STEAM Lab Focus
The STEAM Lab is a place for exploration, enrichment, and enhancing student learning in all areas of STEAM. It is not a stand-in for regular classroom science, since it is only a once a week class, but many of the activities are rooted in science concepts. All of these standards are quite extensive, so we cannot possibly address all of them in depth, but students do get practice in many of them while in the STEAM Lab.
San Diego Unified School District has been working on their Vision 2030, and the STEAM Lab activities fit right into that vision in many ways. You can also see the document below.
Computer Use
Students in grades 1st and up do use computers in the STEAM Lab, and UTK and K will have some exposure to coding technology in iPads. Computers and technology are tools for learning. Students are not idly using computers as a means of entertainment, but have specific tasks and goals they are working on, and intertwined with science, engineering, and art. They may be used for creating a digital version of a science notebook, expressing learning through a variety of graphical representations or platforms (Canva, Adobe Express, Google Slides or Sheets), or for coding robots or practicing coding or digital citizenship. Videos are specifically selected for the current learning, such as comparing one type of insect to another. Videos help enhance learning because not everything can be brought into the classroom. We also practice different tools for recording data, research, making observations, and more. SDUSD is very supportive of building digital citizens of the future and expects students to get practice in using technology in a variety of ways, but also to use the technology responsibly.
That being said, students are not always on computers. We also use regular science notebooks as we do science investigations.
How to View
Each tab shows the different types of standards, but do have embedded pdfs. It might take a short wait while the pdfs are pulled up.
Vision 2030 Profiles by Strand
This document shows a variety of expectations for moving our district forward to 2030.
You can also see the document below.
NGSS Standards are quite extensive. You can peruse the varying standards in these documents.
Shown below are both computer standards as well as ISTE standards that we try to hit on in the STEAM Lab.
Engineering standards are actually part of NGSS Science, but are reposted independently here.
We often use arts as a means of expressing science concepts, but we do sometimes have stand-alone lessons on art techniques, concepts, or history.
These are general math standards that might play a role in some of our lessons in the other areas.
- Critical Thinking: The ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information in order to make reasoned judgments and decisions.
- Creativity: The ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, and solve problems in innovative ways.
- Communication: The ability to effectively convey ideas and information through written, verbal, and non-verbal means.
- Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others, including sharing responsibility, resolving conflicts, and achieving common goals.
- Information Literacy: The ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically.
- Media Literacy: The ability to critically analyze and evaluate media messages, including those found in digital, print, and other forms of media.
- Technology Literacy: The ability to use, manage, and evaluate technology effectively and responsibly.
- Flexibility: The ability to adapt to new situations, ideas, and technologies, and to learn from experience.
- Initiative: The ability to take charge of one’s own learning and to pursue goals independently.
- Productivity: The ability to manage time, resources, and tasks effectively in order to achieve goals.
- Leadership: The ability to inspire and influence others, and to take on leadership roles when necessary.
- Social and Cultural Awareness: The ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives, cultures, and ways of life.