STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Activities involving these fields have a significant impact on kids. 

It might look like your kids are just playing, but they are doing so much more. Look closely, and you will see the design process in motion. You will see critical thinking skills in action, and you will notice problem-solving at its finest.  When kids play, they learn about the world around them!

In this Flex class, each week, on Monday & Wednesday mornings, I will be posting an ABC STEAM Challenge (on the classroom wall) that correlate with two letters of the alphabet. (Examples: Letter Aa: Create an ANT that can stand on 6 legs, Letter Bb: Make a BUBBLE wand that blows BIG bubbles) For each challenge, there will be a PDF sheet (with pictures) to encourage brainstorming and design drawings. This sheet will walk you step-by-step through the Engineering Design Process. There will also be a PDF sheet to create a journal with and record and their final process and give details on what they learned worked and didn't work. 

I will provide suggestions for common materials around the home to use, but this is where your child can use their own critical thinking skills to develop their own ideas too! Completed challenges are to be posted in the classroom by each Friday, so students can receive individual feedback from the teacher and other students in the class. 

As a flex class, we want to feel connected as a team! I will be posting classroom wall posts for questions and updates. These posts will be a great place to brainstorm with myself and the other students in the class. You will also be able to post photos and videos of your progress. I can/will share pictures of my own projects to help, with brainstorming ideas.  I will also be sharing a couple of child-appropriate videos describing the engineering process, and the science behind a few of the challenges, as well as the different types of engineers. Students are asked to comment on classroom posts at least once a week, however, they will be encouraged to interact with as many posts as possible.

During the last week of class, we will have a post to share our favorite challenge from the month. I will ask for a short video to be posted from each student, explaining the challenge they chose, what they learned from it, and why it was their favorite.

I will also announce a time, where I will open the live classroom, and anybody available is welcome to jump on, share what they are working on, ask questions, brainstorm with others, etc... 

I will be available through a live meeting or private messaging, throughout the week, if your student is in need of any assistance with their challenge.  

In part one we will make it through Challenges A-I in this 4-week course. 

This course does not build on the other parts (1,2,3). You are welcome to take part 1, 2, or 3 at any time.