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STEM Blog
Message to the Future
In 1981, a group called the Human Interference Task Force (made up of scientists, artists, engineers, and anthropologists) met to come up with a solution to a very specific problem- how to warn future people away from areas that may contain radioactive waste material, which can remain dangerous for hundreds and thousands of years.
This week in art class, the 7th graders were presented with the same design challenge: how can we create a message for the distant future that doesn’t rely on written language, which can change dramatically over hundreds of years?
They had 30 minutes to design and present their warning systems to the rest of the class, who then offered some constructive feedback!
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Hands-on Computing!
Computers are part of our everyday world, but do you know the individual parts of a computer? Thanks to a generous grant from AFCEA Central Maryland SLS Fifth Graders had the opportunity to build their own touchscreen tablets using educational kits from Kano Computing. Powered by a Raspberry Pi 3 computer, students connected power supplies, screens, USB ports, and other components to assemble a fully functional device. The next step for students is to complete training materials and tutorials and apply their programming skills to this new platform. St. Louis School would like to again thank AFCEA Central Maryland and Mr. Kyle Cragg for enabling our students to explore the hardware that powers our modern world. #STEMatSLS
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Project Wild!
SLS teachers never stop learning! Mrs. Yuska and Ms. Frederick spent their Saturday taking part in the Project WILD program at the Baltimore National Aquarium. The program’s mission is “to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources.” Thank you, Mrs. Yuska and Ms. Frederick for taking the time to learn more about how to protect our environment, the SLS community looks forward to learning from you. Thank you to all SLS teachers who selflessly give up their time to participate in continuous professional development to offer the best education to our students. “A teacher who loves learning earns the right and the ability to help others learn.” ― Ruth Beechick
Girl Power at APL STEM event!
Celebrating Dr. Seuss!
Third Graders in Computer Class today
designed a postage stamp along the way.
They learned a bit
about the wit
of a man named Dr. Seuss
and the books that he set loose.
This being Digital Learning Day
St. Louis School would like to say
using technology in the classroom
helps your children soar and zoom!
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Sewer Rats Win First Place at State Championship for their Project!
Emergency Exit EDISOUND Product Wins First Place! Congratulations to the SLS Sewer Rats who won First Place for Project Presentation at this year's FIRST LEGO League State Championship held at UMBC today. The St. Louis School community is very proud of all of you and your remarkable accomplishments. A huge thank you to the talented coaches Anne Reed and Jenn Sleeman for their leadership, guidance, and inspiration.#STEMatSLS #YearoftheRat Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools
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Learning How to Make a Difference!
As part of Third Grade's Life Science Unit, they have been learning all about Endangered Species and how we can help protect animals. Students did their own research, wrote book reports, made dioramas, created "persuasive" posters, and gave class presentations. Then, today, Third Grade shared some of their research and knowledge-- and showed off their awesome dioramas -- with their Kindergarten Buddies. The Kindergartners then completed their own worksheet on how they too can help save animals! #STEMatSLS
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Future Paleontologists!
Our Pre-K classes are learning all about different types of museums and the artifacts they hold. Today, the students learned about dinosaurs and paleontologists and how they dig up and discover fossils. The kids were each given a dinosaur egg and tools to dig out their hidden dinosaur beneath the egg. It was a messy day, but they had a blast learning and discovering. Many future paleontologists in these photos!
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What does it mean to be human?
Last week we had the distinct pleasure to welcome Dr. Briana Pobiner, a paleoanthropologist and science educator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Pobiner uses this question as an important framework to study the evolutionary past of the human species. During her research, Dr. Pobiner has traveled all over the world to places like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Indonesia and her studies have been supported by organizations such as the Fulbright-Hays program, the Leakey Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, Rutgers University, the Society for American Archaeology, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation.
Dr. Pobiner is a very impressive scientist, and we are grateful to the USA Science & Engineering Festival for this fantastic learning opportunity for our students. The ‘Nifty Fifty’, is a group of noted science and engineering professionals who will fan out across the Washington, DC area in the 2019/2020 school year to speak about their work and careers at various middle and high schools. Featuring some of the most inspiring role models in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, this signature program of the USA Science and Engineering Festival presents students with the latest in green technology, engineering, human health and medicine, astronomy and space exploration, nanotechnology, computer science, and more. #STEMatSLS
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EDISOUND System Patent Pending!
The Sewer Rats (FLL Team #26647) have been working hard to develop their FIRST Innovative Project. Their solution to the problem of communication inefficiencies during emergency situations is an Adaptable Egress Communication System that facilitates the movement of groups of people in shared urban spaces where there are visitors with diverse accessibility needs. They have shared their idea with many professionals in their community and received such a positive response that they decided to patent their idea, the EDISOUND system. The Sewer Rats are working with attorney Margaret Teahan to write and file a Provisional Utility Patent. They held a working meeting with Ms. Teahan at the Ethridge Quinn Law Offices in Frederick, MD earlier this month. They continue to provide updated technical input as the application is written and they expect to file their patent this week. The Sewer Rats thank Ms. Teahan for her professional services and thank Ethridge Quinn Law Offices for donating the patent filing fee. #STEMatSLS Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools
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Hearts and Minds!
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and at St Louis School we love STEM! As part of our continued commitment to STEM education, we held a school-wide activity yesterday to engage our students in critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication. You can get a sense of how the day progressed in the photographs below. Students and faculty had a fun-filled, inquiry-based educational experience and we look forward to many more. #STEMatSLS#BeaKnight #RiseAbove
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Drop it, drop it, drop it!
“Drop it, drop it, drop it!” was the cheer of the day at the SLS Collaborative Egg Drop STEM activity. PreK students were invited to join Mrs. Sarah Yuska Seventh Grade Science class in the Science Lab and challenged to build a device using a limited set of materials that would protect a raw egg when dropped from a second story. The teams collaborated on the design, built their devices and then put them to the test by dropping them one-by-one down the Middle School stairway. Only a handful of eggs survived but the experience and memories will last for a lifetime! #STEMatSLS
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