Corey Sadlemyer, assistant superintendent: inclusive mindset with the Medicine Hat Public School Division, and principal of Crestwood School Richelle Thomas join Grade 1 students as they display their knowledge about the bean plants they've been growing in class.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centred learning at Crestwood School will create students who think like a scientist, approach problems like a scientist and allow them to tinker, play, explore and be curious using science as a lens.
The school is working on visualizing what the rollout will look like while maintaining a focus on quality, impactful instruction and assessment of students.
Richelle Thomas, principal at Crestwood School, explained, “As a staff, even over the last year as we’ve unpacked the new curriculum, we’ve worked on ideas around conceptual understanding and how do we take a larger enquiry piece and connect that throughout our subject matter. We talk about it through a STEM lens, what we are looking at is taking the new science curriculum and connecting it across our literacy, numeracy, social studies, health and wellness curriculum, where it makes sense to do that, to allow kids to enquire and ask the larger questions that are impacting society connected to STEM components.”
STEM-centred learning will occur during core classes as there are many STEM-related skills kids can learn. Additionally, a specific STEM-related block will focus specifically on the design and thinking process to teach students to critically analyze while collaborating together to solve real problems.
The school plans to prioritize hands-on experience and partnerships with field experts. Off-campus field experience that engages with businesses and partners doing real-world STEM activities – art, music, foods and nutrition, digital media, robotics, coding – will connect all of Crestwood’s option experiences to the STEM idea.
Students have already engaged in many learning experiences related to STEM.
“It could be things like a water-related experience for our kids where they are exploring how water impacts the world around them,” explained Thomas. “They are doing activities or stations that would be testing and allowing them to have their own curiosity, trial and error, communicate with each other and build their own knowledge about that topic.
“This year we had ‘science in schools experts’ Zoom in with our classes. They sent packages for every student (K-6) to have hands-on materials and the scientist was on the screen and for an hour they guided every classroom through different age-appropriate explorations of the material. It’s a great opportunity for kids to experience learning in a meaningful way.”
Historically, Crestwood was a middle/high school facility and has large gathering and laboratory spaces, which allow for collaborative and hands-on learning in STEM.
Crestwood also has a supportive and connected parent advisory which is an important partner. Thee group has already committed substantial funds to provide the school with learning tools, such as LEGO robotics.
Crestwood aims to give every student a chance to learn about STEM and be able to identify themselves as innovators who can change the world, taking active roles in inventing solutions for problems they care about.
“We will offer high quality learning experiences in all curricular areas; our students will receive a well-rounded education. We will apply the STEM as a lens or a pathway to learning in language arts, math, science, social studies, and physical education and wellness. None of the curricular areas will be reduced or diminished; rather learning in all areas will deepen because of our STEM-centred approach,” stated Thomas.
There will be no prerequisite and any student who is inside or outside the Crestwood School boundary area is welcome to apply.
“In 2023-2024, as we develop the program there will be no fee. In future years we hope to secure sponsorship to help cover program costs and ensure any required fees are minimal. We won’t let cost be a barrier for families who want their child to access this program,” explained Thomas.
