My Ed Tech World
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Learning Landscapes EDU
    • PD >
      • Rebel U
      • 12 Days of (Ed Tech) Cheer
    • Web Resources
    • iPad Resources
    • SIOP Resources >
      • Preparation
      • Building Background
      • Comprehensible Input
      • Strategies
      • Interaction
      • Practice-Application
      • Lesson Delivery
      • Review/Assessment
    • My Zazzle Store
    • Accomplishments
  • Conferences
    • 2018-2019 >
      • Fire Up (Spring 2019)
      • MACUL 2019
    • 2017-2018 >
      • Podstock 2017
      • Rebel U 2018
      • Fire Up (Fall 2017)
    • 2016-2017 >
      • Podstock 2016
      • Rebel U 2016
      • COETC16
      • Fire Up (Fall 2016)
      • MACUL 2017
      • Fire Up (Spring 2017)
    • 2009-2015 >
      • 2015-2016 >
        • Fire Up (Fall 2015)
        • Rebel U 2015
        • KISD Tech Camp 2015
        • Fire Up (Spring 2015)
      • 2014-2015 >
        • Fire Up (Spring) 2014
        • Rebel U - Cooperative Learning & Technology
        • Fire Up (Fall) 2014
      • 2013 >
        • Rebel U {Virtual Edition} - Sustainability
        • Fire Up (Spring) 2013
        • MACUL 2013
        • Rebel U - Teaching & Learning Like a Superhero
        • Fire Up (Fall) 2013
      • 2012 >
        • Fire Up (Spring) - Get Inspired with Technology
        • Rebel U - iSpy an iPad
        • MACUL - Personalized Learning Conference
        • Fire Up (Fall) - Bringing Learning Outside the Classroom
      • 2011 >
        • MACUL - Google Sites
        • Fire Up Spring
        • Rebel U - Test Taking Tools & Strategies
        • Rebel U - 40 in 40
        • Teaching & Learning in the Cloud - Building a Tech Leader's Toolbox
        • Fire Up Fall - Building a Tech Leader's Toolbox
      • 2010 >
        • KISD TechKnow - Google Sites
        • Rebel U - Google Docs
        • Rebel U - Picnik
        • Teaching & Learning in the Cloud - Google Sites
        • Fire Up (Fall) - Cool Web Tools
        • Fire Up (Spring) - Google Sites
      • 2009 >
        • Fire Up Fall - PP in the Classroom
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Family STEAM Night 2019

10/24/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Over the summer as I was starting to think about the beginning of the school year, I started thinking about possibly putting on a STEAM Night.  We have STEAM classes at the middle school and just added it for K-5, so I thought it could be a good opportunity to share with parents what STEAM looks like in the classroom.  After thinking it over a bit and starting to formulate an idea for how it might look, I proposed the idea of a Family STEAM Night to our 3-5 principal and Assistant Superintendent.  They were both on board, so the planning began! 

I had attended a STEAM Night in my own children's district last year, and really liked the format of the evening.  It was set up "school carnival" style where you could easily move from room to room exploring different activities.  This easily allowed you to try a variety of new things and revisit things that were already familiar - and you were not committing yourself to one room for the whole evening.  So, I reached out to some of our teachers and coaches/specialists in the district and asked them if they would like to lead/facilitate a room based on their area of expertise.  I filled in most of the remaining rooms in the building with a variety of activities that had been explored in STEAM classes.  I also worked with our high school Spanish teacher (who leads the Spanish Club) to incorporate a culturally responsive room that was designed and led by the Spanish Club.

Take a look below at some videos, pictures, and activity descriptions for what we incorporated into our first Family STEAM Night!

Videos

Welcome

I really wanted the Family STEAM Night experience to begin even before people stepped foot in the door.  One simple way to do this was through chalk!  I had students who were helping set up take a container of chalk outside and get creative.  My only directions were to make sure it was appropriate and welcoming.  They did a great job of using the space and making sure everyone was welcome even before they entered the building.  We also had the night publicized on the digital sign out front, so between the chalk, sign, people, and cars, you could not miss that something was taking place at school that night!

Another small welcoming sign that I felt was very important was a photo release statement.  Basically, I wanted everyone know that they were welcome, but we also wanted to be able to capture the fun and learning that was taking place.  We provided pink paper bracelets that people could choose to wear if they did not want to be on video or photographed.  It was great for our student and staff photographers and videographers to quickly place themselves in a room to protect the privacy of others while still capturing the essence of the evening.

​Toy Story STEAM Mania - Andy's Room

The Toy Story STEAM Mania rooms were an extension of the Toy Story STEAM Mania activities that I had been working on with my Young 5s, Transitional 1st, and 4th grade STEAM classes.  For Family STEAM Night, I took it a step further to really set the stage to engage and did a room transformation.  When you walked into the classroom, you had the feeling of Toy Story and being in Andy's room.  It was great hearing the comments from people as they walked in to the room and were totally surprised by the atmosphere. 

