S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Projects
Most of the projects we work on were developed by Engineering is Elementary in partnership with the Museum of Science in Boston. Engineering is Elementary supports educators and children with curricula and professional development that develop engineering literacy. Each school year, on a rotating basis, students will work on two of the programs listed below. Both of the projects will take about 2/3 of the school year.
For the remaining part of the school year, students will be working on self-directed, independent projects. Projects in the past have included creating a robot using Lego Mindstorms, figuring out how to make the courtyard birdhouse infrared camera work with a tv and constructing large planters for the courtyard and then planting them. Some new projects they can work on include:
- MaKey MaKey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It's a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything inbetween.
- Construct a Solar House
- littleBits makes an opensource library of electronic modules that snap together with tiny magnets for prototyping, learning, and fun. The winner of countless awards from Popular Science, Crain’s , Maker Faire and more. littleBits consists of tiny circuit-boards with specific functions engineered to snap together with magnets. It has many STEAM related lessons that are listed on their webpage and downloadable.