Our S.T.E.A.M. lab provides all students with an opportunity to apply science, engineering and math concepts in an engaging and hands on way. In the area of science, students utilize the scientific method as they create and code tools and objects that address real world problems.
Currently students are using robots Dash and Dot to apply several math concepts including measurement and geometry. In the younger grades students are creating two dimensional shapes and programming Dash and Dot to travel the perimeter of these shapes. In third grade students are finding the area and perimeter of regular and irregular shapes. Fourth and fifth graders are exploring the concept of perimeter in greater depth. They are asked to make shapes of a wide range of perimeters and to classify their shape. An example of this is as follows:
Select one Perimeter from the following: 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360
Construct a rhombus with this perimeter that is NOT a square. Record your drawing below. Be sure to include labels for side lengths.
Students in the intermediate grades are then analyzing the characteristics of the shapes they create and explicitly stating the differences between shapes. After creating and analyzing several different shapes, students are submitting a proposal for a hypothetical playground for a school. They are including their reasoning for a specific dimension based on what they learned.
Students in all grade levels appreciate the opportunity to apply math, writing and critical thinking in a fun, hands on manner. We thank Mrs. Fleet and Mrs. Bell for providing this opportunity!
