Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Why are Wednesdays the most popular day of the week for students at Shadow Oaks Elementary (SOE) in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD)?

There is just a different energy on campus when every child participates in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activity set up in the gym, music room or cafeteria.

Working in small groups by grade level, and guided by teachers, students are introduced to the “driving question” of the day. They collaborate and brainstorm how to address the problem before building and creating their solutions. The real fun begins when they test what they built to see if it worked—or troubleshoot for a different result.

Learning beyond the classroom walls

What sets these opportunities apart is that the STEM lessons take place outside the classroom and are not graded.

“We want them to play, discover and explore without penalty,” said Mandy Antolini, principal at Shadow Oaks. “They are like sponges—absorbing, thinking, analyzing—gaining skills needed in real-world careers.”

Some of the driving questions students have explored this fall include:

• How can we use the sun’s energy to combine different colors of crayons?
• How can physical properties be used to sort matter?
• What worked and didn’t work in building your floating device?

Imagination at work

When asked what he likes most about STEM Wednesdays, fifth grader Thoman K. said, “You get to do different things like building from your imagination.”

Another fifth grader, Nataly T., said she has fun while also learning—and sees how group collaboration connects to other areas of life. “It helps me learn how to work with others,” she said.

 

 

Real-time, Real-world learning

“The learning is based on the science concepts they are covering at each grade level, but STEM classes allow them to use what they have learned to solve problems in a small group with their peers,” said teacher Craig Mendizabal. “It gives them the opportunity to share their ideas, plans and design solutions.”

Teacher Natacha Blanco Molina added that hands-on experiments build critical thinking and curiosity.

“Students gain a deeper understanding of what is possible to create, explore and build—not only within the classroom, but also by recognizing these lessons in their everyday lives,” she said.

Building Core Characteristics 

In SBISD, educators and the community have identified six Core Characteristics of a T-2-4 Graduate as essential for students to master by high school graduation. Three of these are especially nurtured during SOE’s Wednesday STEM lessons: being Persistent and Adaptable, becoming a Resourceful Problem-Solver, and serving as a Communicator and Collaborator.

“As an educator, if I see them fail, I reassure them of the importance of never giving up and being persistent,” Blanco Molina said. “I believe these classes will help them grow, build problem-solving skills and develop a better understanding of the science behind any experiment.”

 

 

Sink or float?

During a recent lesson on matter, students eagerly tested objects to see how density affected whether something floated or sank. They even designed life-saving devices for action figures and tested how well the creations floated across a “river” of water.

For Jason O., a fourth grader, this was one of his favorite activities. “I like the time we learned about sink and float,” he said.

“They are learning that problems aren’t always easy to solve,” Mendizabal said. “When their idea or design doesn’t work as planned, they are learning to think of other solutions and not to give up.”

 

 

Reflections

One of the most important components of the STEM lessons, Antolini said, is the time at the end for reflection. Students discuss what went well—or not—strengthening their communication and analytical skills.

As Thomas K. put it, “I like it because I can build on other people’s ideas.”

The problem-solvers, thinkers and doers of the future are being developed one driving question at a time at Shadow Oaks Elementary.