STEM Blog

Christmas by the Bricks
Posted November 16, 2024
St. Louis School is thrilled to continue our seven-year tradition of supporting the Kennedy Krieger Institute Festival of Trees. This year, in addition to our beautiful 7-foot, school-wide tree, Mrs. Whiteford’s 7B homeroom is excited to unveil a special 4-foot tree, Christmas by the Brick.
Students brought creativity to life in the Innovation Lab, designing and building ornaments with LEGOs to make this tree one-of-a-kind. We were honored to welcome Ms. Jessica Gregg, Director of Public Relations for Kennedy Krieger, to our Lab, where she shared insights into Kennedy Krieger’s impactful programs and expressed how much the community’s support means.
Our students are proud to contribute to this incredible cause, spreading holiday cheer and supporting the amazing work of Kennedy Krieger. To learn more about the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Festival of Trees visit: https://www.kennedykrieger.org/

 
, , ,



Refugee
Posted November 16, 2024
Ms. Rosenberg’s 7th-grade ELA class recently took part in an enriching exploration that combined history, literature, and hands-on STEM activities. After reading Refugee by Alan Gratz, students delved into the story of the Cuban Mariel boatlift from the 1980s, experiencing what it might have been like for Cuban refugees to create makeshift rafts.
Using scavenged materials, students designed rafts that had to stay afloat for 20 seconds, withstand simulated wind and rain, and hold four weights. To better understand the challenges, they also researched images from the Mariel boatlift to see how refugees crafted rafts from available items.
Through Isabel’s and Mahmoud’s stories, students developed a deeper understanding of the difficult journeys many migrants face while seeking freedom. The creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving skills our young engineers displayed were truly impressive and inspiring.

 
, , ,



Thermal Energy
Posted November 16, 2024
Ms. Duff's 8th-grade Science students took on a hands-on challenge to explore the principles of thermal energy. Using the scientific method, they designed their own "Stanley" Thermoses, experimenting with different materials to discover the best insulation for keeping liquids warm.
Great job to these young scientists for applying their knowledge and creativity in such a practical way.

 
, ,



Cyber STEM
Posted November 16, 2024
Wrapping up an incredible fall season with our Cyber STEM students!
Our young innovators closed the season strong by diving into LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 kits, a hands-on learning experience that brought their creativity and coding skills to life.
This final session combined building bricks with electronics as students explored motors, sensors, and the magic of drag-and-drop programming. From buzzing fans to moving vehicles, their projects were a fantastic display of imagination and problem-solving.
This season, our Cyber STEM students have once again shown the power of hands-on learning and the excitement of bringing their ideas to life. Here's to more inspiring projects ahead!

 
, , , ,



Augmented Reality
Posted November 16, 2024
Our Third Graders had an amazing time exploring the power of augmented reality in Mrs. Whiteford’s computer class! Using the new Innovation Lab iPads and the Quiver app, they watched their coloring pages come to life, creating a fun and immersive learning experience!
With AR, students can see virtual objects overlaid on the real world in real-time, adding a whole new layer to their learning. It’s incredible to see them so engaged as they experience this cutting-edge technology firsthand!

 
, ,



NE Woodland Native American tribes
Posted November 16, 2024
Mrs. Riggin's and Ms. Rossi's fifth graders dove into a hands-on integrated STEM lesson inspired by the ingenuity of the NE Woodland Native American tribes! Students were tasked with designing and building model shelters capable of withstanding wind, using only natural resources they gathered outside.
Drawing on knowledge from their ELA and Social Studies lessons, students studied the structure of traditional shelters, like longhouses, and learned about bartering as they traded materials with other “villages” (groups from 5A and 5B). Each shelter had to be 4-6 inches tall and wide enough to house a “rubber ducky”—representing their community.
The ultimate test? A hairdryer wind test to see if their creations could stand strong! After testing, students had the chance to modify and reinforce their designs, learning about resilience, engineering, and teamwork. Fantastic work, 5th graders!

 
, ,



Bone Bridge Challenge!
Posted November 16, 2024

Our 7th graders put their engineering skills to the test in homeroom with the Bone Bridge Challenge! Armed with limited materials, their task was to build a bridge that reached at least 6 inches in length and 2 inches in height, all while being strong enough to hold a Magna Tile. They tackled the challenge by testing their structures for length, strength, and load-bearing capacity, showing off creativity and collaboration at every step.
, ,



Pumpkin Soup!
Posted November 16, 2024
Yesterday, our creative first graders in Mrs. Vicendese and Ms. Dresner's class took on a hands-on STEM challenge inspired by Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper! After practicing their sequencing skills by organizing story events in chronological order, they took it a step further by creating story maps for their Ozobots to follow. Using images from the book, they arranged each event sequentially, adding codes to control their Ozobot's speed at different points. Working in groups, they did a fantastic job troubleshooting together, adjusting their maps until the Ozobot smoothly navigated through the story. So proud of these young problem-solvers!
In computer class, Mrs. Phelps reviewed and practiced how to use the Ozobots.
What a great day!

 
, ,



Bat Sanctuary
Posted November 16, 2024
Third graders have been buzzing with excitement as they explore the fascinating world of bats! In Library, ELA, and Science, our students have immersed themselves in research, learning about bat characteristics, habitats, and survival needs.
As a hands-on project, they were challenged to design a shelter for an injured bat at a sanctuary. Using their newfound knowledge, they created environments that would help the bat heal and eventually return to the wild.
We're so proud of their creativity and teamwork. Keep soaring, little scientists!

 
, , , ,



Innovation Lab Open House
Posted November 16, 2024
What an amazing morning at the Innovation Lab Open House for teachers, organized by our STEM Committee!
Teachers had a blast rotating through hands-on stations that featured LEGO challenges, Magna Tiles, STEM building activities, GeoBee quests, coding fun with Ozobot, Wonder Workshop Dash robots and Code.org, Pentominoes, and so much more. The experience gave everyone a chance to play, explore, and discover the exciting possibilities available for their students in the Innovation Lab.
A huge shoutout to the incredible members of the STEM Committee: Mrs. Riggin, Mrs. Anacker, Ms. Duff, Ms. d'Epagnier, Ms. Lee, Ms. Ewachiw, Mrs. Phelps, and Mrs. Whiteford for organizing such a successful event! And a special thanks to Mrs. Farace for jumping in to help facilitate a station.
Stay tuned for more exciting Innovation Lab adventures!

 
, ,



Ozobots!
Posted November 16, 2024
Our amazing first graders in Mrs. Phelps' class have been hard at work learning how to code with their new favorite tech toy—the Ozobot!
The Ozobot is a tiny but mighty robot that can follow lines, detect colors, and respond to codes drawn with markers or programmed through an app. It's a fun and interactive way to introduce students to the world of coding.
These young coders are getting ready for a BIG Thanksgiving project surprise —stay tuned to see how their coding skills come together for a special holiday treat!

 
, ,



Bird Beak Challenge!
Posted November 16, 2024

Today, Mrs. Sutton's third graders conducted a Bird Beak Investigation! As part of their lessons on inherited and acquired traits, as well as adaptations for survival, students used different "bird beaks" to pick up various foods. They discovered which beak shapes are best suited for certain types of food and learned about the bird species that have those beak shapes and what they eat. Hands-on learning at its best!
, ,



Pages