Inter-disciplinary projects and problem solving with creativity, innovation and communication is the heart of STEM. Our cross-grade teams (combinations of 6th, 7th and 8th graders) work together, engaging eachother and pooling ideas to meet the challenges; learning from failure  to re-design for success; taking ideas from discussion to paper to a working model. CLICK HERE for a better look at STEM in action with this delightful video montage.

Photo highlights...

Toxic Popcorn - Each team must move the "toxic popcorn" from one cup to another using only the string and bicycle tire they were given. They must not cross the plane of the hula hoop. 

Engineering Structure - Each team must build the tallest possible structure that will support a golf ball.Teams are given 50 pipecleaners, 35 straws and 35 paperclips each. Highest working structure wins.

Biomedical Engineering - Mr. Scribner from Stevens Technical Institute visited in December with another great STEM project. Students designed a bio-medical device to remove a blood clot (ping pong ball) from an artery (paper towel tube) using craft sticks, straws, rubber bands, pipe cleaners, tape and string. It was a great display of creative thinking.

Other projects this year involved designing and building a survival shelter from limited school supplies, suspension bridges from straws and string which would hold the weight of a pile of pennies, building tables from cardboard and newspapers designed to hold the weight of a textbook, and launching a "rocket" using Alka Seltzer, water and a film canister.                                                                                    

Link to Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education: http://www.ciese.org/istem/