Learning at School AND at Home

Last year while teaching online, Grant Ragan 2nd-grade teacher Megan Trader had the idea for at-home STEAM kits to help students experience science, technology, engineering, art, and math opportunities in their own homes. She applied for a grant from our Waukee Community Schools Foundation, and was able to purchase items for the kits for families to check out. The STEAM kits included:

• Sphero mini robots

• Marble runs

• Geoboards

• Wooden brain teasers

• Tangram puzzles

• Zoob kits

• Sphero Specdrums

• Solar Robot kit

• Engineering books

• Paint/design kits

Trader said her families loved the ability to have something new to engage their child while learning from home. When students checked out a kit, they also did a short writing project to tell other students about tips or tricks to using the materials at home.

Now that students are back in the building, Trader uses the materials in her classroom throughout the week. Families that choose to check out a kit then get to have fun learning together at home. Trader says the STEAM kits help engage students because it encourages them to learn and investigate with physical materials. Students learn problem solving skills, how to bounce back from failure, and how to communicate ideas with those around them.