Learning and Teaching

Designing and Building

STEM education covers the specific knowledge and skills found in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. It also covers the interrelationship between these areas, allowing learning to be delivered in an integrated way, helping a deeper engagement in the four disciplines. STEM is an important part of our curriculum as it prepares learners for an increasingly globalised world in which technology is dramatically altering the nature of work and daily life. In this complex environment, connecting knowledge and skills across discipline areas is vital. 

For Foundation to Level 10 (F–10) school students, STEM knowledge and skills are embedded within the Victorian Curriculum, in Mathematics, Science, Design and Technologies, and Digital Technologies. STEM education also develops critical and creative thinking, collaboration and ethical decision-making.

The Prep Community has been focusing on the Design and Technologies Learning Area of our Curriculum in Term 4 which incorporates aspects of STEM. This means they have been learning about planning simple steps by drawing, modelling and explaining design ideas, following directions to complete their own or group design ideas or projects, and managing their own role within team projects.

The Prep Community has been solving problems for characters from Fairy Tales. They have built a tower/castle for Cinderella using blocks, made a home for Thumbelina using materials from the school grounds and built Goldilocks a new bed. The children work independently or in pairs to think about what they would like to make, they then draw a plan of their idea and identify the materials needed to create it. The next day they work together to make the planned design. The images below show some of the Prep Community’s creations. 

Deborah Courtney

Director of Learning and Teaching