“Science is not opposed to storytelling. Science is a genre of storytelling. Stories of the real world, inspired by observations thereof.”~Sean Carroll

Science meets storytelling in this literature-based STEM class.  Students will explore mythology, fairy tales, folklore, and legends from a whole new perspective: as a scientist, an engineer, or an artist!  Weekly STEM challenge projects will be inspired by well-known tales of old.  

Working together or individually, students will complete a project that tests their creativity, ingenuity, and problem solving skills.  Like the mighty Heracles...will they be up to the task?  In fact, inspired by the 12 Labors of Hercules, this course is designed with 12 missions per "segment" (1 per week, with a new batch every 12 weeks for 48 weeks or one full year).  Students can join in at any time, and track their accomplishments by collecting stamps for their "STEAM Legends" Passport.

Each class will include:
--Group welcome with optional warm-up activity, plus review of supplies, etc
--An introduction to a well-known myth, legend, folktale, or fantasy legend
--A brief exploration of the STEAM concepts we will be testing/exploring in our projects
--An outline of the weekly challenge/parameters plus any tips/tricks  OR a step-by-step build/project led by the instructor
--Time to work on the challenge with instructor guidance and support (sometimes individually, occasionally in breakout rooms with partners or groups)
--Presentation of completed or in-progress projects, with reflection prompts from teacher that help to reinforce and enhance the learning experience and concepts

This class is built on the concept of Project-Based Learning.  While some projects will be guided to provide a framework of understanding and a basic starting point, many of the weekly challenges will be mostly open-ended.  The goal of this class is experimentation, collaboration, and creativity in a positive, affirming environment.  The goal is NOT to be "right" or "wrong" but to be playful in our experimentation, discovery and curiosity.  The students may not finish their projects in class.  In such cases, they will be encouraged to continue working on them after class and to share their results via classroom posts (photos, videos, etc) or at the beginning of the next meeting.  

Weekly themes are subject to change per teacher discretion, and will be updated in the listing and classroom posts as necessary.

