STEM/STEAM
Grades 1 - 3
Wed from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
12 participants
$419 for 6 classes
Description
This program uses the natural environment—both indoors and outdoors—as the primary laboratory for learning. Students will explore basic principles of biology and physics, develop early skills in scientific documentation and technology, and engage in hands-on engineering challenges using found materials. The goal is to foster observation skills, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation for the environment.
Core Principles
Nature as the Textbook: The learning environment is primarily outdoors or utilizes natural materials brought indoors, encouraging direct, sensory engagement.
Respect and Ethics: Emphasize the importance of observing, but not harming, living things and practicing "leave no trace" principles during outdoor exploration.
Observation and Inquiry: Promote scientific habits of mind by encouraging students to ask questions ("Why does this leaf float?"), make predictions, and meticulously observe changes in nature.
Found Materials Engineering: Projects rely on the creative use of natural and recycled materials (e.g., sticks, stones, mud, leaves, pinecones), reinforcing sustainable design practices.
General Teaching Strategies for All Projects
Nature Journaling: Introduce a simple journal (notebook/sketchbook) for drawing, labeling, and documenting observations and design ideas. This is the primary "Technology" and "Math" tool.
Sensory Exploration: Encourage students to use all five senses (safely!) to describe materials and habitats (e.g., texture of bark, smell of soil, sound of wind).
Field Sketching and Photography: Use early technology literacy by teaching students how to safely use a simple camera or tablet to take pictures of natural items and habitats for later classification and study.
"What If..." Questioning: Guide students to reflect and iterate on their engineering designs by asking, "What if we made the roof thicker?" or "What if we used gravel instead of sand?"
Learning Objectives
Science (Biology & Physics) Objectives
The student will be able to:
Classify Living and Non-Living: Distinguish between living things, non-living things, and things that were once living (e.g., a tree, a rock, a dead branch).
Investigate Material Properties: Identify basic properties of natural materials, such as which ones float (buoyancy), absorb water (absorption), or are strong/flexible.
Model Habitats: Identify the basic needs of a living thing (food, water, shelter) and design a simple model of a micro-habitat for a specific animal (e.g., a worm or an insect).
Observe Physical Change: Document how materials change over time or when force is applied (e.g., a leaf decaying, a stick breaking, water eroding soil).
Technology and Documentation Objectives
The student will be able to:
Document Observations: Use a nature journal to draw and label a plant or animal with basic descriptive details.
Use Measurement Tools: Practice using simple non-standard tools (e.g., a piece of string, their own hand) or a ruler to measure the size of natural objects or distances.
Organize Data: Create simple graphs or charts to sort and compare collected items by color, size, or type (early data literacy).
Engineering and Design Objectives
The student will be able to:
Design a Structure for Function: Build a structure using only found materials that serves a specific purpose, such as a sturdy nest, a small bridge, or a temporary shelter.
Model a System: Design and test a simple system for resource management, such as a water filtration setup or a simple dam to redirect water flow.
Mimic Natural Designs (Biomimicry): Observe a natural structure (e.g., a spider web, a honeycomb) and use its design principles to improve their own creation.
Iterate Designs: Identify a problem in their design during testing (e.g., "The bridge keeps falling down") and make a change to improve its stability or function.
Location
What to bring
No supplies needed. All supplies will be provided for this activity.
Cancellation policy
If you would like your child to try a Starfire class, please register and pay online.
If you feel that Starfire is not the right fit, you may withdraw your student within the first two weeks of class.
You will be refunded the registration fee less a $30.00 cancellation fee and the cost of two classes for all cancellations made prior to the third class.
We are unable to process refunds for withdrawals after the two week trial period.
Schedule
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Enrollment
Activity days
No activity days
About the provider
Register for classes at: https://starfireed.secure.force.com/ClassRegistration/
Starfire students' learn to think like 21st century mathematicians, scientists, engineers, programmers, design thinkers, and artists. Your child will learn-by-doing, solving interesting, challenging problems, hands-on, with professional coaching from fun passionate mathematicians, scientists, engineers, programmers, design thinkers, and artists.
