The 6th grade STEM teaching team incorporates STEM in a variety of projects. Our topics of focus are divided by semester: Ecology is first semester and Climate is second semester. Each topic has a goal or driving question that guides student STEM education and exploration.
1st Semester Goal/ Driving Question:
| How are ecosystems at Turkey Run State Park interconnected and determine the impact of human involvement on the environment? |
First semester, students create innovative projects in science based on under/overpasses in biomes research and applications. In social studies, students have to engineer methods to survive as well as signal for rescue. In English, students create a project-based learning experience by researching a career in the S.T.E.M. fields of study and producing a digital presentation. In math, students study measurements as it pertains to weather patterns. Students took a field trip to Turkey Run together to explore our native biomes in Indiana.
2nd Semester Goal/ Driving Question:
| What climates and natural disasters occur in different countries/planets? What response systems do countries around the world have in place to ensure the safety of their citizens? |
Second semester, students study climates of other countries and create digital projects to present information gathered using google programs. In English, students will also focus on the Indiana climate and how tornadoes and tornado safety are a great concern. In science, students research the climate on Mars and must engineer a structure to store water in order to survive. In May, we will travel to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry to view a tornado exhibit and biomes such as glaciers.
