September STEM Snippets News

Kindergarten students learned about shapes and created pictures using shapes. Engineers use shapes in their designs and construction.

Your children are a treat to teach. They all have learned a lot about working together. They've also learned that failure is part of a process; it's not final. They've learned that we all learn from mistakes, and we can improve our designs. We've focused on working together using communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Students have displayed GREAT citizenship and GRIT as they work together.

Some families have asked, "What is STEM?" Click here to find out.

As part of your child's STEM education, they will learn the following:

• Engineering to design, test and solve a problem through the creation of products or processes.

• Engineering employs existing scientific knowledge, mathematics, and technology to create, design, and develop new devices, objects or technology to meet the needs of society.  Engineers apply science and mathematics as they engage in the Engineering Design Process.

Kindergarten students love listening to stories that relate to their design challenge.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Students learned to build tall towers by using a variety of blocks and working together. They also learned about shapes and how to construct pictures with different shapes. In honor of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), they learned about apples and built apple trees.

Pre-K and Kindergarten students learn to work together to construct towers.

First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade

Students worked together to design and build the tallest tower. They used vocabulary such as foundation, platform, and stability. Students learned what causes hurricanes and a few hurricane preparation and safety tips. Then they designed and built hurricane proof houses. They tested their designs with water (rain, floods) and wind (fan). Many students learned that they needed to raise their house's foundation to prevent flooding. Students used ingenuity to create clay foundations resisting the water, house boats to float in flooding water, and houses on stilts. (They thought of these designs on their own using critical thinking skills.) It was wonderful to see the many ways they solved the problem and improved their designs.

Executing their plan to create a "hurricane proof" house that can withstand hurricane force rain, winds, and floods.

Testing their "hurricane proof" house with rapid rain, flooding, and wind.

Students enjoy making literature connections to engineering design challenges. They listened to stories and designed and created products to help a character with a problem.

2nd and 3rd grade students learned 3-D paper folds. They also learned math terms like cone, circumference, diameter, and radius.

Learning a new skill and then applying it to an engineering challenge without being told how to implement the new skill is utilizing critical thinking skills.

Students shared their "Hopes and Dreams", what they'd like to learn, for this school year in Engineering. It is my plan to make their dreams come true. :)

We are wrapping up the month learning about apples. Students will be challenged to design and build an apple tree with a ladder that is functional to pick apples.

If your wonderful child tells you that I can't remember their name, it's true. I'm working on it. CAES has over 700 students. I'm fortunate to see them all once a week. However, since I see them only once a week comes the challenge to remember all their names. I'll get there. Promise.

In case you missed it, here is the link to our supply list.

Please contribute anything you are able. Thank you.

Again, it's a treat to teach your child.

Have a wonderful day!

Mrs. Pamela Hall