STEAM Cycle 3

"We're geniuses!" exclaimed a fourth and fifth grade student as they high fived one another. When I asked them why they were "geniuses," they explained that they'd figured out how to make a conveyor for a marble to transfer from one cup to another. This conveyor is part of a pulley system they are incorporating into their creation for STEAM cycle 3 on simple machines and Newton's 3 Laws of Motion.

Students plan how their contraption will work

In this cycle students have researched the subject matter, are building a contraption that shows four simple machines and one of Newton's Laws, and sharing their knowledge in a Keynote presentation.

Throughout this cycle we have heard the children assess and evaluate the components of their creations based on the three laws and simple machines. Their conversations show learning, such as, "what you're doing doesn't show Newton's Second Law," explained one student. He went on to state the law, and demonstrate it for his group member.

We are also seeing growth in their ability to collaborate. Students formed partnerships to research and to prepare their Keynote, but also they have combined partnerships into groups of four for building their contraption. They merged ideas on the designs and redesigns. They distributed the work load, having each person or each partnership build different parts of the contraption. There have been disagreements, and other team members had to intervene and help to bring resolution. Mostly they have encouraged and bolstered one another.

Next Wednesday is the STEAM sharing day, 1:30-2:25, on the fourth floor. We hope you can join us!