Past projects 13
Taking the STING Out of STEM
Funded Aug 13, 2020All summer without our students I have been caring for and tending our honey bee colony. And though summer is always fun, I could not WAIT for cooler temperatures and for our students to return. Despite Covid-protocols making this school year a little... wonky, we still strive to have our students learning outside as much as possible, interacting with the natural environment and using nature as a lens for learning.--The bee hive is the perfect opportunity for that!
We started the year by giving hive tours, allowing classes from all grade levels to come out to the hive and observe from a safe distance, and to also look through and explore empty hives to get an idea for what's inside.
When the weather was nice enough I was able to put together a group of students (1st and 8th graders) who will be taking the lead this year at the hive--working right alongside me as we work directly with the honey bees. At first they were a little nervous ("Bees can still sting through a suit??") but from almost the first moment of opening the hive, they were right up close and personal, asking tons of insightful questions, making observations and just enjoying bee-ing at the hive! Our 1st graders probably asked the most questions, but our 8th graders were real stars-- helping to answer some of those questions, reminding the first graders about our rules and expectations and keeping them calm while I was busy. One of our 8th graders even happened to find the queen!--How amazing is that?
Overall it has been an incredible experience for everyone, and we're already looking for some equipment that we can use to monitor the hive over the long, cold winter. We just don't want to wait six months before our next un-bee-lievable adventure!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stephanie
What's The BUZZ About STEM?
Funded Jul 4, 2019After receiving our beekeeping materials, our 8th graders set to work immediately -- exploring the different supplies and taking notes on how they work and what they're each used for. To make this a more authentic experience they were presented with a variety of beekeeping tools but were not informed on how they worked. It was up to the students to use their own inquiry and skill set of exploration to learn what each of them are for. Some were easier than others -- it became clear almost at once what the smoker was for and how it worked, but others like the the hive tool were less obvious.
Our biggest project so far, before purchasing bees, has been putting together the hive itself which has been a great opportunity to get every student involved. While some students are more hesitant to work with the bees themselves, those same students can't wait to use their creativity to paint the hive-- they're already researching colors, paint types and designs. At the same time, other students are having a great time assembling the hives (see pictures)--putting together the frames, gluing, and nailing them all together. Since we are an environmentally focused STEM school, we are always looking for ways for students to learn using hands on projects.
So far, the students have directed their own learning--they've decided how the hive should be put together, how to paint it, etc. And in the next few months they will be researching (using the help of local beekeepers) more information on our school hive location, type of bee to purchase, etc.
After establishing the hive at our school, we hope to do several things in the coming years. We're looking into having an observation hive in one of our classrooms, create more pollinator gardens on campus, as well as have our older middle school students partnering up with our younger students in beekeeping itself.
None of this project would be possible without your support and contribution, and our entire student body, staff, and myself appreciate it greatly and are looking forward to welcoming honeybees at our school.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stephanie
The Slick Science of Sliding
Funded Dec 26, 2018Thank you so much for your donation to our project The Slick Science of Sliding! Our students had a wonderful time learning about physics concepts such as friction and aerodynamics, and they had even more fun putting those concepts into action by designing and building their own sleds. The tape that we purchased was applied to cardboard we collected around school to make a smooth and water-tight surface on the bottoms of our sleds, and the bright colors really made them stand out!
Our students were amazed by the color options available when they saw the tape for the first time, and it was clear how much they loved being able to use the colors to really get creative. Each sled was completely unique, both in design and in color.
And while this was an elective class (a three week course that students get to learn about topics outside of the average curriculum), they were able to take their sleds home, and almost all of them were excited to share that they plan to not only play with them outside of school, but also to keep adding onto them! We learned that engineering is about testing and redesigning, that is exactly what they are doing.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stephanie