Stop Everything, and STEAM!

For one day each month, the students of Maize Elementary School break from their usual schedule for a day of STEAM activities. With the help of a $11,634 Challenge Grant from the Maize Education Foundation, students learn teamwork, discovery, and exploration through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Led by Maize Elementary School Math Specialist, Callie Harris, this program has created an opportunity for all grade levels (K-5) in the building to participate in a wide variety of learning activities that would not otherwise fit into the normal structured schedule.

The grant provided funds to purchase materials including robots, coding and animation kits, engineering materials, circuit boards and many other engaging items. Some of the activities come along with the various kits, but the staff have collaborated internally to create the educational activities specific to each grade level. Mrs. Harris has also collaborated with various groups in the community, including the WSU Engineering Department and CityARTS to help develop and facilitate activities in Engineering and Art.

As Mrs. Harris wrote in her Challenge Grant application, “STEAM skills are necessary for our students’ success in life. There is strong evidence to suggest that the fastest growing and highest-wage jobs in future years will be in STEAM fields. STEAM Education encourages students to understand the world in a multi-disciplined way, transforming the world in the form of comprehensive innovation, and cultivating their ability to solve problems.”

The Maize Education Foundation is proud to support this project that encourages our students to explore, innovate, and discover career paths that might not even yet exist.

Thank you to KWCH Channel 12 for this story about Stop Everything and STEAM!

Partner Opportunities

If you would like to partner with the staff at Maize Elementary School by teaching or developing a STEAM activity, please contact Callie Harris at charris@usd266.com.