STEAM

Year Prep 

Our Prep STEAM Innovators will explore several different fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, each promising a unique and different experience. Learners will first be introduced to the concept of the ‘Innovator’s Mindset’ and the skills and attributes needed to be an effective engineer. Then will come a rapid fire set of activities, each designed to stimulate thinking in a different field of STEAM. Lemon juice ink, rudimentary coding, balloon cars and time capsules are just some of the activities the STEAM program has on offer for our Prep learners this term, each one sure to be exciting and thought provoking (not to mention fun). Finally, they will put their engineering skills to the test by identifying and solving a common problem at home. 

Year 1

In Year 1 STEAM, learners will explore several fields of science and engineering, all of which will serve to expand their critical thinking skills and imaginative ability. First will come an introduction to the ‘Innovator’s Mindset’ - which will teach students what it means to be an effective engineer/scientist. Then, students will have the opportunity to design and build their personalised ‘dream house’ - one that will feature elements and structural features of real-life buildings, such as Tokyo Tower, Versailles and Federation Square. Then, students will investigate the life cycles of different plants and understand what is needed to allow flora to grow and thrive, before putting this knowledge into practice by growing their own beans in the classroom. 

Year 2

Learners will have the chance to engage with several branches of engineering and science throughout the course of Year 2 STEAM Innovation this term. After learning about the building blocks of engineering as well as the problem solving and collaborative skillsets that are necessary, students will begin to learn about aerospace engineering and the effect gravity and drag can have on an object in flight. Taking the simple paper plane and redesigning it in as many ways possible, students will consistently experiment with different ideas, designs and materials. Next, learners will explore the different types of ecosystems that make up planet Earth, examining the flora and fauna of different environments, before creating their own ‘shoebox ecosystem’ exhibit to represent Glen Waverley Primary School. 

Year 3

Year 3 STEAM Innovation offers learners the chance to explore the world of engineering through a variety of tasks and topics that will see them journey from exploring the tiniest microchip to the edge of the galaxy. Students will begin the term by learning what it takes to be an engineer – both in terms of mindset and skill. Then, they will understand how to employ computer assisted design and manufacturing tools – in the form of TinkerCAD and 3D printers, to better enhance their prototyping skills in preparation for their first ‘engineering task’ of the term. For this task, students will first learn about the solar system, as well as humanity’s endeavours to explore and conquer it, then, students will embark on the creation of a hypothetical space colony, searching for appropriate planets/moons for human settlements, creating habitation modules and designing spacecraft based on real life instances. Finally, in an electrical and software engineering focused task, learners will consider potential ways technology can be improved to better suit their needs. 

Year 4

This term, Year 4 STEAM innovators will begin an exploration of both engineering, as well as two unique and different fields within the discipline- structural and software. First, learners will understand the thought processes behind engineering, coming to grips with both the STEAM process and the collaborative skills and mindset needed. Then, they will analyse geometric features in architecture and the structural support techniques that make skyscrapers, bridges and other wonders of engineering possible, before using this knowledge to construct their own building inspired by a pre-existing famous structure. During this task, learners will also become acquainted with TinkerCAD and MakerBot 3D Printers, allowing them access to computer assisted design and manufacturing tools. Next, students will learn the different functionalities of Scratch, a high-level programming language that allows its users the chance to design games and animations. 

Year 5

Year 5 STEAM will offer students a chance to explore several varied and unique fields of engineering – namely industrial design and automotive engineering. First, students will learn what it takes to be an engineer and the thought process that goes into every engineering project, not just from regular classroom learning, but from a real-life hydraulic engineer themselves. These foundational concepts will then be supplemented by an exploration into the world of industrial and product design, wherein students will seek to design a household item that is not only functional and innovative, but aesthetically pleasing as well. To aid them in their prototyping, students will also have the chance to utilise computer assisted design and manufacturing technologies in the form of TinkerCAD and MakerBot 3D Printers. Finally, students will be introduced to the world of cars and mechanical engineering. Through hands-on models of V and inline I.C.Es, there will be a particularly special focus on the way four-stroke engines work. 

Year 6

In Year 6 STEAM, students will learn what it takes to ‘think like an engineer’, before exploring the fields of structural engineering and computer hardware. Learners will first understand the STEAM process and its importance in innovation, before tackling their first major challenge of the term – engineering a building to ensure it can withstand floods, earthquakes and even tsunamis! This task will require an understanding both of natural disasters and the ingenious ways humans have tamed nature to fit their vision. Next comes a deep dive into the world of computer hardware, in which students will completely tear down a PC before rebuilding it, gaining a comprehensive understanding of every component present in a desktop – from the RAM to the GPU to the motherboard, every part will be examined and understood. A constant throughout the entire term is the MakerBot 3D printers, which will allow students using them access computer assisted design and manufacturing tools to aid them in their creation of prototypes.