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Twelve Bridges Middle School
S.T.E.A.M. Education for the 2017-2018 school year
TBMS S.T.E.A.M.
What is S.T.E.A.M. Education?
STEM education refers to the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEAM education incorporates the “A” for the arts – recognizing that to be successful in technical fields, individuals must also be creative and use critical thinking skills which are best developed through exposure to the arts.
Why S.T.E.A.M?
STEAM Playbook for Teens
To begin our transition to STEAM this year, TBMS has hosted "Playbook for Teens" pilot program for 8th grade girls. There were 35 students recommended for the pilot program and 15 of those students were accepted through an application process. The pilot had 8 sessions.
The young ladies who participated in this pilot program have learned about women who have chosen, and are succeeding in, STEAM careers. These role models share the "Plays" they followed. They tell about overcoming obstacles, discuss why they love their work, how they are making the work a better place, and they give advice to their teenage "self". The Playbook participants will see there a numerous pathways to succeed in STEAM careers.
The goal of the pilot:
Help the girls make their own decisions about education after high school, make a (flexible) plan, and to take action. The Playbook pilot will surround students with support from peers, parents, mentors, teachers, and future employers.
TBMS STEAM Classes
Our S.T.E.A.M. classes were created by our credentialed Science teachers and are aligned to the Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices. It was important to TBMS that we create connections between expected learning outcomes and our electives in order to improve our students’ achievement and interest in related fields.
STEAM Courses: STEAM 6, STEAM 7, STEAM 8, (One elective for each grade level), Computer Science Discoveries and Agricultural Explorations.
Possible curriculum for STEAM 6, 7 and 8:
- Digital Art with 3D printing
- Crime Scene Investigations
- Earth, Wind and Fire
- Observational Astronomy
- Planet and Poles
Computer Science Discoveries:
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science survey course. The course takes a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as programming, physical computing, HTMS/CSS and data. Students are empowered to create authentic artifacts and engage with CS as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun.
Agricultural Explorations:
The goal of this course is to provide middle school students with an introduction to agricultural leadership by developing work ethic, communication, critical thinking, and team building skills. This also reinforces the FFA mission statement of promoting "premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education".
In this course, middle school students will build a knowledge base for the Horticulture/Plant Science, Agricultural Mechanics, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agri-Science Pathway programs of study. The major concepts of these pathways are introduced. Classroom and laboratory activities are supplemented though supervised agricultural experiences and leadership programs. These pre-pathway programs will also provide a foundation for students to explore career possibilities related to these areas of student.
Advanced Math and Honors Science Placement
All Advanced math students will travel as a cohort to a designated Honors Science class.
Our extremely qualified team of Science and Math teachers are ready to work together as we shift toward being a STEAM school.