Picking Up STEAM in Martin County
Picking up STEAM
STEM has been a widely known concept of cross-curriculum instruction that encompasses
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Recently, Educators have been adding an ‘A’ for
the Arts, to further creative thinking and innovation. Typically STEAM programs are hands-on,
exploratory, project-based learning that encourages strong collaboration skills: design projects that
give students freedom to express their artistic side as well.
• The Education Foundation of Martin County is on board and has set STEAM initiative goals to advance
the expanded curriculum and increase innovation in our County. They graciously host STEAM Fairs at our
schools in collaboration with the South Florida Science Center, where students and their families can come
and participate in hands-on-activities, and gaze at the stars in their mobile planetarium.
• Felix A. Williams Elementary School is holding their STEAM Fair on 2/20/19 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.
• The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast is working on new curriculum ideas to engage even the
youngest of learners with STEAM ideas
Many STEAM projects are happening in
our schools here in Martin County.
Melissa Chagnon, art teacher at J.D.
Parker Elementary School, has been working
on a Light Box project with her students that
incorporates world culture along with beautiful
design using technology.
“To introduce the lesson, I show
them beautiful stained glass from around the
world. Then they use the computer lab to create
geometric shape mandalas (www.mandalamker.
online) which we put in clear sheet protectors to
act as the glass”.
Students then add color, then on to the
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next step of making a light box for their stained
glass. Students use their knowledge of open and
closed circuits to create a working light switch
on the back of the box, using copper tape, mini
LEE light bulbs and batteries. This aligns not only
computer skills, but science as well.
38 MartinArts | Spring | Summer 2019
Martha Saum, art teacher at Palm City Elementary
School engages her fourth and fifth grade students with a radial
paper relief sculpture project.
Art terms they discuss are origami, pattern, movement,
sculpture and relief. Students are given a large piece of
construction paper and work the paper in half vertically, then
horizontally and one time diagonally.
This creates eight perfect shapes mathematically and
allows the students to create unique and beautiful reliefs in a
variety of layouts.
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/(www.mandalamker