At Heth Washington Elementary, students are discovering innovative ways to learn science and technology through the Kentucky Science Center STEAM cart! For two years our teachers have had access to this incredible resource, and we’ve seen tremendous growth in our students because of it.
STEAM education is the combination of science, technology, engineering, art and math wrapped into one engaging activity or project. With this STEAM cart, students have been exploring the engineering design processes and robotics, including creating 3D prints using 3D pens.
The variety of activities and projects we can do with the cart not only expands students’ perception of “science”, but also fosters essential life skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration.
“We are talking engineering challenges, circuit kits, coding activities, and physics explorations that make learning tactile, collaborative, and dare I say, fun,” 4th grade teacher Abigail Bates said. “These are the very skills students need to succeed in school and in their future careers”.
The STEAM cart is also inspiring teachers, helping them consider different approaches to teaching complex concepts that might be challenging to convey through traditional methods.
Ellie Falardo credited her academic success in science to the STEAM cart, saying, “The STEAM cart has helped me with science. Not everyone learns through regular lessons, but the cart helps us understand by offering a way to expand our knowledge.”
We’re thankful for Samtec and the Kentucky Science Center for making this cart possible, because everyone here at Heth-Washington is growing and benefiting from it. Not only are our students interested in pursuing a career in science, but our teachers are even adding STEM credentials to their license.
Our 5th grade teacher Hope Ida shared, “Since receiving the STEAM cart, I have pursued adding STEM in elementary to my teaching license.”
It is important to us and South Harrison to offer engaging learning experiences and opportunities for students to discover their passions and gain confidence in the classroom. The STEAM cart does exactly that and we’re excited to see all it inspires our Wildcats to do in the future!