STEAM
The interdisciplinary study of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math
STEAM around the District
Early Learning Center
Early learners engage in hands-on STEAM activities that help them grow and discover. Classrooms encourage curiosity and exploratory play for this independent stage of development. Through a play-based learning model, students will develop skills in numbers, patterns, colors, shapes, weather, and much more. The ELC uses tools and resources to provide STEAM enrichment opportunities for the district's youngest learners.
LITTLE WOODWORKERS Does your child like to build with wood? This class is perfect for kids that want to learn some of the basics of woodworking. Students will have an opportunity to express their creativity in a 3-dimensional way. They'll also get a tour of our community woodshop, located right on the ELC campus.
EXPLOSIONS Science is cool! This class is for those that like blowing things up and making a little bit of a mess. Students will experiment with simple chemicals combinations to create safe and easy explosions.
BUILDERS Designed to educate your child as they build, we provide the innovative materials and the student create the construct. What can your innovator build with some traditional and not-so traditional materials?
CRAFTERNOONS Student will have an opportunity to complete different craft activities such as weaving, paper crafts, painting, and a whole lot more. After each class, kids will have a craft to bring home.
NATURE EXPLORATION Students will explore nature around the ELC. They will take short walking field trips to explore the environment around us.
Elementary School
Excellence in STEAM is a standard across all of Edina's elementary schools. Students in grades K-5 increase and advance their knowledge of STEAM-related concepts and skills through active participation in group work and self-directed projects. A blend of Common Core and state-developed standards promote STEAM within each elementary classroom.
EiE: ENGINEERING IS ELEMENTARY This award-winning curricula division of the Museum of Science, Boston, develops research-based, classroom-tested programs that empower children to become lifelong STEM learners and passionate problem solvers. To better prepare our next generation workforce, EiE infuses concepts of STEM habits of mind that consistently define excellence. These learning pathways blend instruction and collaboration with engaging, minds-on discovery.
STARBASE KITS STARBASE Minnesota STEM Unit & Kits for Schools: Destination Mars meets MN standards and fuels the future. Developed and tested by teachers, this hands-on STEM curriculum is an engaging, high-quality lesson that is out of this world! Ready-to-use kits and supplies for each student encourage problem solving, critical thinking skills, and creativity in an environment where teachers shine and students soar.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION Each elementary school takes part in a nature-based education model of instruction that partners and aligns rigorous academic standards with the social emotional needs of each child in the natural environment. These learning models provide innovative outdoor play experiences for children that benefit the mind, body, and senses. In addition, this form of STEAM programming educates families, teachers, and the community about the critical links among play, nature, and healthy childhood developments.
Middle School
Edina middle schools offer seven STEAM courses through Project Lead The Way (PLTW), providing an engaging, hands-on learning environment. STEAM combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math to inspire students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills. Graphic Design, Flight & Space, Green Architecture, and Robotics are among the courses offered, preparing students for more robust offerings at Edina High School.
ENGINEERING EXPLORATION will introduce students to a variety of engineering concepts. Students will learn about the engineering design process and will engage in project based learning to apply the engineering design process. Students will learn about different engineering careers and what those careers entail. They will have the opportunity to learn about CAD, 3D printing, fabrication, and coding.
MEDIA ARTS/CODING 7 This course will introduce students to coding. They will be exposed to several coding languages for web page design, app and game development. Students will learn how these concepts and programs can be used with the engineering design process to solve problems. The course will utilize web-based coding opportunities.
FLIGHT, SPACE, AND ELECTRONS The purpose of this unit is to introduce the students to aeronautics, space, and electronics. They learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion, forces, rockets, propulsion, and what makes things fly. Students acquire and apply knowledge and skills in engineering, problem solving, and explore the many aspects of aerospace engineering. Through hands-on projects, students explore the science of electricity, the movement of atoms, circuit design, and sensing devices. Students acquire knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design and explore the impact of electricity on our lives.
Edina High School
High school students may select from a wide variety of STEAM-related courses, offered as introductory, mid-level, and AP levels. With assistance from EHS counselors, students will design a personalized plan that meets graduation requirements, while pursing areas of interest. Class offerings include: 6 Engineering courses, 7 Computer Science courses, 14 Math courses, and 15 Science courses.
CYBERSECURITY Whether seeking a career in the growing field of cybersecurity or learning to defend their own personal data or a company’s data, students in Cybersecurity establish an ethical code of conduct while learning to defend data in today’s complex cyber world. This course will introduce students to the tools and concepts of cybersecurity an encourages students to create solutions that allow people to share computing resources while protecting privacy.
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING This course propels students’ learning in the fundamentals of atmospheric and space flight. As they explore the physics of flight, they learn basic orbital mechanics using industry-standard software. Aerospace Engineering explores the evolution of flight, navigation and control, flight fundamentals, aerospace materials, propulsion, space travel and orbital mechanics. This course will further augment the learning from the 8th grade Flight, Space, and Electrons course currently offered.
INTRO TO GAME DEVELOPMENT This course focuses on the development of 2D and 3D interactive games. Students explore the design of such childhood games as Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Portal in a quest to understand how video games themselves are implemented. Via lectures and hands-on projects, the course explores principles of 2D and 3D graphics, animation, sound, and physics using the Unity Engine. Students will program several of their own games and gain a thorough understanding of the basics of game design and development.
Community Ed
Community Ed partners with Tech Tac Toe to offer STEAM courses for all ages! The mission of Tech Tac Toe is to spread the knowledge of technological literacy through high-quality, kid-friendly classes that motivate and get young minds excited about technology, computers, and science. Classes are designed to engage children in multiple ways: from conceptualization to design, ultimately building life skills such as problem solving, logic, and creativity.
CONSTRUCTOR CAMP Think about it! Design it! Build it! Each day grade 3-5 campers will be introduced to different building materials such as cardboard, wood and nails, circuits and electricity and rope, gears and pulleys. Students will not only have time to be creative and build their own ideas, they will also be challenged daily to build specific designs such as a bird house, a potato powered light or building something that can get a ball from point A to point B.
CODE DRONES + CODE A VIDEO GAME Discover this groundbreaking technology as students in grades 2-5 have a blast learning to code drones AND to program an exhilarating drone-inspired Video game! Also know as UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles), kids in small teams code a drone to obey their every command. Have a blast as you develop a flight plan so the drone goes through loops and turns to reach the objective. THEN learn to code an action packed drone inspired video game to take home.
3D PRINTING AND COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN Intended for students in grades 1-3, this 3D printing camp takes students through the 3D printing process of industrial design, manufacturing, and software engineering. Students will design 3D objects using TinkerCAD and use the 3D slicing program Cura to bring their creations to life. This course serves as an excellent introduction to 3D printing and is ideal for students who like to draw, design, imagine and see their creations come to life.
EPS is grateful for our community partners that provide learning opportunities for students of all ages.
