experts on their own and other planets. Their final digital creations contained their original work as well as their own voices narrating, to be easily shared with parents and added to their digital portfolios.

After the students’ explanation it was time to go out for afternoon recess. Walking behind several students, I overheard them discussing science and the things they’d learned.

Martin continued talking about learning in her classroom as we stood outside observing the kids. Recess was re-instated this year by Joe Strickland, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, and Martin enthusiastically described the impact on learning: “Students are so focused after recess, and the afternoon is becomes incredibly productive.”

Soon — Cameo’s “Space Day,” where students will present to their school.

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools. Reach her at: [email protected]