Upper Elementary

     STREAM in upper elementary education aims to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, encourage students to analyze information independently and make informed decisions.  Students use the Engineering Design Process to design, build, and test ideas in a variety of subject areas.  Additionally, fostering positive social interactions, teamwork, and emotional intelligence are essential aspects, preparing students for the challenges of adolescence and beyond. Overall, the goal is to provide a well-rounded education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary for academic and personal success.

Examples of STREAM projects in upper elementary:

• Hurricane Houses:  designing houses out of paper, clay, and popsicle sticks to withstand forces caused by wind and water

• Roller Coasters:  engineering and testing roller coasters for marbles out of pool noodles and duct tape to learn about energy and inertia

• Native American Structures:  building models out of natural materials such as sticks, mud, and leaves to research and demonstrate how Native Americans designed their shelters

• Volume Zoo:  constructing animals out of different 3-D shapes and calculating their volumes

• Domino Ecosystems: establishing domino fields to represent different organisms in a food web and showing the results of chain reactions and the inter-dependency of life on other life forms

• Sphero Dance Challenge:  programming Sphero robots to perform a choreographed dance routine with 2 or 3 robots

• Egg drop:  using problem-solving skills to determine an effective way to protect an egg with limited materials

• Balloons over Broadway:  creating balloons that move using a Sphero robot in front of green screen to simulate the Thanksgiving Day Parade

• Rescue rafts:  engineering and testing rafts to transport toy animals to safety

Pictures from top to bottom on the left:

Student with her hurricane house.

4th grade students eagerly waiting for their turn at the egg drop.

Student clutching her egg after a successful drop.