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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

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

8. 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

10. KidWind

11. STEM Grade 6
Coding Logic
Lego EV3 Robotics
Scratch animation

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

13. LEGO EV3
Robotics

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

16. FLL Robotics

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

18. Thank you! James Brown 5/6 STEM Teacher Sand Creek Middle School