As part of their computer lab class, students in Alissa Alteri Shea’s first grade classroom have been working on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. Working collaboratively with partners, students are given an open-ended activity in which they go through the process of defining a problem, brainstorming possible solutions, planning, creating, and then improving on their plan. Recently the first graders have been given a set of challenges based on basic bridge structures. They had to use their problem solving skills to create beam, arch, and suspension bridges. The energy in the classroom during the challenges is incredible!

Students in Katrin Griswold’s fourth grade class have been learning about the U.S. regions. The class was divided into regional teams and each team researched the following areas: state names/capitals, climate, natural resources, physical features, historic sites, and Native American tribes. Using Padlet, an online collaboration tool, each group created a presentation about their region.

Click on each image to view the entire project.

Northeast Region

Southeast Region

Southwest Region

Midwest Region

West Region

Students in Nikki Harper’s second grade studied landforms and how they have shaped the earth. Students worked in groups researching one of the four landforms: deserts, coasts, volcanoes, and mountains. The students needed to define the landform, describe the characteristics, and find examples of the landform. Using the app ChatterPix, each student described one aspect of the landform.

Deserts

Mountains

Coasts

Volcanoes