NARRATIVE
A focus on real-world and locally relevant issues, which encourage the use of skill sets that are key components of the STEAM instructional framework, is evidenced by many of the projects undertaken by all grade levels. These experiences, performed individually and collaboratively, advocate creativity and conceptual problem-solving adeptness. All students use a similar engineering design process to find creative solutions to the problems presented to them in classroom STEM challenges and through creative STEM integration via various avenues. Each grade level collaborates to write STEM challenge plans during collaboration time. Examples of these lessons can be found on our teacher Schoology or Haiku pages. We work together vertically so students build on the knowledge they have and continue to grow. Shared experiences and units across grades and classrooms lead to our continued growth as well. Many of these projects are accomplished because of the strong relationship that exists between Winfield City Schools and local government as well as business and industry.
At WES we also provide ourselves not only in STEM but STEAM learning. We seek to provide students with opportunities to incorporate art into their units of study when applicable. Through project-based learning, students are challenged to discover real-world problems and solutions while solving these problems in a way that fits their learning style.
Strengths: Winfield City Schools' strength in this standard is Engagement. Every student has the opportunity to engage in collaborative, inquiry-driven STEM learning with inquiry-based learning units. Students are given multiple opportunities in every grade level and subject area. All faculty and staff members are engaged in designing, implementing, and refining inquiry-based learning for our students.
Opportunities to Improve: Winfield City Schools needs to focus on improving Embeddedness and Sustainability within this standard. The school has had a few bumps in the road with changing administration and the COVID pandemic that has kept our growth at a slower pace than we would like. In addition, many of our large projects are being revamped from year to year, but a few of our projects have been put aside rather than reimplemented and revised to better fit students learning needs.
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First Grade Non Fiction
After reading a variety of non fiction books on many subjects and learning about text features in informational text, using chants and motions, students in first grade create their own non fiction book. They decide what the subject will be and must include the text features.
They become the illustrator as well. They present their books to other classes and grades as well as display them at the annual Art and STEM Expo.
Project-Based Learning Units (PBL)
Assigning Project-Based Learning activities is a way to provide students with engaging, rigorous, collaborative work. This type of learning requires educator collaboration while planning, implementing, and reflecting on projects, student learning, and successes. During these units of study, students are actively engaged in real-world and personally meaningful projects. The students gain knowledge during these units through investigation, complex questioning, and/or problem-solving.
Educators take time to reflect on units and revise according to the demonstration of knowledge and skills the students display.
Students in fourth grade read, Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, and learned about the inventor of the Ferris wheel. They then used the Engineering Design Process to create their own moving Ferris wheel working in collaborative groups. There was much discussion about how a Ferris wheel would be tested in real life with safety in engineering being the most important.
Art/STEM Expo
The Winfield Elementary School Art Show was started in 2015 by Library Media Specialist, Rebecca Moore. Winfield Elementary does not have a formal art program or an art teacher but Mrs. Moore enjoys art and loves making art with her students. The first art show had a theme of “Art and Books” and the art created that year was an extension of literature read in the library. Students learn that illustrators are artists and how different illustrators use different mediums and styles to create illustrations for books. The art show was small in attendance and no art was framed but there was an abundance of art on display.
The next year, 2016, the theme was “Art Around the World.” All throughout the year in the library, students learned about different countries and cultures and created works of art to represent that country. Fourth grade made cherry blossoms and third grade made Ming vases with scratch art. There were coy fish, pandas, Aboriginal art, African art, and American art. We had our first pieces of collaborative art where each entire grade participated in one large piece. For example, kindergarten each made a colorful scale to make a large Chinese dragon. The students loved learning about ancient Egypt and creating self-portraits like Egyptian princes and princesses. In 2016, we promoted the art show for weeks ahead and there was a large turnout. The only setback was Park League sports which kept many students and parents from being able to attend.
The next year, in 2017 we met with the Park Board and they agreed to clear the date of the art show from the schedule and that helped tremendously! This was the first year that we used the company Artome’ and we were able to sell the students’ framed art, both originals and reproductions. Also, we added students’ STEM projects and presentations and had STEM in the Gym as well as the art throughout the building. Some of our art projects included STEM and the students enjoyed making “STEAM!” Teachers also got in on the act by decorating their halls with art that they had made throughout the year. Our theme was “Making like the Masters.” Students learned about famous artists and created works of art in the style of Van Gogh, Davinci, Matisse, Magritte, Klee, Pollock, Mondrian, and Salvadore Dali. Our own students provided music by piano, assisted by one of our third grade teachers. We invited local business owners and many of them purchased reproductions for their businesses. The middle school and high school also started participating this year.
In 2018, we learned about the genres of literature and art. We created landscapes, self-portraits, still life paintings and collage, sculptures, surrealism, and abstracts. We had STEM projects as well and the art show grew even more. Our theme was “All Kinds of Art.” We sold even more framed art than before and this became a successful fundraiser for our elementary library. This year our 4th graders created an installation art of origami cranes in memory of one of our middle school faculty members who had two daughters in our elementary school. We continued to partner with Artome’ to sell the students’ framed art.
Our theme in 2019 was “We Are…” Students learned about how we are…artists, engineers, scientists, inventors, writers, illustrators, and kind through the books that we read that year and our art reflected those qualities. First grade created a large mural with colorful dots and second grade created a huge owl by painting feathers individually and putting them together. So many in our community showed up in support of our students. Grandparents and family members came and this year we created a display of art in memory of one of our first graders who lost his battle with cancer.
In 2020, we were unable to have the art show as the pandemic hit and we had to leave school unexpectedly and did not return for the remainder of that year.
In 2021, we were able to have a virtual art show. Each student created a piece of art in the library. We had self-portraits, collages, and still life art framed in an online gallery through Artome’. Even though we were unable to have an in school show, the virtual show was very successful as grandparents and family members were able to purchase reproductions and have those shipped directly to them. All of the art was returned to the elementary school library after the show and parents and grandparents picked up the art throughout the summer.
This year in May 2022, we will have a hybrid show. We will offer reproductions only online. Grandparents and family members will be able to purchase art online and have it shipped directly to them. Original art will be framed and displayed the night of the art show. Reproductions can also be sold. Our theme this year will be “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Students will learn about the life and work of Mr. Fred Rogers through picture books as well as his website. Students have already enjoyed seeing his visits on his shows to see how things are made. We watched the episode where he visited a crayon factory and then read How a Crayon is Made, and The Crayon Man where students learned about the inventor of the crayon. We also watched his visit with Eric Carle, one of our favorite author/illustrators. We are also focusing on community and neighborhoods as well as neighbors. Students will learn about urban and rural neighborhoods as well as community helpers.
We will read books with friendly letters and write our own friendly letters while illustrating the envelopes. These will be featured with our display of
Mr. McFeely, Mr. Rogers’ mailman.
We will talk about inclusion and how Mr. Rogers shared his pool with his black friend at a time when that wasn’t accepted. We will focus on his kindness and the lessons he taught. Our décor will center around his show and our art will feature each part of his television set.
We will make collaborative neighborhood art and will build models of neighborhoods that we will code our robots,
(Bee Bots, Dash, and Ozobots) to visit.
