Course: 3rd-4th STEM Project-based learning

Get ready to imagine, explore, and create in our dynamic 3rd/4th Grade STEM class! This hands-on course is designed to spark curiosity and inspire young minds through exciting projects and real-world problem-solving. Students will dive into the fascinating world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), working both independently and in teams to discover how things work and why.

If you took this class last year, we’d love to have you back! The activities and projects for the coming year will be new and exciting, giving you fresh challenges to explore while building on the skills you’ve already learned.

Students will explore a variety of engaging STEM topics, possibly including:

• Simple Machines: Learn how levers, pulleys, wheels, and axles help us do work more easily.
• Forces & Motion: Investigate how different forces affect the way objects move.
• Renewable Energy: Discover the power of the sun, wind, and water in creating sustainable energy.
• Structures & Stability: Understand what makes buildings and bridges strong and how engineers design them to last.

At the heart of our class is the Engineering Design Process, which guides students through asking questions, imagining creative solutions, planning carefully, creating prototypes, and improving designs based on what they’ve learned. This process helps build critical thinking and resilience as students test and refine their ideas.

Hands-on activities might include:

1. Balloon Rocket Races: Use balloons, string, and straws to create rockets that demonstrate the principles of thrust, force, and Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
2. Catapult Construction: Build and test mini catapults to learn about levers, tension, and projectile motion while experimenting with force, angles, and accuracy.
3. Straw Bridge Challenge: Use straws and tape to create bridges that can hold the most weight, applying concepts of load distribution, tension, and compression.

We hope to use an online maker space program again next year. If so, there will be an opportunity for up to three class days in which students will be invited to bring a laptop to class for individual or partner participation. This is NOT a requirement as I will project the screen for all students to see and participate, but is an option. There will also be an opportunity for at-home work with access to this program. More information about this will come in the summer.

This STEM class is all about curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Students will leave with new problem-solving skills, a deeper understanding of how the world works, and the confidence to tackle any challenge!

Class payment options accepted: Venmo, PayPal, check.
A minimum of 6 students must be registered for the course to proceed as scheduled.