Let’s start planning!
The first week of Term 4, Woodend will celebrate everything linked to STEAM! This is from Monday 15th – Friday 19th October 2018. STEAM Week is a parent engagement initiative where families are encouraged to use some holiday time to investigate, explore, calculate, make, problem solve, create and/or produce something STEAM-related ready to be displayed at our STEAM Expo on the Thursday evening and all day Friday.
What is STEAM?
As highlighted in our previous STEAM blog post, STEAM is an educational focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths (STEAM) concepts across the wider curriculum. STEAM investigates the same concepts as STEM, but does this through inquiry and problem-based learning methods used creatively. If you would like to find out more, you can view our previous blog post.
As a parent/caregiver, what do I do?
- With your child/ren, search for and make something STEAM of interest to your family, that engages their curiousity or stretches their thinking. Plan how it could be shown to the rest of the school egs. poster, hands-on experiment/sample, diorama, or digital representation and use some of the school holidays to prepare it. Your child brings the product to school in the first week so that your child has the opportunity to show it to their class and then it will be set up in one of our school buildings ready for viewing at the Expo. The product is to be viewed or can be interactive so please let your teacher know if is allowed to be touched by students (ie. interactive)
- Come to see the EXPO! You are invited to attend the Expo. This invitation includes immediate and extended family – older siblings, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and cousins. Times are: Thursday 18th October 6 – 7pm and Friday 19th October 8.30am until 2.15pm. The Expo will take place in a number of buildings including The Studio, Gym, Library, Gym and Atrium.
- If your employment or hobby links to STEAM, would you like to talk to your child’s class about it? You are invited to share your knowledge and skills with students to broaden their understanding of STEAM and of adult occupations and interests. We welcome your involvement and inspiration with students. Please see your child’s teacher if you are willing to participate.
Additional to our Expo, students will be engaged in STEAM activities throughout the week. They may have the opportunity to work with neighbouring high school students, Tall Poppy Scientists, observing or showcasing in our first online Woodend Art Gallery or participating in STEAM challenges with their buddy class. How exciting?!
If you have any questions about STEAM Week, please see one of our STEAM Week committee members – Mrs Klinkert, Jude, Ms Ellis, Ms Gregory, Sarah Thomas (parent), Mr Freeman, Mrs Natar or Mrs Luke. Next blog post will contain some websites you may like to view for ideas.