At Extreme STEAM Science Kids, we believe that life-long learners are created when children are enchanted with science at a young age and are encouraged and supported in bolstering their natural curiosity. This year, we will be continuing with our Citizen Science activities where children collect data in nature and send their findings back to be entered in actual scientific studies.
In each of our learning spaces, we allow students to provide the questions and help them to design experiences to practice the scientific process. Teachers guide children to learn the way scientists do; through experimentation, collection of real-world data and analysis of their results. In keeping with 4 major themes, we have built in the flexibility to cultivate the students wonders while giving them fun problems to solve in a team. We wish to empower children with the knowledge that their questions matter, and that they can make a difference in the world through thinking and doing. Using common scientific vocabulary words through all learning spaces, children will obtain a working knowledge of the concepts presented. Our inquiry-driven classes promote innovation, social skills and problem-solving in a fun environment while students learn the basics of the scientific process and design theory. We believe in preparing students for a dynamic world in which adaptable learning will be necessary for a rapidly changing world in need of global collaboration.
Children will come away from the first two weeks, themed “Locomotion Commotion”, with a working knowledge of forces and motion, modes of locomotion in animals and how and why plants move. We will visit the Oyster Bay Waterfront to participate in seining to study the structure, function and methods of movement of sea creatures. Students will study the many fish tanks in the Cave to compare how different types of animals have different adaptations for movement. Students will code animations and stories in which their characters will show different ways to move. They will discuss the senses and watch how our robots use sensors to observe their environment around them. Students will also begin using hydroponic gardening to see how water moves through irrigations systems.
During the second block themed “The Habitat Habit” students will participate in building and observing a native garden in which they will learn the importance of providing Long Island’s fauna with a habitat that it has evolved to call home. Students will study and build habitats for insects and animals on our campus. We will take virtual field trips to different biomes to see how different creatures adapt to different surroundings. Campers will also learn about how robots can help to keep habits healthy and sustainable while they program their robots to help out too. We will incorporate our learning with our Hydroponic Garden to inspire students to solve problems facing many habitats today. Our field trip will be to visit SweetBriar Nature Center to see butterfly habitats and to see different animals in their natural habitat.
During block three our theme will be “Learnasaurus-Prehistoric Times” in which students will learn about Earth’s History including the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals and plants. Students will create virtual volcanoes, create models of dinosaurs and participate in virtual fossil digs. We will compare dinosaurs to our animal friends in the cave and investigate the similarities and differences. Our field trip will be to the Heckscher Museum to participate in a scavenger hunt and create dinosaur themed artwork.
Our last block will be themed “The science of Exploration and Navigation” and will focus mainly on designing and building our cardboard rocket-boats for the annual Regatta. Our boats will incorporate the students’ learning of the Universe, solar system, map making and different methods of navigation throughout history. Students will take virtual field trips to other planets and create Minecraft moon and Mars landscapes. We are very excited to start our wonderful journey of learning with our Extreme STEAM Science Kids!