Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1: Building up STEAM

Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1: Building up STEAM A discussion of STEAM and what it means for your child at St Andrews...We had a very special visitor from Juilliard on Tuesday to provide a bit of musical inspiration...Elizabeth Jarmin conducted a seminar on the use of sound, colour and light at our school and at home.

A discussion of STEAM and what it means for your child at St Andrews...We had a very special visitor from Juilliard on Tuesday to provide a bit of musical inspiration...Elizabeth Jarmin conducted a seminar on the use of sound, colour and light at our school and at home.

STEAM

Parents with children in the upper part of school might have heard about STEAM projects that their children are getting involved with, but what exactly is STEAM, and are the younger students getting involved too?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics and is an approach to learning that combines two or more of these areas.  The emphasis is on inquiry based learning than needs collaboration to be its most effective. With the topic based curriculum such an important part of KS1, there are lots of opportunities for STEAM learning - as was shown in the recent Y1 Expo.

Over the Songkran break Ms Sarah from Y6 set students a STEAM challenge, to design and create a water sprinkler system.

We are pleased to announce that the KS1 winner was Avi from 1E who produced a brilliant pump-action sprinkler using a cookie tin.

Congratulations to him for an inspired design!

A musical visitor from Juilliard

On Tuesday we had a special visitor in school as part of the Juilliard Programme.  Dr Eloise Fisher, a renowned clarinetist came to visit us. Though doing instrumental  workshops with the older students, she was able to pop in to a number of other classes to play some pieces for them and show them how her clarinet made its music.

Elizabeth Jarman Seminar

Around 30 parents attended a seminar with Elizabeth Jarman on Wednesday morning to hear about the latest brain science regarding the use of sound, light and colour in schools and homes.  He talk was related to training she delivered to the teachers on the previous afternoon. As usual her input was thought provoking and started conversations within the various teaching teams as well as the parent group.  It will be interesting to see how we move forward following her visit.

Such was the demand for Elizabeth’s books, we have had to order more from the UK.  Once they arrive and are in the library we will let you know.