STEAM K-2

Every month, an engineer is chosen from each grade to spotlight. These engineers are chosen because they have demonstrated working very well in a team, using their materials in a creative way, standing out in class discussions, persisting through challenges, and putting extra care into their work. Well done, Engineers of the Month! 

STEAMers at P.S. 102 prepared for Climate Action Day 3 by learning about Health, Wellness and Green spaces. Students learned that green spaces help reduce temperatures, improve air quality, absorb rain water and help uplift moods. STEAMers problem solved to address the issue that some neighborhoods do not have enough green spaces by working with a teammate to design a green space. STEAMers designed beautiful and beneficial parks, playgrounds and gardens.

STEAMers took on a challenge to help Mama Bird get ready for spring! Students learned more about how birds build nests. They worked with a partner to design a plan for a nest with a choice of materials. Next, STEAMers built their nests, tested their nest's ability to hold eggs and shared their results. STEAMers are ready for the birdsong this spring!

Students in STEAM classes prepared for the city-wide Climate Action Day 2 on waste by learning about how important it is to reduce waste. Students also learned ways to reduce waste including using less, reusing more, and most importantly, sorting waste. Students prepared to improve waste sorting in the cafeteria and begin composting on our climate action day. By recycling and composting we are sending much less waste to landfills and incinerators, creating less pollution and taking better care of our school and Earth.

STEAMers at P.S. 102 played an important role in preparing for and participating in NYC Public Schools' first ever Climate Action Day on Energy on December 6th. STEAMEers participated in lessons on conserving energy. STEAMers brainstormed ways to raise awareness about our plan to turn lights off and let the sunshine in, and then worked hard to make beautiful posters to hang in our halls. Two STEAMers made morning announcements on the day of the event to encourage participation. Because of the hard STEAMers' work, P.S. 102 was ready to conserve energy on our Climate Action Day!

STEAMers extended their learning on conserving energy to learn about renewable sources of energy including solar. On our Climate Action Day, we turned off lights and let the sunshine in the windows. STEAMers learned that the sun's energy can also be harnessed and converted to electricity through the use of solar panels. STEAMers designed and created their own beautiful solar panel models by drawing, cutting and pasting different kinds of paper. Hooray for the sun!

STEAMers went to the next level in their engineering skills by taking on the tallest tower challenge. STEAM teams worked together to build the tallest tower using only cups, popsicle sticks, and blocks. Students learned to build a strong and wide base, to think about the qualities of building materials as well as to make adjustments and improvements with every build. STEAMers showed great problem solving skills and terrific teamwork!

If you are looking for fun STEAM activities to do at home, check out these 23 Fun STEAM activities for kids. My favorite activities are the Balance Sculpture and Bath Bombs. First and second graders might really love expanding on the bridge building they have been doing in class, and build the Suspension Bridge.

To support conversations about STEAM class and school, check out these videos we watched in class:

Kindergarten: Sesame Street: What Makes You Special

First Grade: Understanding Feelings

Second Grade: Drawn Together read by Minh Le

Here are more STEAM activities to try at home.  The Cloud in the Jar and the Oil Spill will both reinforce lessons we are having on Climate Action.

For a little peek inside our classrooms and a great way to spark conversations about school with your STEAMers at home, check out these videos that were part of our lessons:

Kindergarten and First: The Good, the Bad and the Spooky and Teamwork isn't My Thing, and I Don't Like to Share.

First and Second: What Makes Bridges So Strong? and How Does a Spider Make Its Web?

Hi STEAM parents! Here is a really cool activity for home that extends student learning on energy and renewable resources: Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven! It's a great way for kids to experiment with the power of solar energy as well as a great way to cook s'mores!

Additionally, here are links to two fantastic online books we used to learn about climate action and renewable energy in our STEAM classes. Hope you enjoy reading Saving Planet Earthly and Sven's Search for Clean Energy at home with your child.

Hopefully your young STEAMer has been helping cut your electricity bill while taking climate action by turning lights off at home! :)

Hello STEAM Parents! Here are some videos that we loved sharing in our STEAM classes. We watched this awesome stop animation Storyline Online reading of Here Comes the Garbage Barge, a wonderful true story with the lesson to stop making so much garbage! We also watched a video to learn more about Sims Recycling Plant to learn more about what happens to recyclables. Lastly, please enjoy this wonderful little video of a hummingbird building a tiny nest. Hope you and your child enjoy these at home!

Hello STEAM parents! Here are some fun videos we watched in class for our unit on Health, Wellness and Green Spaces you can share with your child at home. Kindergarten and some first graders enjoyed the colorful Planting a Rainbow to learn about different ways that flowers grow and which flowers grow in the spring. Some first graders and second graders enjoyed The Gardener to learn about unique ways green spaces can be made in the city. All classes took a virtual field trip to the forest with The Forest Awakens to practice shinrin yoku, the Japanese tradition of meditation in nature. Hope you enjoy these!