ES STEAM Week 2021
STEAM Week kicked off with grade level assemblies on March 18th. Students learned that celebrating STEAM week is about bringing together their scientific and mathematical thinking skills as well as elements of art and engineering to design and create solutions to problems. Technology was incorporated through the tools that students used to plan, develop, and communicate about their STEAM projects. The theme of STEAM week this year was Sustainability in our World.
Students showed their ability to reuse and repurpose materials in the ES Upcycling Competition. They were challenged to make new items out of old materials and winners were chosen in each grade level. These winners earned 100 house points for their house. All entries were awarded 10 house points and students were invited to show and tell their upcycled projects both on campus and on Zoom. The creativity and innovation of EC and ES students is inspirational.
VIRTUAL VISITORS
G2-G4 students had a virtual visit from Redress, a sustainable clothing charity based in Hong Kong. Students learned about the materials that our clothes are made from, and if these materials come from renewable or non-renewable sources. We also learned what we can do with our old clothes – we can Repair, Donate or Upcycle! G2-4 also had a virtual visit from PRAISE-HK, in which they learned about the dangers of air pollution on our health and the major air pollutants in Hong Kong. Students learned the causes of air pollution and how leading a more sustainable lifestyle can help reduce air pollution and improve the air quality for the future. They also learnt about the technology being created by PRAISE-HK and the University of Hong Kong Science and Technology to tackle air pollution.
EC and G1 students were visited by some exotic animals. Toni (also an AIS parent) from Jurassic Garage introduced our students to a huge spider, snakes, a hedgehog and more creatures during the Zoom session. In connection with sustainability, students learned about the habitats of these animals and how we can protect them. They learned the importance of keeping our land, air, and water clean so that animals like the axolotl may someday be able to breed and thrive in their natural habitat.
SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR WORLD
On campus, students in Grade 4 competed in the second annual Great Eagle Egg drop. In teams of two, the students used recycled materials to design and build a structure that could protect our eagle eggs. We dropped our structures from the 1st and 2nd floors and all of the unbroken eggs won house points!
Grade 3 students learned what made bridges strong. Students collected materials at home according to their plans and when they returned to campus, the construction began. Students worked for 2 days, constructing bridges and testing them to see how much weight they held. We learned how to address failure points to improve their ideas. Finally, the day for the bridge competition arrived and all students were able to participate and cheer each other on. All bridges were successful and students left the day feeling proud!
On campus, Grade 2 students took part in a recycled Easter Egg basket challenge and showed great engineering and creativity skills! The students also did a science experiment looking at water transportation in plants, to coincide with our current science project, ‘Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems’. At home, students participated in an at home challenge involving taking fruit or vegetable food scraps and regrowing them into new plants. They recorded their plant’s growth by creating their own digital plant diaries on ‘Book Creator’.
Grade 1 participated in a building challenge. As an introduction to our upcoming life science unit, students began looking at the structures of different animals and used uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows to build animals. Students focused on planning and design, building the structure, and troubleshooting when things didn’t go as planned. The hardest part was not eating the marshmallows while they worked!
Grade 1 Junior celebrated STEAM by making paper planes. The little engineers learned the concept of forces of flight like lift, thrust, and weight. They demonstrated their willingness and ability to follow instructions while folding their papers carefully. The creative minds then worked on decorating their planes with beautiful designs. And then came the most exciting part when they enjoyed flying their paper planes outside their classroom. They compared and measured whose plane has gone farthest and why? Troubleshooting is what engineers do all the time. Kids came back to their classes with the thought of how they can re-engineer their folds to have a higher flight next time!
In Early Childhood 2, students used their STEAM skills and knowledge to build animal homes to protect them from predators. The students learned about animals and their needs. Animals are important for our ecosystem, and they also need a safe environment just like people. Students were creative in making animal homes with popsicle sticks and clothespins.
Early Childhood 1 students read the book “The 3 Little Pigs”. They incorporated all the elements of STEAM to build a house for their animals. The goal was to make a house that can stand up best to “wolf blowing”. The students used, explored and discussed a variety of materials and tools, experimenting with design and texture. They had a blast!
AIS SHARES THE LOVE
STEAM Week was especially memorable this year because it brought grade levels together to participate in something as a community. Students were able to connect with friends they have not seen much this year and enjoy a whole school event together. Thank you parents, teachers, and the whole AIS community for supporting a week of STEAM in Elementary School!
