CONNECT: A STEAM Based Approach to Teaching 9 th Grade Bio, LA and VA

1. CONNECT:A STEAM Based Approach to Teaching 9th Grade Bio, LA and VA Written and Presented by: Shawna Reed, Esther Shaw and Debi West

2. What is STEAM based education? “STEAM represents a paradigm shift from traditional education philosophy, based on standardized test scores, to a modern ideal which focuses on valuing the learning process as much as the results. In essence, we dare our students to be wrong, to try multiple ideas, listen to alternate opinions and create a knowledge base that is applicable to real life as opposed to simply an exam.” -Deron CameronFormer UPES Principal – US's 1st STEAM Certified SchoolCurrent TCSS Curriculum Coordinator “STEAM BASED learning is a means to extending the visual arts to a broader audience, reiterating the importance and value of project based learning which encompasses divergent thinking skills and hands-on experiences.” -Debi West, Shawna Reed, Esther Shaw CONNECT Educators at North Gwinnett High School - Suwanee, GA

3. North Gwinnett HS – 9th Grade CONNECT • North Gwinnett High School – Suwanee, GA • What: • A project based, STEAM Course consisting of Language Arts, Biology and Visual Art • 3 Courses, 2 Class Periods, 3 Credits • 47 Freshmen • Why / Goals: • Creative Problem Solving • Real World Applications to Learning • Collaborative Creations – hands-on project based lessons • Perfected Products • Maintain Honors/Gifted Academic Standards • How / Outcomes: • Creative Curricula designed by 3 seasoned educators in various disciplines • Foundation of the Course – LITERACY! • 8 Strong Units of Learning • Chemical Reactions • Visualizing Vocabulary at each level • Ecology – Endangered Species • Epic Stories Through Cell Journeys • Genetics Meets Poetry Meets “Who Am I” Self Portrait Collage Reliefs • DNA Models and “DYD” Journals • Evolution Trial • Game Design • Results: • Educational FUN that CONNECTED the Learning for our Students

4. CONNECT Where Biology, Language Arts and Visual Art Meet Project Based STEAM Learning at it’s BEST!

5. The Journey Begins… • Our Initial Goals: • Creative Problem Solving • Real World Applications • Collaborative Creations • Perfected Products • Maintain Honors/Gifted Academic Standards • and together with 40 freshmen here’s what transpired…

6. The Journey Continues…Piecing It Together with Literacy! • 9th grade Language Arts – focus towards non-fiction and more composition; analysis and creation – a perfect match with… • 9th grade Biology – fact and support based; if you can write in science you can write anything using science process skills – research, hypothesize, test, analyze, conclude using data – must be PROVEN! (describe, define, draw) – a perfect match with… • 2D/3D Visual Art – creating and critiquing art through Feldman’s Theory – describe, analyze, interpret and judge each work created, weekly journal prompt based assignments and hands-on project based learning • The art connects, but LITERACY is the foundation of CONNECT!

7. …and Here’s How We Did It!

8. Chemical Reactions… Happen Here …and they taste delicious! LA – short story theme analysis Bio – process skills / lab writing VA – critiquing skills

9. Name Designs • LA - Short Story Symbols • Bio - How Are We Human • VA - Reflections of Self Getting to Know our CONNECT Family!

11. Visualizing Vocabulary • LA - Grammar and SAT Vocab • Bio – Review of Vocab • VA – Review of Vocab

12. Learning…Together Endangered Species come to LIFE! LA – Fiction mirrors Science Paper Bio – Ecology focus on Endangered Species VA – Animalistic Humans in Contour Studies and Color Harmonies

13. The Collaborative ZOO! You’re INVITED… Our CONNECT students have built a Collaborative ZOO! What: We built a zoo presentations! Students will share their process for designing and creating their habitats. When: Friday, September 30th from 8:15 am - 10:00 am Who: Parents, Students, Teachers, and Administrators Where: Connect Room #308 Why: Come see what our Connect kiddos have been up to this semester…You’ll be AMAZED! Connect students were placed in groups by continents. The students were then required to pick an animal in the continent, research its biome, habitat, endangered status, and ways to help protect and revive the animal's population. Students worked together to design zoo exhibits for their animals and created scale drawings for the enclosures. They then worked together to create 3D scale models of the animal's habitat in the zoo. When placed together, the zoo will house 37 animals from all over the world!

15. Epic Journey… Merging Images to Create Gods, Villians, Heroes and Monsters for their EPIC Stories as they make an analogy of a Cell Journey! Grid Art Magic!

16. Summative Assessment Books • Pulling the Learning Together through a Book Making Unit – 8 works that CONNECT Bio, LA through the Art!

17. “Who Am I” Layered Reliefs • LA - Poetry • Bio – Genetics / DNA • VA – Collage Reliefs

18. DNA Models • “DYD” Journals (document your doings)

19. Community Presentations!

21. The TRIAL! Evolution Trial Evidence Prosecution Defense Jury

22. Collaboration At It’s BEST! • LA – To Kill A Mockingbird, Witness Statements, Court Reporting, Argument and Debate, Public Speaking • Bio – Evolution Principles, Supporting Statements with Evidence • VA – Creation of Evidence 2D/3D, technology

23. Game Designs – Reflective Performance Finals • Language Arts / SAT Vocabulary • 2D Art • 3D Art • Genetics • Science Process Skills • Ecology • Classification • Evolution • DNA

24. Lessons Learned… From our Students: • Leadership – “Connect shapes students to become leaders” - Kate • Flexibility – “I learned to incorporate everyone’s ideas to come to a group agreement” - Molly • Time Management - “Connect made me want to pay attention, take notes and use my agenda for due dates” - McKenzie • Ownership – “I realized that I had to do my part, not slack off and always work to the best of my ability…and deadlines are really important” - Jonathan • Relationships – “This class felt like a family, not just a random group of students and a teacher” - Maya

25. Thoughts from our Students…

26. Thoughts from our Parents… I just wanted to let you know how much C's work in your class has energized his creativity and is bringing him confidence in leaning toward a design application of his computer interests for college and career. It means so much to him to get your positive affirmations, and his dad and I really appreciate you. All the best, Mrs. G Shawna, Debi, and Esther, When E registered for Connect I had my reservations. Historically on group projects she ends up completing it herself, either by lack of effort on the other student's part or redoing the other student's work. This year it finally worked. E and M demonstrated the ideal working relationship. They worked together at school and at home. This week alone they were working diligently at our house 5 plus hours every night and not once did they get frustrated with one another other or cut corners, they collaborated bouncing ideas off each other, and encouraging the other to do better and achieve their best. It was a beautiful thing to watch.  This is a wonderful life lesson for E to have learned. Choose the right partner in business or in any aspect of life, you can achieve more together through hard work, collaboration, and encouragement. Thank you for a wonderful year, Mrs. C

27. The end result…CONNECT = Successful Teaching and Learning! • 2 Class Periods – 3 Credits! • Connecting Biology, Language Arts and Visual Art WORKS! • Collaborative Working Groups • Real World Challenges • Project Based Assessments Educational FUN that CONNECTS the Learning!

29. Thank You! • Don’t Hesitate to Contact Us… • Debi West – Visual Art Educator • Esther Shaw – Language Arts Educator • Shawna Reed – Biology Educator • dewestudio@gmail.com