STEAM Curriculum

Students will conduct market research and evaluate games to help them design a new game. Students will invent or innovate a real-life game, design, create, and test a prototype, and design the packaging for their game.

Playing card games is so much fun!  These games are math based, enhancing math skills and getting to enjoy some great friend time that will last forever! UNO, Garbage, Cribbage and more...

Students will prepare for a human mission to Mars. Using skills to learn about cutting-edge technology, conduct experiments, and engineer solutions for Mars. Students will practice skills of STEAM, creativity, and teamwork.

Students will be introduced to the building blocks of matter and how they interact with each other.  Along the way, students will learn lab skills and measuring skills as they work through kitchen-chemistry type of experiments. They will explore the different signs of a chemical change and experiment with endo- and exothermic reactions.  The class will build toward a chemical engineering project where students must save reptile eggs from a building construction site.

Students will identify problems needing solutions. Next, they will follow the inventors process to develop an invention or innovation to address it. Finally, they will build a prototype of their solution.  Future careers would include Inventors and Engineers, research and development.  

Students will explore the world of American Ninja Warrior by conducting an interview with a contestant from the show, designing a t-shirt with their personal ninja logo, and using the Engineering Design Process to 3D print an obstacle.

Learn the art of Japanese fabric dying, also known as shibori. Students will be learning about nine traditional techniques of shibori folding and binding patterns to then ultimately choose two patterns to create of their own. Once the fabric has been dyed, students will learn how to hand stitch the two pieces together to create a pillow. Alongside creating, students will also be learning about the history of Shibori, useful everyday hand stitching skills, and explore careers in the fabric arts.

Learn how to play the ukulele! We will play songs in many different styles and genres. No music experience is needed, and students will not have to perform for others. We will get to make music together as a class.

Students will build and race pinewood derby cars while learning about the design process.  Students will also learn about the effects on mass, inertia and gravitational pull on speed.  

These are a few outdoor yard games you will participate in during Mr. Schwenn’s 2023-2024 Steam Class.  We will go over rules, scoring, throwing technique, and safety.  At the end of the quarter, you will have the opportunity to design your own outdoor game.

Students will learn how to practice yoga while learning about the science of movement and pattern of breath with movement. Students will track their mindfulness and reflect on their journey. Students will then tell a story through yoga.  

Students will work through the engineering process to complete challenges. Students will plan, design and work in collaboration with their classmates as they think critically, and problem solve to complete the challenges. In the end they will design their own activity or sport. 

Students will simulate authentic forensic science by creating real life context ranging from labs to field work. These hands-on activities will build critical thinking, confidence, competence and science literacy

Students will construct truss bridges made from spaghetti and hot glue.  The goal is to make a bridge that is both strong and light in weight.  One the last day we will test the bridges by adding weight until the bridge collapses. 

Students will learn how to play the game chess. In doing so students will learn and practice problem solving, logical thinking, pattern recognition and reward/consequence in action & several mathematical concepts.

Students will be introduced to gardening. They will learn about the science behind growing a garden and the benefits of growing a garden. Students will plant their own seeds and watch them grow. We will end our unit by making a healthy snack with things grown in gardens. The careers we will explore include agriculture and dietetics and nutrition.  

Students will learn about a variety of different artists and will interpret their work. This class will put an emphasis on art interpretation, exploration, and creativity. We will also explore possible career opportunities and the schooling needed. Some artists that are focused on are Jen Stark and Henri Matisse. 

Students will learn the basics of ASL and complete a final project/presentation. We will also explore careers in the interpreting field.

Students will be learning the basics of cooking simple breakfast items.  Remember it is the most important meal of the day!  This class will teach students how to crack an egg and use them in several simple meals.  Students will use fraction skills to measure as well as how to read recipes.  Students will also research careers in the food industry and create a poster to present.

Students will be introduced to the life skill of cooking simple snack food items like grilled cheese or pizza.  This class will encourage students to problem solve and think creatively!  They will use their math skills to count, measure and follow a sequence of steps.  They will research jobs they could have in the cooking field and learn about famous chefs.

