STEAM education addresses the critical areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math using a hands-on learning approach. The PTA supports STEAM activities as a way to enhance the problem-based learning already happening in the classroom.
Quarterly STEAM Challenges provide an opportunity for families to work together at home to solve a creative problem.
STEAM talks during Innovation Hour connect interested students to parents with STEAM- related careers and hobbies -- from drones to environmental science — these sessions allow them to see the real-life application of STEAM first hand.
Hour of Code is an opportunity for parents to support student exploration of computer programing by taking part in this annual, global event.
The WFES Edible Garden is establishing its roots. In the spring, students can choose to join our Green Team either through a 5th & 6th grade gardening elective or through an after-school program for 2nd - 4th graders. Based on the 4-H curriculum Learn, Grow, Eat, Go, students will become our inaugural gardening ambassadors, working together towards the goal of making the garden accessible to all students through an upcoming harvest day.
The PTA also supports classroom based STEAM activities by working with teachers on wish lists that enable parents to directly purchase materials that would help teachers make their classroom dreams a reality and bring more hands-on learning materials into the STEAM lab and classroom.
The annual STEAM Fair is a highlight of the year, occurring early in the spring. Last year hundreds of students, parents and teachers participated in interactive exhibits including NASA Mars Rover, the “Take Apart” electronics room, robotics, honeybees, soil engineering, 3D printing, urban planning and design, computer coding, creating a nature journal, and many others. Chick here for more information on our fantastic STEAM programs!
The Annual Spelling Bee at Wakefield Forest Elementary School is an opportunity for students to build their language skills in an exciting afternoon competition. The Spelling Bee is open to 3 rd to 6 th graders, and is a great example of teacher – parent collaboration. Spelling words are featured in the library, and parents help to organize the “Bee” itself.
This year, all 450 words on the School Spelling Bee Study List come from engaging, grade level-appropriate books called the Great Words, Great Works list. You can download this reading list for your students and encourage them to search for their spelling words in the context of great stories! See the flyer below for details and get ready to share your spelling skills!
Reflections is a program sponsored by the National PTA to promote the arts and creative expression. During the school year, students reflect on a common theme and create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.
At WFES, a kickoff workshop led by parents in the fall provides for exploration, inspiration and an introduction to a range of possible creative forms as students worked in small groups. Students develop their own individual projects in their chosen artistic medium responding to the year’s theme. WFES students have won awards in a range of categories, most recently for projects in music and film. All student projects will be featured at our spring Reflections reception. The Reflections program provides an opportunity for students to develop original works of art, explore new artistic media, and present their projects at a special school event.
Team work is the essential foundation for Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM, which is a creative problem-solving program involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined long-term problem and present their solution to the problem at a competition. A parent coach provides support during regular meetings of the team, but does not lead or direct the team. Teams also participate in a “spontaneous” portion of the competition by generating solutions to a problem they have not seen before. The long-term problem solution is developed over several months and involves various elements of theatrical performance, construction and design.
There are five categories of problems that participants can solve, and a new problem for each category is presented each year:
Every aspect of a solution must result from the work of team members including brainstorming, building, painting, sewing, and fixing. For each long-term problem, the team must present its solution in eight minutes or less, including set-up time. OM participants push their thinking, creativity and team work skills. WFES fields more than ten OM teams, which are organized by grade level.