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • ​Mr. Potato Head Math - Kids could practice math skills through using dice and Mr. Potato Head characters.  The great part of this activity was that while school-aged children were practicing their math with their parents, their younger siblings were employing their fine motor skills in learning how to fit the pieces of the Potato Heads together.
  • Storytelling and Imaginative Play - For this area, we had a container of Toy Story books (in English and Spanish) and Toy Story characters.  Kids could read a story with their parents and then re-enact the story or simply enjoy making up their own story with the characters.
  • LEGO Building - For this area, there were LEGO glasses, baseplates and marbles for LEGO mazes, and LEGOs for free building.
  • Discovery Zone - In this area of the room, we had Tinker Toys and the game of Twister.  I wanted a free play area where kids and their families could freely play, experiment, and maybe try new things that they haven't done before.  The focus of this area was simple - creativity and confidence!

​Toy Story STEAM Mania - Pizza Planet

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • Engineering a Lookout Tower - This was a fun activity that we had previously done in STEAM class.  I did not provide constraints during Family STEAM Night as I did in class, as to really encourage kids and their parents to dive into building with materials that they might not have previously thought to build with.  
  • Build a Forky or Alien - This was a craftivity that was set up where kids could design their own Forky or Alien.  I had found a similiar idea online which involved students tracing their hand and then cutting it out, but I thought that it might take too much time and detract from being successful with the activity.  I precut a bunch of hands with my Cricut on white paper for Forky and then a bunch of green hands with a dot on the middle finger for alien.  Glue, google eyes, and makers were set out and students could design a Forky and/or alien of their choice!  This was a big hit and it was fun walking around seeing kids carrying their unique creations.
  • ​Bridge for Slinky Dog - This was similar to an activity we had done in a STEAM class.  It is deceptively difficult, which makes a teacher's heart happy!  Students had to build a bridge in which Slinky Dog could walk across.

Coding

This room was lead by EdTech Consultants Keith Tramper and Craig Steenstra from Kent ISD.  We always love when they are able to come out and be part of events and help out with classroom needs - they rock!

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • Dash - Kids and families were able to explore how to code with iPads to move the Dash robot through a maze of cardboard bricks.
  • ​Micro:bit -Kids and families were able to explore coding on the computer to program the Micro:bit to display something that they designed.  Kids loved programming their names and designs and then seeing them displayed on the Micro:bit.

Ozobots

This room was set up so that kids and families could freely explore the world of coding through drawing.  We set out calibration and coding direction sheets as well as some example sheets (from the Ozobots website) and then simply let the creativity flow!  I saw a variety of designs from simply exploring with colors and then more elaborate designs with different coding algorithms.

Picture Pie

The activity in this room was led by one of our elementary art teachers and was based off the book, Picture Pie by Ed Emberley.   Kids and their families used paper circles that they folded, cut, and then glued to make works of art.  This was a great activity to combine fractions and art!

Hoop Flyers

In this room, kids and their families had the opportunity to build Hoop Flyers.  Hoop Flyers put a twist on the traditional paper airplane and use strips of paper to create hoops that are attached to a straw.  Varying the kind of paper used, length of the straw, or adding weight (such as paper clips) changes how the hoop flyer will glide.  It is a great way for kids to jump in to the design process and work through revisions so that it will fly.

Robotics

Our high school Robotics Team lead this room with one of their coaches.  They brought some of their smaller robots (not the large 8+ foot one!) for students to try moving, picking up blocks, and seeing how a robot works.  They also shared information with parents with how the Robotics Team works, how they attend competitions, and what students can look forward to as they move towards high school.  One of the really awesome things that they did was brought one of their tool sets, a bunch of screws and nuts, and let kids learn how tools work, how a nut can be screwed on to a screw, and how the different tools have different functions in building their robots.  I am so grateful they were able to share all of their awesome work with the community!

3D Pens

This was definitely a popular room throughout the evening for everyone (parents included!).  I love 3D pens as it provides an easy way for kids to understand that in order for something to be 3D printed, it must be printed in layers.  This helps them understand why some 3D printer jobs take a really long time to print.  I saw many people using some of the templates we had, creating representations of their names, animals, jewelry, and even a fantastic Starry Night image!

Storybook STEAM

The activities in this room were designed by some of our AMAZING ELL and Literacy coaches.
The activities that we had in this room were:
  • The Three Little Pigs - Kids and their families could build houses out of Dots candy and toothpicks to try and protect their (paper) pig.  They are so super creative and even decorated the fan so it looked like the big, bad wolf!
  • Tornadoes - For this activity, books from Scholastic were used (and came with the water bottle connectors).  Teachers read and shared facts about tornadoes as kids and their families experienced making tornadoes with plastic bottles.
  • ​Chica Chica Boom Boom - There were several activities that went with this book.  One was that kids could build a tree with pattern blocks and then put popsicle sticks on top in which they could try and balance as many letters as possible on their tree.  There were also four small activity stations set up that focused on aspects of literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary)

Button Making and Engineering

We were so grateful that our local library, the Kent District Library, was able to be part of our event!  They are so awesome and we always love it when they can be part of our special events and promote literacy and the many resources that a public library offers.

