The McHarg Tinker Tank allows students to experience and explore STEM concepts and Computer Science including Digital Citizenship, Cyber Security and Robotics through PBL: Play, Project, and Problem Based Learning.

Because of McHarg Elementary’s young population a developmental approach to STEM is provided.

In Play Based STEM what the students are doing is not as important as how they do it. Mini lessons prior to play based experiences are focused on the transferable skills: Collaboration (cooperation) critical thinking, creative thinking (computational thinking) and the biggest focus being on Citizenship and kind Communication.

Students are given tools such as using “I” statements when working with a partner as the challenge in these sessions.

Project based and problem based learning sessions are provided within our PLTW modules and in regularly scheduled Tinker Tank classes. In these classes students have the opportunity to engage with STEM materials to solve certain problems.  Partners teams work with the same materials to solve a challenge of the day.