Let’s Get STEMtastic!
Burke Swenson • Lewis Central Middle School
#itecia
Presenter Contact Information
#itecia
Welcome and thank you so much for joining me today!
So where are you at currently???
Spilling over with ideas you can’t wait to implement in your classroom?
So where are you at currently???
Spilling over with SO many ideas you don’t know which to start with?
So where are you at currently???
Wondering what you’ll find in your Sub notes when you get back to school?
A bit about me..
Family
Family
Passions
Passions
Education
*30th year of teaching
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
Driver’s Ed
Elementary & HS PE and Health
Elementary & MS Computers
11th year of STEM
Lewis Central Middle School • Council Bluffs, Iowa
What the heck is STEM?
What the heck is STEM?
project-based
hands-on
interdisciplinary
problem-solving
teamwork/collaboration
Let’s try some STEM!
Design and build a:
Bridge
or
Tower
Design and build a:
Bridge (twice as long as a cell phone)
or
Tower (twice as tall as a cell phone)
Design a bridge or a tower!
GOAL: it can support your cell phone when done
*work with someone if possible / if comfortable
Design a bridge or a tower!
Choice of either:
*you may change if you like during project
Ideas in case you’re stuck..
Let’s try some STEM!
Design and build a:
Bridge
or
Tower
Design and build a:
Bridge (twice as long as a cell phone)
or
Tower (twice as tall as a cell phone)
Design a bridge or a tower!
GOAL: it can support your cell phone when done
*work with someone if possible / if comfortable
Design a bridge or a tower!
Choice of either:
*you may change if you like during project
Ideas in case you’re stuck..
Design a bridge or a tower!
*create this challenge any way you like with whatever parameters you like!
Find the STEM!
Science:
Technology:
Engineering:
Math:
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
•mass of the phone, measurable
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Technology: solved a problem
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Technology: solved a problem
•anything designed by a human that
solves a problem or fills a need
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Technology: solved a problem
Engineering: structural integrity
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Technology: solved a problem
Engineering: structural integrity
•literally building it strong enough
Find the STEM!
Science: forces
Technology: solved a problem
Engineering: structural integrity
Math: height, length, number used
What I love about teaching STEM daily?
→project-based
→hands-on
→interdisciplinary
→problem-solving
→teamwork/collaboration
What I love about teaching those skills daily?
→project-based
→hands-on
→interdisciplinary
→problem-solving
→teamwork/collaboration
I can promise students
that having skills in
these areas of focus
will allow them to pursue
ANY career they want!
Where to start?
Plus…
STEM Scale Up
Ioponics
How It Started
Ioponics
How It’s Going
Ioponics
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming
Units I’m adding soon..
Holographics
3D Printing
Hydraulics
Virtual Reality
Units I’m adding soon..
Holographics
3D Printing
Hydraulics
Virtual Reality
Best. Curriculum. Ever!
A class & curriculum with never ending,
real world examples and applications,
that you can adapt on the fly as the world itself evolves.
THAT is STEM!
What could STEM look like for you?
Robotics?
Coding or computer science?
Single unit?
Enhancement of current unit?
→ I wanted the use of tools to be a focus!
Literal hands-on for students.
Typical day in Mr. Swenson’s STEM class
Opening/Mind Puzzles
Drawing Challenge
Draw the shape you see in one single stroke without lifting the pencil or crossing over any lines you’ve already drawn
*scratch paper at your table to draw on
STEM in the News
New technology will allow people to take trips to space as early as 2024! Maybe you think flying to space would be fun but think the launching and flying would be a little scary. World View is one company designing space capsules carried by balloons to take people to the edge of space. They plan to fill the balloons with very light gas like helium or even hydrogen to lift passengers. The capsule will be shaped like a hexagon with big windows, giving everyone a view of Earth below. They even plan to limit the number of digital screens inside so the focus can be on the natural beauty outside the windows. They hope to start flights at $50,000.
Would you fly to space in a capsule like that?
How would you design the capsule?
STEM in the News
A dog named Millie got away from her owner in Hampshire, England and became trapped in some mudflats. The tide was coming in so rescuers had to act quickly! After trying several ideas, they finally tried using a drone. They tied some food to a long rope and attached it to the drone. The pilot flew the drone near Millie, and they were able to get her to follow the food to safety!
How else could drones be used in a rescue?
Learn more about Millie’s rescue bit.ly/3sJuvyU
STEM Puzzles 1
*decode the answer using b=a, c=b, d=c, e=d
STEM Puzzle 2
Which three pins must be knocked over to score exactly 100 points?
Decode the answer using
f=a, g=b, h=c, i=d
ymnwyjjs ymnwydsnsj ktwydjnlmy
Opening Activity
Waiting for them at their table:
Jenga Expectations
•Play with integrity (fair, do the right thing, build the tower)
→Take care of the materials
•One hand only to move blocks - keep in center of table
→Top 3 levels may not have blocks removed
•Begin as soon as you have 2 people at your table
→If / as others arrive at your table, have them join in
Opening/Mind Puzzles
Brain Teasers
BRAIN Teasers
BRAIN Teasers
Opening/Mind Puzzles
Brain Teasers
*simply creating an atmosphere of problem-solving
Opening/Mind Puzzles
Brain Teasers
*How It’s Made
How It’s Made!
Opening/Mind Puzzles
Brain Teasers
*How It’s Made
Focus for the day → now go be STEMtastic!
Go be STEMtastic!
Go be STEMtastic!
Introduce today’s focus: new concept or review something that needs attention
Go be STEMtastic!
Introduce a new concept or review something that needs attention
Get to the work tables and be STEMtastic!
Grading
Presenter Contact Information
#itecia