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • Button Making - Kids and their families could design their own buttons (or pick an image from a weeded book from their collection).  This was a popular throughout the evening and I saw so many creative buttons as people were walking around throughout the evening!
  • ​Goobi and Playstix - Kids and their families could engineer unique creations using different building tools.  I love when new things can be shared and everyone has fun learning how to use it!

STEAM in Physical Education

As I was thinking about activities for the evening, I wanted to make sure that we had some kind of activity that allowed kids to move around.  Insert physical education here!  I think this was great to show kids and families that something that might appear as just "playing around" actually involves a lot of science and math!  I found some activities on the S&S Blog and I knew they would be the perfect addition!  Our AWESOME elementary P.E. teachers were so gracious to oversee the room.  This was definitely a hot spot for the evening!

The activities that we had in this room were (as found on the S&S Blog):
  • Leaning Tower of Cups
  • Launch Me
  • ​Put Your Heart Into It

Math Games

This room was lead by our SUPER elementary Math Coaches.  They came up with some great ways to incorporate math in a fun way (it was often heard from parents in this room that, "This is not math!").   Their activities were centered around geometric puzzles (tangrams, pattern blocks, 3-d shapes) in order to reach a large age range (a few puzzles will be quite challenging for adults while remaining accessible to young kids) and emphasize the critical thinking and trial and error parts of mathematics that often get overlooked.  Mathematicians think long and hard about the problems they encounter and often have to look at it from a different perspective to get out of a rut. 

They also created a communal Sierpinkski Triangle (fractal) with each participant being represented in the whole piece by a tetrahedron they decorated to represent themselves.

Lotería​

This room was a special part of the evening.  In our district, we are working on being culturally responsive in our teaching and student learning, and as it is a district focus, I wanted to make sure that this was part of our Family STEAM Night.  Our high school Spanish Club planned to facilitate two rooms of Lotería​, a type of Mexican bingo that many of our families play when together with their extended families.  Students in the Spanish Club led games throughout the evening and did an awesome job of decorating and facilitating the game so that it was fun for everyone - whether you play Lotería​ every week or have never played before!

Glow Games

Glow Rooms are one of my favorite activities to do in the classroom, as it completely changes the environment with simply lighting.  What is included beyond the lights really puts the learning in a new "light"!   Based on survey results and from observations, this room was ranked the top as far as favorites.

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • ​Bioluminescence - For this station, we had a sign with "Bioluminescence" on it and explaining what it is, and then a fun coloring activity to bring the idea to life.  I had found some STEAM-related doodles online in which I projected and traced to create a giant coloring page (I am not the best at free-handing this kind of thing!).  I also included the topics from our 6C Learner Profile (Collaboration, Communication, Content, Critical Thinking, Creative Innovation, and Confidence) in English and Spanish.  Kids LOVED coloring with highlighters and bringing this image to life!
  • Necklace and Bracelet Building - A great activity for fine motor skills and creativity, kids and their families were able to design their own necklaces or bracelets with yarn, letter, neon, and glow in the dark beads.
  • ​Engineering and Building - These activities allowed students to practice engineering/building skills as well as critical thinking and confidence in playing games.  I love using games in the classroom for student engagement, so giving them opportunities to play and build background knowledge for use in the classroom is fundamental.  We had giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, neon building bricks (like LEGOs), and neon Plus Plus.

Circuitry

I love when a complex topic such as Circuitry can be presented in a way that is hands-on and really help kids understand how electricity works.  I have used these in STEAM classes and kids LOVE them!  When setting up this room, we started with the resource geared towards younger students (Power Tiles Circuits), then moved to the Snap Circuits, and then the littleBits (geared towards upper elementary students).  This allowed the people to take what they had learned and use that knowledge as they moved up in complexity across the room.  Without a doubt, the Snap Circuits fan challenge is always a hit because when you turn off power to the circuit, it sends the fan flying into the air.  Who wouldn't enjoy that?!

The activities that we had in this room were:
  • Power Tiles Circuits
  • Snap Circuits
  • littleBits

Food

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, we offered food for sale (the only thing throughout the evening that had a cost associated with it).  We all know that food is love, and when an event at school falls during dinner time, we wanted to make sure that we were providing an option for families so they did not have to choose between having a meal and attending an educational event at school - they could do both!  We sold authentic tamales (so delicious!), drinks, snacks, and candy.

