Hi everyone, it's Daniel here and I am very excited to get the S.T.E.A.M room and it's blog started this year. A lot of people, when they look at the S.T.E.A.M room might wonder and ask, "What is S.T.E.A.M?" or "What happens in the S.T.E.A.M room?" S.T.E.A.M is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. In the room we explore with lots of different materials in small groups. Working with smaller groups helps the children to focus on what they are interested in learning, and really encourages the children to communicate and work with each other. Some of the materials we have for the children to use are wood, plastics, metals, electronic parts, natural objects, tools, microscopes, cloths, yarn, art supplies, and more! With these items at their disposal they will be able to create, construct, craft, experiment and explore in an environment where the children can learn and grow from these experiences. I will be using this blog and these posts to give the people reading the insight into these experiences that the children are having in the S.T.E.A.M room and other S.T.E.A.M learning activities going on in other classrooms too.
The door is usually open for anyone to pop in and take a look and see what's going on. There will usually be something exciting to look at inside the room that the children are working on.
Over the past 5 years, children have worked on various projects in the S.T.E.A.M room. We have experimented with ramps and balls, taken apart computer and electronics, watching seeds grow into big plants, building towers and our own machinery and much more. Its a great space for children to make connections with either the unfamiliar, to understand it, and even things they are familiar with to get a better understanding of its potential uses. As they make those connections I am there to help facilitate and deepen their learning by engaging them with questions and experiments.
The S.T.E.A.M room is a place for children to explore, but it can also be used as a resource room for other classes when I am not available for them. It's a space where other teachers can come to look for materials that they my not have of their own and use it for projects in their classrooms. This is a communal place for everyone to use. Even if you are not part the school or can't come into the S.T.E.A.M room there are many ways you can help the room flourish. The S.T.E.A.M room is always looking and willing to take recyclable donations. If you would like to help donate things to the room please send me an EMAIL of what you would have to offer. Things we accept, old/broken electronics (Computers, toasters, microwaves, radio's, etc), wood materials (lumber, boards, scrap wood) for building, big cardboard tubes, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, plastic tubing, glass jars, etc.
I hope everyone is as excited as I am to see what ideas and thoughts come from the children while they enjoy their time in the S.T.E.A.M room. Check back often to see what children are working on/doing.
Daniel
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