Fall 2023 Themes:
Week of Sept 10:  Welcome to Greece: Column Construction LEGO Challenge
Week of Sept 17:  Stories in the Stars: Myths and the Constellations
Week of Sept 24:  Wings for Icarus
Week of October 1: no class
Week of October 8:  Minotaur and the Labyrinth Maze Challenge
Week of October 15:  A Tower for Atlas
Week of October 22:  Mythical Monsters Chimeric Hybrid Lab
Week of October 29:  Flights of Fancy: Flying Dragon Challenge
Week of November 5: Escape from the Underworld (Escape Room challenge)
Week of November 12: MYTH-MAKERS Challenge (open-ended STEM challenges inspired by mythology)
Week of November 19: NO CLASS due to US Holiday
Week of November 26: MYTH-MAKERS Challenge THE SEQUEL
Week of December 3: Mythical Maps (Fantasy Mapmaking Workshop)
Week of December 10: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: (Scylla and Charybdis and WHIRLPOOLS)--if you have a "tornado maker" tool, please bring it! Extra supplies and water needed for this class.
Week of December 17: TBD
Week of December 24: NO CLASS
Week of December 31: NO CLASS
Week of January 8: Cardboard Chariots Challenge (please bring loads of cardboard, tubes, etc)
Week of January 15: Ukrainian Folktale: The Mitten (knitting and pixel art)
Week of January 22:  Bells and Whistles (to scare off trolls!) --science of sound and DIY project
Week of January 29: NO CLASS
Week of February 4: Yggdrasil and the 9 Realms (Free-standing Tree Building Project)
Week of February 11: Love is in the Air (Gods of Love and Bow and Arrow project)
Week of February 18: Rainbow Bridge: The Bifrost (bridge engineering)
Week of February 25: MYTH MAKERS Fun Week (open ended stem challenges inspired by Greek myths)
Week of March 3: St Patrick's Day Snake Snatcher
Week of March 10:  Leprechaun Lockdown
Week of March 17:  Rainbow Crow and Fire Science (and Safety)
Week of March 24:  Rainbow Magic and Myth (make a rainbow!)
Week of March 31:
Week of April 7: The Myths of the Seasons (Persephone and Demeter) + a "harvest" planting project
Week of April 14: Pandora's Box (origami creative project)
Week of April 21: Island Getaway: Trouble in Paradise! (Island Myths and Disaster Challenge)
Week of April 28: May the FOURTH Be with You (Star Wars STEM--a MODERN Myth!)
Week of May 5: (NO CLASS Friday, 5/10) May Day, May Day! (Roman Goddess Flora, May Poles, and SO MANY FLOWERS!)
Week of May 12: (NO CLASS Wednesday. 5/15) May Day, May Day! (Roman Goddess Flora, May Poles, and SO MANY FLOWERS!)
Week of May 19: Wed classes: May Day, May Day!    Friday classes: Myth Maker STEM Challenges OR Hybrid Challenges (STEMology FUN WEEK)
Week of May 26: (World Meteorology Day was May 20!) Gods and Goddesses of the Weather (Meteorology STEM Challenges) 
Week of June 2: Fairy Tale STEM Challenges
Week of June 9: NO CLASSES (Vacation for Miss Alex)
Week of June 16: It's Always Sunny in ... Rome? (Sol, the Sun God and Solar Power)
Week of June 23: Capture the Loch Ness Monster
Week of June 30: NO CLASS due to the US holiday (July 4)
Week of July 7: SHARK WEEK! Hawaiian Shark Gods / Shark STEM Challenge
Week of July 14: The Wrath of Poseidon (ship building STEAM challenge)
Week of July 21: A River Runs Through It: River Myths, Gods, and Monsters (River-building STEM project)
Week of July 28: NO CLASSES
Week of August 4: Summer Games STEM Olympics
Week of August 11:  Spider Lady: Arachne's Web (weaving-based STEM project)
Week of August 18: MYTHMAKERS Stem Challenge (open-ended challenges)
Week of August 25: Gift Horses and Other Surprises (Trojan Horse-inspired cardboard STEM challenge)
Week of September 1: Journey to Mount Olympus (cup stacking challenge)

Fall 2024 
Week of September  8: Welcome to Greece: Column Construction LEGO Challenge
Week of Sept 15:  Stories in the Stars: Myths and the Constellations
Week of Sept 22:  Wings for Icarus
Week of September 29:  Minotaur and the Labyrinth Maze Challenge
Week of October 6:  A Tower for Atlas
Week of October 13:  Mythical Monsters Chimeric Hybrid Lab
Week of October 20:  Flights of Fancy: Flying Dragon Challenge
Week of October 27: Escape from the Underworld (Escape Room challenge)
Week of November 3: MYTH-MAKERS Challenge (open-ended STEM challenges inspired by mythology)
November 10: MYTH-MAKERS Challenge THE SEQUEL
Week of November 17: Mythical Maps (Fantasy Mapmaking Workshop)
Week of November 24: NO CLASS
Week of December 1: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: (Scylla and Charybdis and WHIRLPOOLS)--if you have a "tornado maker" tool, please bring it! Extra supplies and water needed for this class.
Week of December 8: TBD
December 15: Dash Away All: Reindeer Truths and Fiction (+ STEAM Challenge)
Week of December 24: NO CLASS
Week of December 31: NO CLASS



Future themes TBD, such as: Fairy Whirligig Challenge, Journey to Mount Olympus (cup stacking challenge), Three Little Pigs Construction Company building challenge, and more.

Class dates themes are subject to change at any time based on teacher discretion and will updated in the individual classroom posts.

PLEASE NOTE: Some classes may run over the expected class time, per teacher discretion, but students are never required to stay in the meeting past the scheduled end time.