STEAM Success @ East Hill

Big things are happening within STEAM (Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Education at East Hill Elementary School! 

Having successfully completed the first of a three year pilot project, pedagogically speaking, East Hill has engaged in a collective effort to elicit deep, systemic change.  This new method favours a more hands-on, process driven, and problem solving oriented approach. Indeed, research has clearly indicated that “one of the most fundamental human cognitive processes” is a student's ability to problem solve, a skillset at the very heart of STEAM education.  

And the earlier, the better. Implementation of this type of educational experience “in the early grades is an effective way to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.”  In particular, the period “between infancy and the third grade is considered critical to developing STEAM-related thinking dispositions such as curiosity, inquiry, assessment, and analysis”.

In the past year, teachers have been busy creating a bank of Learning and Evaluation Situations (LESs) that feature all of these aforementioned qualities. The idea is that these LESs, and indeed this STEAM approach, can be “embedded” into East Hill’s pedagogical modus operandi, and eventually its very identity.

All together, 14 new LESs were created and implemented last year - with valuable new additions added from this past term.  By the end of year 3, we forecast that there will be in place a complete program of STEAM-oriented LESs for teachers to choose from, as they plan their school year.  

LESs created after year 1: 

• “Saving Rapunzel”, 
• “Building a Bear Den”, 
• “No Bridge to Cross the River!”,  
• “Access to Water: Bracelet Fundraiser”, 
• “Shadow Puppet Theatre”, 
• “The Paper Bag Princess”, 
• “Too Much Waste”, 
• “Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose”,
• “The Disappearing Bees”, 
• “The Iroquois Need a New Village!”,  
• “Indoor Recess is Boring: Let’s Build a Game!”,
• “Building a Safe Box”, 
• “Create a Ball Launcher”

Problem: Bees are disappearing in part due to habitat loss. Solution: With help from parents and teachers, cycle 2 students create a pollinator garden.  East Hill, May 2024.

Jason Bixby  and Valerie Honig  from the Educational Services Department are behind this initiative.