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). 

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’ and the relevant traits - which will teach students what it means to be an effective engineer/scientist and how to best employ the traits in their learning. Then, students will have the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of computer programming - in which they will use unifix blocks to model the fundamentals of coding to create a wide range of displays. 

Year 2

Year 2 STEAM this term with allow students a chance to engage with several different branches of engineering and science. Ecosystems and the biotic and abiotic components that comprise them will be the first focus, with students exploring Glen Waverley Primary School’s environment in order to create a miniature ‘shoebox ecosystem’. Learners then examine potential ideas for future communities and how household technologies have evolved over time, knowledge they will then use to create a model living space of the future. Finally, students will engage with the concept of Computer Assisted Design (CAD) and discover how computer software can help them create buildings and inventions – a skill that will serve them well in the later years of STEAM.  

Year 3 

Year 3 STEAM Innovation invites students to dive into the world of engineering through a series of engaging and imaginative challenges. The term begins with an exploration of what it means to be an engineer, focusing on both the mindset and skill set required. Students will then learn to use computer-assisted design and manufacturing tools, such as TinkerCAD and 3D printers, to enhance their prototyping abilities in preparation for their first major project. In this task, students will investigate various types of housing and explore how engineers and architects adapt building designs to minimise environmental impact. Drawing on their learning, they will design and construct models of their own sustainable ‘green buildings’ using a combination of digital tools and physical materials. 

Year 4 

This term in Year 4 STEAM, learners will explore the way humans extract and use both renewable and non-renewable resources, looking at the pros and cons of both forms of energy generation. This will be accompanied by a visit to Wilson Transformer Company in order to understand how electricity is transferred. They will then cooperate within groups to create an energy solution of their own that will then be ‘pitched’ to a hypothetical government agency. To round off the term, students will explore the effects, potentials and dangers of social media, conduct surveys regarding internet use around the school and plan their own ethical and safe social media app geared towards children. 

Year 5 

Year 5 STEAM offers students the opportunity to engage with a range of exciting engineering disciplines, with a focus on industrial design and software engineering. The term begins with an investigation into industrial and product design, where students will be challenged to create a household item that is not only functional and innovative but also visually appealing. To support their design process, they will use computer-assisted design and manufacturing tools such as TinkerCAD and MakerBot 3D printers for rapid prototyping. In the latter part of the term, students will shift their focus to software engineering by learning to code single-circuit computers. One hands-on challenge will involve programming a device to count the number of steps taken when walking around the school, blending physical computing with real-world application. 

Year 6 

This term in Year 6 STEAM, learners will join with Year 6 Maths Innovation to take part in a term long aviation project – the very first of its kind to be run at Glen Waverley Primary School. Students will first explore the fundamentals of aviation, including forces and key principles necessary for flight, before building their very own plane out of balsa wood, complete with a motor. They will then test their design and gather data on ways it can be improved before putting those improvements into practice via multiple prototypes and test flights. Additionally, students will also explore the world of computer hardware by completely tearing down a PC before rebuilding it, gaining a comprehensive understanding of every component present in a desktop.