Jenny Eckman and Kelly Garceau

Eckman’s and Garceu’s innovative teaching program, “STEAM From the Start,” integrates STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and math) into established units in kindergarten and 1st grade, bringing STEAM to the district’s youngest learners. A rotating set of STEAM stations across both grade levels will be developed that provide opportunities for the students to act as scientists, engineers, artists, computer programmers, and mathematicians. Eckman and Garceau believe the curious and social nature of the youngest elementary students is perfect for the inquiry-based, collaborative and active nature of STEAM learning. Although the materials for the stations will stay the same for each grade level, the challenges or tasks may change. By giving students experiences with the stations over a 2-year period, the educators believe they will have a better and stronger chance to build skills, gain knowledge about concepts and, most importantly, confidence and competence with the 21st century processes they will need for success!