Students will take a closer look at why it’s important to support our pollinators.  The objective is for students to go away with knowledge of threatened migratory pollinators and deepen their understanding of what a pollinator is, what threatens the species, and how species can be protected. Activities will focus on ecology and conservation. Students will also learn from an apiarist in Tennessee, a University of MN Extension Educator, a Chief Sustainability Officer with Natural Habitat Adventures, and more.  Construction possibilities: a Mason Bee Hotel, a miniature pollinator garden, and more all from repurposed materials.   

Students will participate in a series of STEM activities built around the story of a group of shipwrecked travelers stranded on a deserted island. Students will complete 5 different challenges to help them get back to civilization.

In our school, we teach some basic programming, mostly with drag and drop. This STEAM course will teach students HTML (HyperText Markup Language) so they can see and learn how web pages are designed. We will go through some tutorials to learn and practice using HTML. Students will create their own website account using a free web server/host. Since this is a semester course, we will also have some fun with programming/coding.

Students learn the basics of photography including skills and strategies in taking photos as well as developing them using digital tools. We will explore how cameras work and how photography technology has developed over time. Students will practice photography using both physical and digital tools to develop their eye for photos. Potential career paths include professional or hobby photographer, digital media, and design using digital tools.  

Students will learn small-sided games and activities in this class and will be able to extend these activities outside of school to promote personal, family, and community well-being.

Students will be introduced to genetics and genealogy as they explore their family history and learn how genetics may shape who they are genetically, genealogically and intellectually.  We will also explore careers that relate to genealogy and the science behind genetics.  

Students will learn to solve a Rubik’s cube and plan a collaborative pixel design, a form of digital art used in many popular video games. Students will develop their 2D and 3D thinking abilities and learn more about geometry, measurement, and fractions.  In addition, they will build patience and memory in learning the algorithms needed to solve the cube. Only 5.8% of the population can solve a Rubik’s cube and demand for video game designers is growing; what a cool skill for these future employees to put on a resume!  Career possibilities include graphic design, video game design, data science, and engineering.

Students will be introduced to the basics of sewing a quilt block.  Students will choose fabric colors and designs to create a custom fabric project using a block pattern, Sewing machine, ironing board and basic measurement and cutting tools. Each student will take home a hand quilted fabric block 14”x14” they created from start to finish.   
 

Students will get to create their own stop-motion short movies using art and technology.  They will get to choose their own topics and work with a partner on their final short movie project. This can be done using action figures, Legos, toys and Play-Doh and more.

Students will develop an understanding of money. How to spend it, save it and invest it.  Students will learn the basics of budgeting and how the banking system works.  Students will play and compete in a virtual stock market game.  Students will gain an understanding of the financial markets.

Students will work in a small group and research any topic of their choice. The team will read online articles, gather facts, and create a script. Students will also learn how to use the iPad, the app GarageBand, and editing.

Students will interact with various species of animals including exotic pets, native wildlife, and farm livestock. While learning how to care for animals and how to help with conservation efforts, students will also be introduced to many potential careers that involve working with animals. 

Students will learn how to prepare a weather report based on a real –life weather forecast. Students will apply skills in analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and explanation to their writing and speaking. Students will understand the technology used to predict and measure weather, such as radar, satellites, storm sensors and weather modeling software applications. Each group of students will be asked to create a simulated 5-day weather forecast.  Some career opportunities are data scientist, broadcast meteorologist, environmental scientist, research scientist, and professor.  

Students will use the design process and tie multiple software products together to produce and edit their own videos.  Future careers include movies, cartooning, writing, sound design, advertisement and marketing, and many more!

Students will learn a wide-array of life skills that will be valuable as they grow older. There will be STEAM concepts and careers intertwined in the lessons we learn. Some topics include learning about the US Postal Service, and how to mail a letter, how to tie a tie, how to write a check, a mini lesson on American Sign Language and depending on the season we will do a “seasonal” lesson, such as apple pressing, snow ice cream, planting flowers etc.