(STEAM) Projects at Robinson Barracks ES
As the fall season descends upon us, students at Robinson Barracks Elementary School are not only enjoying the vibrant colors and crisp air but are also diving headfirst into innovative and interdisciplinary learning experiences. In a creative and educational twist, these young minds used pumpkins as the focal point for science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) projects. The culminating activity, Pumpkin Palooza, is where they applied all they have learned over the past few weeks.
DODEA’s Blueprint states “Learning is an active process of discovery where we cultivate curiosity, perseverance, and the desire to learn.” Ms. Brown, PE teacher and Science Co
ordinator at RBES, focused on the Blueprint and planned an afternoon of fun stations where students weighed, measured, counted, launched, dropped, designed, used chemistry to explore all perspectives of a pumpkin!
The perseverance and desire to learn throughout the activities were awe-inspiring. The community stakeholders, local fire department, staff, and DSO embraced the experience with support and participation from PTSA purchasing pumpkins for classrooms to the DSO team designing their pumpkin-drop project. Students felt supported and encouraged to succeed in a safe environment where no idea was too crazy and failure was not the result, but a new opportunity to try something different.
From the pumpkins’ seeds to its impressive structure, students conducted a range of fascinating scientific experiments, some using the very pumpkins they grew in our school garden. Students examined the life cycle of pumpkins, investigated the energy potential (creating a battery), and the geometry of the pumpkin as it exists in space aerodynamics. Pumpkins provided a practical way to teach math concepts such as measurement, estimation, and data analysis. Students measured the circumference, weight, and height of their pumpkins, and then used this data to create charts and graphs. These mathematical exercises are helping them grasp the real-world applications of math.Today's education is incomplete without technology, and the use of pumpkins in tech-driven projects is no exception. Students were using computers to document their pumpkin experiments, measure growth, and create digital presentations for their peers. The classrooms were transformed into miniature engineering labs as students took on pumpkin-themed challenges. From building pumpkin catapults to designing protective packaging for a falling pumpkin, these hands-on activities not only enhanced their critical thinking skills but also introduced the fundamentals of engineering and mechanics.
Teachers and parents alike were thrilled to see their children engaged in learning through these diverse pumpkin-based projects. Ms. McGoldrick, Information Specialist, noted, "It's incredible to witness how these young learners are taking their enthusiasm for pumpkins and turning it into a deep understanding of various STEAM concepts."
This innovative approach to learning with pumpkins is instilling a love for science, technology, art, engineering, and math in the hearts of elementary students. It is not just about pumpkins; it is about nurturing a passion for learning that extends beyond the classroom. As the fall season continues, these young scholars are turning everyday pumpkins into extraordinary opportunities for growth and discovery.
