Grade 5 STEAM Students Tackle Independent Projects With Tips From Alumnus Speaker

St. Margaret’s grade 5 students have embarked on their latest STEAM block projects, which are independent in nature and require self-discipline, organization and task-management. 

 

To help the students develop the organizational and time management skills required for doing independent projects, Lower School STEAM teachers David Beshk, Angela Mackenzie and Mary Mayer-Grubb welcomed a St. Margaret’s alumnus back who had a relatable experience to share.

 

Jack Westhead ’17 currently is taking a gap year to pursue environmental service opportunities abroad. He recently worked with the nonprofit Foundation for Sustainable Development to undertake a service project at a school in Kakamega, Kenya.

 

Mr. Westhead was tasked with solving water-related challenges at Nabongo Primary School, including conservation efforts and organizing a solution for an erosion problem around the building.

 

“Jack described how he didn’t have a teacher or boss looking over his shoulder each day and how he had to develop goals and action steps to accomplish those goals,” Mr. Beshk said. “This wasn’t something that he was used to, and it is similar to the experiences of our grade 5 students in the independent STEAM block projects. He had to find ways to keep himself organized, on task and managing his budget and resources.”

 

The current grade 5 STEAM project involves the human body, in which students are required to think flexibly and engage in an engineering design challenge to create an educational project that highlights different components of the human body. Students have the option of choosing between several projects that incorporate different STEAM elements, from 3D printing to coding to visual arts. During the STEAM block, the teachers serve as guides and resources rather than a person continually instructing students on what to do next.  

 

After his presentation, Mr. Westhead answered many questions about his service projects, his overseas travels and his reasons for taking a gap year after high school. He plans to enroll at The University of Chicago this fall.

 

“I wanted our grade 5 students to meet him and see how a St. Margaret’s graduate faced and overcame similar project- and learning-related challenges and, ultimately, apply those lessons to their learning,” Mr. Beshk said.