However, there is now a new train entering the station called "STEAM". This stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. This concept encourages the use of the arts to guide in students' learning of the original STEM concept, and while STEAM is a new train, it isn't a new concept. Art has always been a large portion of the STEM world through the designing, categorizing, and observing processes.
Here is a lesson plan that is sure to get you steaming!
Explore: Set up a tub of water for students to test their objects in to see if they sink or float. Write down hypotheses and record items before testing.
What changes when a paper clip is dropped in the water compared to being placed on the water?
What other objects use buoyancy and surface tension? (boats, kayaks, canoes)
Students will work in their lab teams and use foil and straws to design a raft that can hold the most weight, while still floating on the water. Restrict amounts of straws and foil.
- Design and Draw what you want your raft to look like.
- Hypothesis how many pennies it will hold while still floating on top of the water.
- Construct rafts according to designs.
- Test designs!
- Record results of competition. How could this design be made stronger?
For more on STEAM visit: http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/11/18/ctq-jolly-stem-vs-steam.html