What is STEM/STEAM?

The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. 

STEAM education is an exciting approach to teaching that stimulates children's creativity and draws upon their natural curiosity. Students naturally gain knowledge and experience in the STEAM disciplines by working on engaging, project-based activities. As a teacher I facilitate students' independent discoveries by guiding them through the STEAM Design Process, helping them to explore, observe, question, predict, and investigate STEAM concepts and possible solutions. 

Using the STEAM Design Process to solve problems gives students opportunities to learn and apply STEAM concepts towards a successful solution. The STEAM Design Process is a four-phase cycle that helps scientists and engineers find solutions to problems in a systematic way. Each phase in the process promotes creative thinking, learning, and innovation. The four phases we follow here at Cove are:

Planning: Students think of a solution to the problem based on their own experiences or knowledge. Drawing their ideas on paper helps them work though a plan and come up with a solid design. These drawings will also be used to reinforce what students have learned once they have successfully completed the project. 

Create: Students use critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they build a model of their design using specific materials. I often encourage students to talk about their models and explain how they are using their materials or how they came up with their unique features. I also encourage students to create models that reflect their original drawings as closely as possible. 

Test: A great deal of learning occurs when students are able to test their designs. Watching how their model performs during a test provides students with new knowledge of what works and what doesn't. For accurate results, testing must be consistent. 

Ask: Finally, students analyze their results and use their new knowledge to think of solutions for their new problems they noticed or encountered during the testing phase. It is IMPORTANT to help students realize that failure is a natural and useful part of the STEAM Design Process. I always encourage students to try again, starting at the first phase to create a plan for a new testable design. As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” As a STEAM teacher I do my best to instill this motto in my students! 


If you have any questions about your child's STEAM education here at Cove, please feel free to email me at KHenderson@BeverlySchools.org

-Mrs. Henderson :)