South Shores Elementary School launched a new STEAM focus for students at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
STEAM, short for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math aims to spark an interest and love of the arts and sciences in children from an early age, teaching students relevant, in-demand skills that will prepare them to become innovators in an ever-changing world. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of STEAM jobs in the United States grew by 14 percent from 2010 to 2020.
Under the guidance of new principal Matt Fraas, teachers are creating lesson plans and activities to engage students in multiple STEAM disciplines at the same time.
“We want our kids to face situations where they have to problem solve together, where they are working collaboratively and figuring out how to come up with innovative solutions,” said Principal Fraas.
South Shores recently received a $17,000 grant from Tate & Lyle and The Community Foundation of Macon County to purchase makerspace carts for each grade level (K-6) at the school. A makerspace is a physical space that provides access to equipment and guidance in a flexible format that responds to the interests and skill-levels of users collaborating on self-directed projects. The makerspace carts purchased with this grant will help teachers challenge their students, or “makers,” to apply the STEAM skills they’re learning to solve problems and create their own solutions.
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