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STEM Summer Camp: Build It! Ages 6 - 8
Susan Laforet, M.Ed Curriculum and Instruction
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(156)
Rising Star
This four day camp will introduce learners to the engineering design loop through hands on activities each day.
Class Experience
Beginner Level
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
This camp will contain a variety of STEM Design Challenges, which students will complete using the Engineering Design Process. Each meeting, the class will be presented with a topic, which we will research together in class. They may choose to work with a partner or alone, but each member will leave class with a planned solution to the problem. Each meeting will also feature a "mini-challenge" that will be completed during the class that day. The challenges will have certain criteria and...
4 lessons//2 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1What is an Engineer?Students will learn about the Engineering Design Process and how engineers work. They will work through each step, investigate strong shapes, and complete a simple design challenge together. No outside assignment for this lesson.Lesson 2Who Sank the Boat?This lesson will focus on the science concepts of density and buoyancy. The mini-challenge will be completed together - make a paper boat. A read aloud will present the challenge, connecting literacy skills of sequencing and summarization. After presentation of the challenge, students will design a boat that will carry a load without sinking (after class, on their own)Week 2Lesson 3Hurricane!Continuing with the theme of strong structures, students will first explore air resistance through a mini-challenge. Then they will learn about hurricanes and how they affect structures on the coast. The challenge to be completed prior to the next class is to design a structure that can withstand hurricane force wind (a hair dryer) for 30 seconds.Lesson 4Cross the RiverAfter a read aloud of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, students will apply the principals of civil engineering that we have learned to build a bridge that will span a distance and support the weight of PlayDoh goats. The class will culminate with a game about engineering.
- *Learn how engineers work through the Engineering Design Loop. *Explore the Engineering Design Process through daily hands on investigations. *Build critical thinking skills through the design challenges. *Apply principals of science to design challenges
I taught 5th grade science in the largest public school system in my state for 17 years. During that time I attended intense science training programs led by Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and i3Laser through the Smithsonian Institution/Department of Education. I was honored as Teacher of the Year on my campus and a finalist for the District Teacher of the Year. After 17 years, I moved from the classroom to become a STEM instructional coach, supporting teachers across the district in the STEM content areas, and finally as a math and science instructional coach, leading professional development and supporting teachers and students at low performing campuses.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Mastery Evaluation
Frequency: 3-6 throughout the classFeedback: includedDetails: After a mini-challenge during the class time, students will be presented with a design challenge. We will brainstorm possible solutions and students will have a plan before class ends. They will complete the challenge on their own prior to the next class.Grading
Frequency: includedDetails: Certificate of Completion provided at the end of the course.
A complete supply list may be found at this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X6Cui8aqU54Vzn0V84YDwg0eclCaIR7w/view?usp=sharing
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Class presentation will be through the Nearpod platform. Games may be played with Kahoot or Gimkit, and some activities will involve Google slides presented by the teacher. Additionally, pre-screened YouTube clips from Crash Course Kids will explain the engineering design loop.
Joined July, 2021
4.9
156reviews
Rising Star
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Master's Degree from Grand Canyon University
I have been sharing my love of science and math with elementary students in public schools for over 26 years. I served most of that time in the classroom and then moved into Instructional Coaching to help other teachers improve their practice in...
Reviews
Group Class
$18
weekly or $35 for 4 classes2x per week, 2 weeks
50 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-8
1-6 learners per class
