STEAM comes to Alberton School District
Alberton teacher Ashley Reel uses a hot glue gun to demonstrate the basics of building a log cabin. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
From the outside looking in, this inaugural family night looks to be a hit with parents and their children along with the volunteer instructors.
STEAM, which is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math is defined as Project Base Learning.
This is a Transformational Learning Grant that is in its first year at Alberton School District but well known in central and eastern Montana’s schools.
Nathan Morris, Alberton shop and math teacher, is organizing the program as Mica Clarkson, Alberton School Principal, oversees the grant requirements.
Each month the evening will have a different topic and with Nov. 18 being the first one, Thanksgiving was the theme.
Ashley Reel, Alberton special education teacher, explained the Jamestown settlement as a model of the base camp was discussed.
Reel also helped them build a ship from the 17th century and assisted with the design of a log cabin. She was working with two young students that were not only enjoying the hands-on class, but excited to be socializing with each other and their friends.
Another area of instruction was calculating the number of blocks it will require to make the tower four feet tall before building it to see if they were correct with their responses.
This tower would be positioned inside the Jamestown encampment as a security post. There was a robot area which was instructing the students on the programming of software as well as the construction of a…robot turkey.
The concept is to blend all of the subjects of the monthly theme rather than separating them into silos.
Everyone could see how they were all interconnected through collaboration in the cafeteria of the Alberton School.
Elementary kids need to have a parent accompany them, but high school students can attend alone or with fellow students.
“December will most likely be missed between the pandemic and holiday schedule, but January looks to be promising. Tonight, is our demo test drive,” said Morris.
As COVID-19 is calling the shots with the program right now, the day of the week has not been set let alone dates of the month.
But flyers will be sent home in backpacks and it will be announced on Facebook. However, by the participation and enthusiasm in the room, this social/educational evening will only grow over time.