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  • Small Local School sets the stage to redefine how our kids learn

    St. Thomas Episcopal School teams with the University of Florida in STEAM Education

    Last November, St Thomas Episcopal School  in collaboration with the University of Florida announced that its  elementary school curriculum was changing. It is indeed moving away from traditional blocks of math, science, social studies, and language arts, and evolving into project- and problem-based teaching and learning.  Children are now learning through direct hands-on experiences that focus on real-life problems and solutions and integrate concepts and skills across all subject areas.  UF researchers and teacher educators from the College of Education, Dr. Tim Jacobbe, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Education and Dr. Linda Cronin Jones, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education, are meeting with St. Thomas faculty and administrators to set goals, create an integrated curriculum map across the grade levels, and provide teachers with STEAM-focused professional development, training, and resources.

    Kids Garden St thomas

    One sample project-based learning activity being implemented at the school 2014-2015 school year focuses on the school’s garden area, which will serve as a context for teaching and learning about the STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Education, the Arts and Math) while also reinforcing the 21st century skills of critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, creativity, innovation, and communication.  For example, in science, using the garden as a context, students will learn about plant life cycles and the impact of environmental changes on plants. Technology will be used to document, research, and present students’ findings and discoveries. Design engineering activities will focus on the layout of garden structures and the creation and building of trellises, a compost bin, and a rainwater collection system. Students will also create interpretive garden signage out of recycled materials and actively learn about the life cycle of plants though movement and dance.  In math, students will measure and collect information documenting plant growth and then analyze their data and interpret results.   In the future, teachers and students will work together to identify other real-world, science-based problems of interest to them and then design projects to directly address these issues while also learning about key concepts and skills across all STEAM disciplines.

    What is even better, after the STEAM program is launched, St. Thomas will sponsor a STEAM Education Institute to train other interested elementary school educators across Florida.

    On another note, next week the school is hosting an alumni 5 K run/walk which will benefit Breakthrough Miami (a program that targets high potential, motivated students from under-resourced backgrounds and provides the tools necessary for them to graduate high school and go on to college.)

    St Thomas marathon

    For more information on St. Thomas, the Stem Program or their upcoming Walk/Run, please call 305-665-4851 or visit www.stepsmia.org

     

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