STEM South Colonie Schools Grades 5/6 James Brown – Sand Creek Middle School

What is STEM at South Colonie? Grades 5 & 6 students take STEM class Meets twice in a 6 day cycle for ½ year Stem teacher works with core teachers to implement “hands on” projects when the schedule allows Provide support for elementary buildings Interdisciplinary projects Before/after school Lego Robotics Provide mentor experience for high school students FIRST robotics students mentoring FLL students After school KidWind, FLL

Content Covered in STEM: Grade 5 Renewable Energy Wind Solar Basics of electricity and circuits Grade 6 Coding Logic Lego EV3 Robotics Scratch animation Makey Makey Grade 5 Grade 6

Wind can do work activity: STEM Grade 5 - Applications of working with variables - Hands on activities Wind can do work activity: Reading a technical drawing Using the triple beam balance Recording and analyzing data Applying the NYS Science Learning Standards

“Teamwork makes the dream work” STEM allows for students to develop soft skills like: Communication Collaboration Creativity Coopertition (FLL term:cooperate with your opponent)

DC Motor/ Doorbell Buzzer STEM exposes students to “hands on” projects. ALL students are actively engaged throughout an entire lesson

Wind Turbine Testing STEM allows for students to apply concepts taught in core classes with immediate feedback

Students work on projects outside of class for their own benefit Students work on projects outside of class for their own benefit...the class is a pass/fail, so the grade is not the motivating factor Wind Energy

KidWind

STEM Grade 6 Coding Logic Lego EV3 Robotics Scratch animation

LEGO EV3 in the classroom; Use of motors, gears, and understanding transfer of motion.

LEGO EV3 Robotics

STEM allows for students to understand there is more than 1 correct way to solve a problem

FLL Robotics

M A K E Y Use materials that conduct electricity to create custom controllers. Paired with Scratch Code, we turn these into interactive games!

Thank you! James Brown 5/6 STEM Teacher Sand Creek Middle School brownj@scolonie.org