ST 1.2

Students work independently and collaboratively in an inquiry-based learning environment that encourages finding creative solutions to authentic and complex problems.

Inquiry-Based Learning

At Munford Elementary School, we focus on real-world and locally-relevant issues, which encourage the use of skill sets that are key components of the STEAM instructional framework, as evidenced by many of the projects undertaken by all grade levels. These experiences, performed individually and collaboratively, develop creativity and conceptual problem solving abilities for students. All students use the five step engineering design process created by EIE.org to find creative solutions to the problems presented to them in classroom STEAM challenges, in the innovation lessons, and through creative STEAM integration in all subject areas. Each grade level also collaborates to integrate STEAM opportunities in monthly House meetings. In addition, our school utilizes the PBL Model to engage students in real-world lessons that integrate content from all disciplines.

Salad Party: From Farm to Table

In Kindergarten, students experienced farm to table first-hand. The students worked collaboratively with Mrs. Murray and 4-H students in a PBL project to plant, grow, and tend to a lettuce garden on campus at Munford Elementary School. Then, the students were allowed to harvest, wash, and prepare the lettuce for a salad party. Parents and the community were invited to join the salad party and brought all of the delicious toppings. To capture their learning, the students recorded their experiences during the Lettuce Project using SeeSaw. Students begin in kindergarten building their digital portfolios.

Constructing Creative Solutions

During House meetings, first grade students were presented with the problem of protecting turkeys at Thanksgiving by building structures that could effectively hide the turkey. Students worked collaboratively to build these structures which allowed for student voice and choice as all structures were so unique. Also, in Makerspace, students read the book The Great Turkey Race. After reading the story, students utilized the Engineering Design Process to designed obstacle courses for a turkey race.

Soaring in Science

Students used their knowledge of force and motion to design a toy hopper using cardboard and rubber bands to make it jump. They predicted how high the hopper would jump. Students tested and recorded their observations and experiment.


Making Meaning in Math

In fourth grade, students collaborate to solve math problems in various ways using the Engineering and Design Standards and Math Practice Standards. Students come together and discuss the reasonableness of their work and the most efficient ways to solve the problems. Students collaborate in class and are encouraged to share their learning through digital portfolios using SeeSaw and Flipgrid.

Engaging in Engineering

Fifth grade students investigated gravity and the forces of motion by building a roller coaster out of foam insulation, tubing, and duct tape. To represent the car, the students used a marble. The driving question for this project was "How can we design a roller coaster to prove the laws of motion?" The students visualized what their roller coaster should look like, and then they drew a plan designing and labeling the parts of their roller coaster. They then created the roller coaster from their plans. They tested it, saw what they needed to fix, and redesigned or improved it. Then, the students tested their roller coaster again and made notes of what worked well in the changes they made.

Real-world connections

Second grade students learned about bees through a PBL project. Students learned how people affect the bee population. They learned how honeybees are important to our world and that they are becoming endangered. Students conducted a pollination simulation using Cheetos where they held a Cheeto and then touched various items throughout the classroom. This helped them see how bees transfer pollen from plant to plant. As a culminating event, students met with bee keepers and learned how to care for bee hives.

Caring Collaboration

In 4-H, fourth grade students completed birdhouse projects using various recycled materials to help increase the population of native bird species on our school campus and in our community.

Fifth grade students collaborated with Munford Middle School to build bluebird houses and track the bluebird population here at Munford Elementary School. The birdhouses can be found at various locations around campus.

Project-based Learning Leaves a Lasting Impact

Students in all grades at Munford Elementary School learn through various project-based learning units. Every year, teachers select some of the projects. Students present their STEAM and PBL projects at the annual Talladega County Technology Showcase. These students were very proud of achieving first place in Engineering for their engineering product to help make houses more stable during Earthquakes.

STEAM Collaboration Day

Munford Elementary School students participated in STEAM Collaboration Day on May 11, 2018. All students from Pre-K through fifth grade were part of this exciting day. Thirty-six stations were set up in the gym. Groups of students were able to rotate through three different 20 minute stations. Each group was able to visit a station related to robotics, engineering design, creativity, and/or construction. The stations included Ozobots, Spheros, Legos, magnets, parachute design, and blocks to name just a few. Each station was led by two fifth grade students. Students led every part of this day and kept younger students engaged and excited as they collaborated to build, design, and code.

APPlause for Writing

Third Grade PBL

PBL Gold Standards

Challenging Problem

Based on a classroom survey, third graders realized that writing was their least favorite subject. How can we make writing time more fun? How can we share our writing with others?

Sustained Inquiry

The publisher of the Munford Dispatch, our local town paper, came to Munford Elementary. He asked third graders to complete the stages of the writing process and then submit articles for publication.

Authenticity

Students used Google Drawing to create an app that would help solve a real problem that kids face today. The app must have a link to a proposal that could "sell" the app.

Student Voice and Choice

Students chose their own app idea, design, name, and price.

Critique and Revision

Third grade students selected three peer apps to review. They gave feedback on each app using a checklist. The feedback checklist was given to the app creator for revisions to be made.

Reflection

Students used a rubric to reflect on their app and proposal. Students answered the following questions: Does my app solve a real problem for kids? Does my proposal explain my app? Is my app creative?

Public Product

Student apps and proposals were published in the local paper, The Munford Dispatch.