Last spring, I was awarded a grant to build a STEAM resource area for my students. This grant allowed me to purchase items for my students to learn creatively in building/engineering, art, science and solving problems. Their favorite of these areas is the building/engineering.
Every morning, students are given the opportunity to choose from these different areas to work in before our school day starts. Many students choose the building activities. It is exciting to see their creativity go in many different directions when solving the problems they encounter. I have a number of art lovers, so those students love being able to show art in the way they want with the different materials that are available. All of the students love the science materials because they aren’t things they have used or seen much of at home.
They have been learning lots of little tidbits from the microscopes. And the fossils and gems fascinate the students.
The materials I was able to get thanks to the ISP grant helped to not only keep my students from getting bored in the morning, but it helped them learn valuable lessons in creativity and problem solving. I am excited to have been able to provide these STEAM choices to my students on a daily basis.
Ms. Tami Shaughnessy
Kindergarten Teacher
Royalton Elementary School