Middle School STEM Elective Class in Action

Innovative, collaborative, interactive, creative, productive and fun all describe our middle school STEM elective class.  Every class period, students are given a problem to solve utilizing the engineering design process.  Through cooperation, students research the science and math behind the problem and then design, build and test through inquiry and exploration aiming for the most successful solution.  Some challenges this fall’s class has solved include “longest moving” paddle boat, “slowest descension rate” parachute,  “greatest temperature differential” solar oven, “highest elasticity” slime and more.  Students using varying approaches and learning from their failures as they come up with creative solutions are notable evidence of the 21^stcentury skills these students are gaining through STEM experiences.

Mrs. Kruse, 8th grade, Science