You’ve been asked to organise a Science Week or a Technology Week for your whole school. Perhaps for added complexity, it has been suggested that you could link it to the United Nations Global Goals and Targets. Where do you start? Relax, you’ve got this! Put the kettle on and read on to find out how a STEAM Theme could be the answer. In this blog, you will find out what Twinkl’s STEAM Themes are all about and how to use them throughout the school. You will discover innovative resources made in partnership with TV presenter and architect George Clarke’s charity MOBIE: Ministry of Building Innovation and Education.
What Is STEAM?
STEAM is an acronym for Sciences, Technologies, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
These subjects are taught individually to develop knowledge but a STEAM approach encourages learners to apply these skills in an interdisciplinary way similar to how people work in the real world. Consider an architect; they would use all of the STEAM subjects to do their job!
A STEAM challenge asks a question that needs a solution. The learners then take what they have learnt and apply it to real-life problems: testing theories, exploring laws of nature, designing or sometimes simply observing what happens.
Why Use a STEAM Approach in School?
There are lots of reasons why a STEAM approach to learning can be beneficial. Here are a few:
· Exploring real-life contexts to build connections in learning;
· Encouraging exploration, discovery, creativity and innovation;
· Decision making, group work negotiating and risk assessing;
· Developing skills that can be applied to a variety of careers that may not even exist yet;
· Technology is a vital part of our future;
· Skills overlapping as they would in the workplace;
· It’s great fun!
What Is a Twinkl Steam Theme and How Can the Whole School Get Involved?
There are plenty of exciting STEAM activity ideas out there, perfect for clubs, home learning and the classroom. It’s not as straightforward trying to plan a whole school STEAM event.
What if I told you that there is an innovative whole school challenge that you can download?
Twinkl STEAM Themes allow learners across the primary school stages to collaborate and explore an exciting topic together. It includes:
- A whole school introduction PowerPoint to explain the ‘Big Bang’ challenge to all the learners.
- Eight individual class ‘Question Spark’ challenges will provide progression of skills from the youngest to the oldest of learners in your primary school. Each has been planned following the Curriculum for Excellence and linked to the UN Global Goal targets. Composite classes can select which Question Spark is most suitable for the learners. Schools that have more than one class per year group can simply have more than one class working on each Question Spark.
- A PowerPoint for each year group that takes the learners step by step through the challenge following a level appropriate design cycle.
- Real-life experts providing advice for your learners.
- A scrapbook style PowerPoint that can be edited to include photos and quotes from learners and then shared with the wider school community to celebrate their combined efforts and successes.
- A Toolbelt PowerPoint for teaching staff that includes a ‘Bringing You Up to Speed’ video and an interactive to-do list that can be checked off.
- No printing is required and all challenges only require items usually already in schools or can be sourced for free.
Building Our Future with MOBIE
MOBIE, Ministry of Building Innovation and Education, is an education charity established by architect and TV presenter George Clarke. They have collaborated with Twinkl to produce this challenge to inspire young people to build the homes of the future that are healthier, happier and kinder to our planet. Meet George and the three engineers and architects who will guide you through this design challenge.
Here is Twinkl’s Building Our Future STEAM challenge:
- Building Our Future: Whole School STEAM Challenge Pack (include link and preview image of the resource)
George Clark explains the ‘Big Bang Question’ in this introductory PowerPoint. How can our homes be happier, healthier and kinder to our planet? Also included is the editable scrapbook-style PowerPoint to celebrate the whole school’s combined efforts at finding solutions to this problem.
- Building Our Future: Pre-5 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you make a future home for the Three Little Pigs? Linked to UN Global Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Building Our Future: Age 5-6 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you make a growing roof for the Three Little Pigs? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 15.5 Protect biodiversity and natural habitats.
- Building Our Future: Age 6-7 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you encourage wildlife into the built environment? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 15.5 Protect biodiversity and natural habitats.
- Building Our Future: Age 7-8 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you collect rainwater? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 6.4 Increase water-use efficiency and ensure freshwater supply.
- Building Our Future: Age 8-9 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you use locally sourced materials to make a home? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
- Building Our Future: Age 9-10 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you reuse and repurpose to make a low carbon house? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 12.5 Substantially reduce waste generation.
- Building Our Future: Age 10-11 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you show how insulation makes a difference? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 12.5 Substantially reduce waste generation
- Building Our Future: Age 11-12 STEAM Theme Challenge Pack
Can you power a house with renewable energy? Linked to UN Global Goal Target 7.2 Increase global percentage of renewable energy.
Resources to Support STEAM Exploration
Twinkl STEAM Themes aim to use items that are readily available in schools or can be sourced easily for free or low expense. Secondary schools in your learning community or a local business might be able to lend suitable kit or provide expertise.
Bringing new technologies into the classroom offers exciting learning opportunities and vital skills for the learners future, however, not all STEAM learning needs to rely on this. Creativity and innovation can come from imaginative play inspired by low-tech, readily available materials.
You might want to consider having a rummage box for learners to look through and incorporate into their models and prototypes. Although older learners could be asked to source their own components and encouraged to reuse and recycle.
There are many things you could put in a rummage box and you’ll likely find learners will start to contribute interesting items they find to the box.
Here are just a few suggestions, but please consider the appropriateness of each for your learners:
cardboard boxes
tubes
yoghurt pots
plastic lids
colourful sweet wrappers
tinfoil
lollipop sticks
wool
rubber bands
sticky tape
masking tape
pipe cleaners
building blocks
chopsticks
paper muffin cases
unwanted kitchen items: baking trays, wooden spoons, sieve,
Collect items from walks or the garden too:
offcuts of wood
pine cones
twigs
leaves
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