Last Thoughts

This was the first Family STEAM Night that I had organized and implemented, so there are definitely things I learned that worked well and areas that need improvement for next time.  We had a fantastic turnout and I was so excited that we were able to provide this learning opportunity for our community.  This night would not have been possible without the AMAZING teachers, staff, and students who volunteered their time and talents.  For the most part, students were running the rooms and quickly became experts on the areas that they were in charge of for the night.  I am grateful to be surrounded by a community that made this evening possible - I can't give enough thanks to them for all they did!
0 Comments
    My Amazon Wish List
    My DonorsChoose

    Follow Me

     Subscribe in a reader

    Would you like e-mail notifications?  Enter your e-mail address below to subscribe.

    Enter your email address:


    Categories

    All
    100th Day
    10 Minute Tech Tools
    1:1 Program
    2012 Edtechcheer
    21stcenturylearning
    3D Pens
    3D Printing
    6C Learner Profile
    Activators
    Aliens
    Alphabet Practice
    Angles
    App Review
    Arduino
    Army Men
    Assessments
    Augmented Reality
    Beads
    Book Spin
    Botley
    Brain Flakes
    Breakout EDU
    Bridge Builders
    Button Making
    Careers
    Cars
    Chalk
    Chopsticks
    Christmas
    Cinco De Mayo
    Circuitry
    Clear/Neon Building Bricks
    Clothespins
    Coding
    Coffee Filters
    Comics
    Computational Thinking
    Conductive Play-Dough
    Conferences
    Crack The Code
    Creation Cubes
    Creative Writing
    Culturally Responsive Teaching
    Dash
    Debate
    Design Thinking
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Dice
    Digital Citizenship
    Dot Day
    Earth Day
    Easter
    EdTech Cheer
    Edtech Cheer 2013
    EdTech Cheer 2014
    EdTech Cheer 2015
    Egged On
    Election
    Engagement
    Fall
    Fire Safety
    Fireup
    Flockmen
    Forces
    Four In A Row
    Glow Day
    Glow Games
    Glowie Mats
    Glow STEAM
    Glps Tech Blog
    Godfrey-Lee
    Googledocs
    Google Sites
    Graphic Recording
    Groundhog Day
    Guest Speaker
    Guided Practice
    Halloween
    Hour Of Code
    House Builders
    Imaginative Play
    Improv
    Index Cards
    Instructional Strategies
    Ipad
    ISTE
    KEVA Planks
    Knitting
    LearningLandscapesEDU
    Lego
    Legos
    Lesson Plans
    Lesson Preparation
    Listening Center
    Literacy
    LittleBits
    Lunch & Learn
    MACUL
    Macul11
    Macul12
    Macul13
    Mad Libs
    Magic Nuudles
    Magna Tiles
    Magnets
    Magnet Tiles
    Maker
    Maker Mat
    Marbles
    Math
    Memory
    Micro:bit
    Mini Erasers
    Mini-Erasers
    Monthly Integration Idea
    Multiplication
    National Unplugged Play Day
    Optical Illusion
    Outdoor Learning
    Ozobots
    Paper Circuits
    Paper Craft
    Paper Quilling
    Paper Rolls
    Passion Project
    Pattern Blocks
    PBIS
    Perler Beads
    Physical Education
    Pipe Cleaner Circuits
    Pipe Cleaners
    Pipettes
    Pix Brix
    Pixel Art
    Plastic Cups
    Plus Plus
    Podstock
    Pom Poms
    Popsicle Sticks
    Potato Head
    Powerpoint
    Power Tiles Circuits
    Professional Development
    QR Codes
    Qubits
    Quickfires
    Reading Month
    Rebelnet
    Rebelu
    Rebel U 2018
    Robotics
    Room Transformation
    School Spirit
    Senior Capstone
    Sewing
    Shrinky Dinks
    SIOP
    Sketchnotes
    Slinky Dog
    Sloths
    Snap Circuits
    Snowflakes
    Spanish
    Spanish Market
    Spelling
    Spiders
    Sports
    Spring
    Stamps
    Star Wars
    STEAM Night
    STEM/STEAM
    Stoneware
    Storybook STEAM
    Story On A Stick
    St. Patrick's Day
    Strawbees
    Straw Builders
    Straws
    STREAM
    Student Engagement Games
    Student Portfolios
    Sum Blox
    Summarizers
    Summer
    Task Cards
    Teacher Website
    Techintegration
    Tech Integration
    Thanksgiving
    Thaumatropes
    Thematic Learning
    Tinker Toys
    Toy Story STEAM Mania
    Unplugged Coding
    Valentine's Day
    Vehicle Builders
    Videostreaming
    Water Activity
    Wikki Stix
    Winter
    Winter Olympics
    Wooden Blocks
    Wooden Planks
    Yarn
    Zentangles


    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    March 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.