News & Views is a semiannual publication of Springer School and Center. The newsletter is published in the winter and summer of each year, and it features news pertaining to Springer's Board of Trustees and activities in Springer's Day School and Center.
These are the key ideas behind the new class which has become a favorite among students this fall. To prepare students for their future academics and to support the development of lifelong critical thinking skills, Springer has incorporated a STEAM class into Lower School Blue and Gray (grades 4-5) academic schedules.
At this age students are ready to use their science and engineering minds to tackle questions posed in content areas. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) is the avenue for this to occur intentionally, so that students can be thoughtfully guided through their challenges and encouraged by their successes. With STEAM, students are using their hands in a way that hasn’t always been a priority in academic settings. Curriculum Director Dr. Diane Houghton explains, "They are building coordination using their hands and brains to put structures together--they're always collaborating and testing to see function ability." Coupled with the physical pieces of the projects are the planning and design processes, determining what comes first, then next. STEAM teacher Kelly Gallant explains that through their projects, the students are "learning by discovery" rather than being told exactly what to do.