School News
Full STEAM Ahead
by Becky Prochilo, Middle School Science Teacher
On Wednesday, January 20th, Lowell 7th graders exhibited their first STEAM project: “Improve a Space.” After choosing a space that was important to them, they determined what they did not like about the room in its current state and then created scaled virtual or physical models of the room in order to show their proposed improvements.
Students considered elements of design in their models, aiming to create spaces that reflected their own personalities. They also considered how the materials in their rooms would be affected by light and sound, incorporating their knowledge of wave behavior. Students wrote detailed proposals for their project, including accurate budgets and justifications for proposed changes.
Through this project, students learned how to use a variety of tools, helped each other overcome obstacles, and applied concepts from multiple classes in order to accomplish their goals. The evening exhibition was well attended, and students excitedly presented their proposals to their guests.
On a personal note, I was so proud of the hard work that these students put into this project. They were enthusiastic and dedicated, even giving up their free time to perfect their proposals and models. I was also amazed by the willingness of these students to help each other. From the first day, students offered to help choose or find materials to use in the models, taught one another how to use tools, and peer edited classmate’s proposals.
Combining subject areas into one project allowed students to reach beyond the topics covered within the classroom walls to see the real-world applications of what they have learned in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
1640 Kalmia Road NW
Washington, DC 20012
202-577-2000
202-577-2000
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Lowell School is a private PK-8th grade school located in NW Washington, DC. Our mission is to create an inclusive community of lifelong learners in which each individual is valued and respected.
