STEAM Education Gains Momentum Across the District
Third-grade students stretch out on the floor using an iPad and
a green screen to animate movable figures. A middle school class
uses their choice of technology to create a project to represent one
of the original thirteen colonies. Cub’s Den preschoolers match
shapes and sizes of colorful Tangram pieces with the Osmo gaming
accessory. High school Discovery Lab students experiment with
thrust lines and stability by constructing a stacked tower.
Everywhere you look, teachers throughout the district are
incorporating STEAM into their everyday classroom lessons and
activities. What is STEAM? STEAM is an educational approach that
uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics to
engage students in inquiry, collaboration, dialogue, innovating
and critical thinking. Students make real-life connections through
experimenting, designing, investigating and reflecting, sparking a
deeper understanding of the concepts being taught in class.
This year, Greensburg Salem’s three elementary schools have
transitioned from the traditional computer class to having an
Elementary STEAM class. Teachers Michelle Sparrow and Jeff
Blanchetti are exposing their students to coding, animation, design,
digital citizenship and more through activities that get kids excited
about learning while encouraging creativity, communication and
problem solving skills.
“When I prepare a lesson, I strive to make the connections
between all of the STEAM subjects so I can help students to
envision professionals from different educational backgrounds
working together toward a common goal,” stated Nicely and
Metzgar Elementary STEAM teacher, Jeff Blanchetti. “My goals are
for students to express their ideas, build and test their solutions,
and utilize positive communication skills in a group effort.”
Students in Mr. Blanchetti’s class recently participated in a “High
Rise Challenge” which required groups of students to build a tower
from miscellaneous office supplies that could support a tennis ball
at 18-inches while withstanding wind from a fan. One group built
a tower that was 44 1/4” tall through trial and error, experimenting
with supplies until they got it just right.
At Hutchinson Elementary, hands-on “Epic STEAM Challenges”
will be provided during each of Mrs. Michelle Sparrow’s classes.
“These challenges will assist our elementary learners with
developing those important soft skills that will be critical for
success in their future,” said Mrs. Sparrow. “I am pretty sure that my
students will think they are simply playing and having fun, without
realizing what learning is actually taking place.”
GSMS students watch their
project come to life with the
3D printer.
Hutchinson student Michael
Sandy uses the OSMO to
practice letter sounds.
Mrs. Firment’s kindergarten
students learn what
scientists do and how they
do it.
Mrs. Sparrow’s students are
coding a MiP Robot during
STEAM class.
26 | Greensburg Salem
Working in the Middle School
library’s Lions’ Lab, eighth grade
Social Studies teacher, Mr. Ryan
Cameron, incorporated STEAM
into his history lesson to help
students identify the similarities
and differences among the
colonies in North America.
Partners researched a colony
and chose a project to share
information about their choice.
Some of the project options
included using the vinyl cutter
or color printer to create a visual
timeline, developing a board
game with pieces designed and
printed on the 3D printer or
creating an iMovie, complete
with appropriate background
and music.
Mrs. Debbie Kozuch, school
librarian, helped to oversee
the social studies projects and
instruct students on how to use
the equipment and materials.
“One thing that’s great about
the Lions’ Lab is that it appeals to a multitude of learning styles,” she
stated. “Mr. Cameron’s students have a variety of options to choose
from to create their project.”
High school students are continually exposed to STEAM concepts
and activities in nearly every class. Mrs. Kelley Audia’s Drawing I class
learns how to manipulate photos to create high contrast images
as they develop grid drawing techniques. Through Mr. Matt King’s
Digital Photography/Animation courses, students are exposed
to methods of communication through digital and PC generated
images. Integrating “hands-on, minds-on” learning into lessons
enables students to be fully engaged from the conception and
design stage to the physical production of the end product.
Greensburg Salem strives to prepare all students for the
technology infused and innovation-filled world of the future.
STEAM education helps to establish learning environments that
demonstrate a culture of creativity, collaboration and critical
thinking, cultivating our Golden Lion students to become the
workforce of tomorrow.
First grade students
from Mrs. Forkey’s class
practice building a
tower with plastic cups.