STEM

1. Build and Create: 

Learning Goal:

• Students will apply their knowledge and creativity to design and construct projects, demonstrating their ability to build functional and innovative solutions. They will explore how to turn ideas into tangible results using available resources.

Success Criteria:

• Successfully create a working prototype or model that demonstrates the desired function or design.

• Use appropriate materials and tools safely and effectively.

2. Collaborate to Solve Problems:

Learning Goal:  

• Students will work collaboratively in teams to address complex problems, utilizing each member’s strengths, communicating ideas clearly, and leveraging diverse perspectives to find effective solutions.

• Actively participate in group discussions and decision-making processes.

• Contribute to the development of a solution, respecting others' ideas and building on them.

• Demonstrate effective teamwork through mutual support and shared responsibility.

3. Challenge Students to Use Critical Thinking Skills:

Learning Goal: 

• Students will engage in critical thinking to analyze problems, explore alternative solutions, and make informed decisions. They will learn to evaluate information, question assumptions, and reason logically.

Success Criteria:

• Identify and define problems clearly before exploring possible solutions.

• Use evidence and reasoning to support decisions or conclusions.

• Challenge assumptions and consider multiple perspectives.

4. Make Mistakes and Fix Them:

Learning Goal: 

• Students will embrace mistakes as part of the learning process and demonstrate resilience by reflecting on errors, adjusting their approach, and iterating to improve outcomes.

Success Criteria:

• Identify mistakes in their work and explain why they occurred.

• Use problem-solving techniques to correct mistakes and learn from them.

• Show perseverance and a positive attitude toward learning from failure.

5. Understand the Engineering Process:

Learning Goal: 

• Students will understand and apply the steps of the engineering design process (e.g., Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve) to solve real-world problems.

Success Criteria:

• Accurately describe each step of the engineering design process.

• Apply the process to design, test, and refine a project.

• Demonstrate understanding of iteration and improvement through the redesign of solutions.

6. Understand Basic Coding Skills:

Learning Goal:

• Students will gain a foundational understanding of coding, learning key programming concepts such as variables, loops, conditionals, and functions to build simple programs or interactive projects.

Success Criteria:

• Write and debug simple programs using basic coding principles.

• Demonstrate understanding of how different coding concepts work together to create functional projects.

• Apply coding to solve real-world problems or create digital solutions.

7. Use God’s Creation for Inspiration:

Learning Goal:

• Students will draw inspiration from God’s Creation, observing patterns, structures, and processes in nature to inform and enhance their creative and problem-solving endeavors.

Success Criteria:

• Identify and describe elements of nature that have inspired design solutions.

• Apply natural principles (e.g., symmetry, efficiency, sustainability) to the creation of their projects.

• Reflect on how God’s Creation influences technology, design, and innovation.

8. Make a Mess and Have Fun!

Learning Goal:  

• Students will engage in hands-on, experimental learning, encouraging creativity and embracing the process of trial and error, while maintaining a sense of fun and discovery in their work.

Success Criteria:

• Participate in activities where experimentation and exploration lead to new ideas and solutions.

• Demonstrate a playful and open mindset, willing to take risks and make mistakes.

• Reflect on the joy of the creative process and how making "a mess" can lead to breakthroughs and learning.