STEAM Lesson by WPU Art Education Student Sarah Menchise

Recently in Mrs. Simon's art class at SOIT, WPU Art Education student and K-12 Art Teaching Candidate, Sarah Menchise, taught a STEAM lesson to SOIT students that she originally developed in her K-12 Art Methods Class at William Paterson University as part of her teaching practicum.

Above, Sarah Menchise (third in from the right) presents a STEAM lesson

with other pre-teaching candidates in Professor Samaras' Art Methods Class at WPU

Above: Sarah Menchise teaching at Eastside High School

For this STEAM lesson, Ms. Menchise created imaginary planets with unusual and specific conditions.  Next she asked small groups of SOIT High School students to collaborate to brainstorm how to design clothing for this environment.

Each group pf students was given a small card with the unique conditions of the planet on it.  The groups developed a design for the clothing, and when they were ready, Ms. Menchise asked them to create it out of an assortment of materials, beginning with the tracing of an actual student "model."

 

 

Ms. Menchise mentored the students when they needed help.  However, most students worked independently in groups and needed little assistance.

Students continued working on their projects after Ms. Menchise completed her work at SOIT.  Ms Menchise left a written assignment and a group critique rubric for this STEAM project's finale.