Fraser Woods Montessori School’s new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program incorporates materials and technologies to inspire students with creative projects.

Director of Technology and makerspace teacher Danielle Ulacco and art teacher Jennifer Reid oversee the course together. According to Ms Ulacco, Fraser Woods Montessori School’s makerspace was created two years ago, and the STEAM program was started this school year. The new STEAM class is offered to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

The two teachers thought of the STEAM program together.

“We decided the things going on in both our spaces would be even better together,” Ms Ulacco said, regarding the makerspace room and the art room.

Students work with materials like cardboard and paint, and they plan out projects before crafting or using technology, like the school’s laser printer, to create it.

Ms Ulacco said the important part of the STEAM program is students create things based on their own interests. Students have created items such as a personalized locker magnet and jewelry.

An “Un-Selfie Project” challenged students to create something for another student. Students first filled out a questionnaire about their own interests. The questionnaires were then distributed without names — so students did not know who they were creating something for — before students created an object based on the answers.

“The whole point of the project was to have them think about someone else 100 percent of the time,” said Ms Ulacco.

According to Ms Reid, one student created a guitar pick holder with images of hamburgers on it, other students created pottery objects, and others created doorknob signs.

Ms Reid said the Un-Selfie Project introduced students to concepts that professional designers face.

“We focus a lot on the process and not on the product,” Ms Ulacco said, sharing that students work to sketch and plan their ideas under the guidance of both instructors.

When the Un-Selfie Projects were completed, students presented their creations and the reasons behind their designs. Classmates announced which questionnaire was theirs, and the creators gave their designs to the person they created the object for.

One of the goals of the program is for students to be active creators and not active consumers, according to Ms Ulacco.

“The conversation in here has become [about] who we can help and what does our community need,” said Ms Ulacco.

Ms Reid said “trial and error” is emphasized as part of the learning experience.

“We find failure leads to more alternatives from the original idea,” said Ms Reid.

Fraser Woods Montessori School Head of School Chris Robertson said the STEAM program has been successful “because it pulls all the levers that inspire children to learn.”

“With a variety of materials and technologies, children figure out how to make their creations a reality,” Mr Robertson reflected in a recent e-mail. “However, the true beauty is that the creations the students make are often useful and serve a purpose. For example, the students designed glasses by studying and taking measurements of their faces as well as a variety of glass frames. In addition, since this is a STEAM program, the experiences are rooted in design thinking, so they perceive their creations not just through the eyes of an engineer and inventor, but also through the eyes of an artist. FWM’s STEAM program is one of the most effective ways to build the skills needed for future success.”