Another New STEAM School in Paterson, NJ: School 12

Two engaging and enjoyable science/art projects are in the works at School 12 in Paterson, NJ as part of the new STEAM program at School 12.


The STEAM program in Paterson has grown to include not only School 12 but also School 29, and the New Roberto Clemente School, making the total STEAM schools now eight this year.

With the assistance of Art Professor in Residence Simone Sandler, the 6^th graders in Ms. Albritton’s science class are in the midst of building their own miniature cars to learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students are constructing chassis from recycled juice boxes. They are then measuring carefully to construct functional axles and wheels from straws and life-savers.  Wrapping their chassis in thin white paper and using colored markers give students the opportunity to personalize their vehicles.

Working in teams, students are going outside and experimenting with their cars by sending them down ramps (inclined planes) set at different angles.  Using stopwatches and rulers, students take turns racing their cars down the ramps and measuring the distance and time for each car.  The calculations are being used to determine the speed of each vehicle.

Essential questions for the follow-up of this lesson include:

           1.  What made a difference in the speed of the cars? 

            2.  Was the slope of the ramps a factor? 

            3.  Was the roughness of the surface of the ramps a factor?

            4.  How does resistance affect a car’s speed?

            5.  How can cars be made to travel faster?

This hands-on experience inspired the students to develop critical thinking skills while problem solving with their peers.

In another School 12 classroom, a different STEAM project is being developed focusing upon biology and art.  As part of their science curriculum, students in Mrs. Krisak’s 4^th grade class are studying plant and animal cells.  With the assistance of Art Professor in Residence Simone Sandler, students are using Styrofoam trays recycled from lunch.  They are working in pairs to draw and color the parts of the cell, and, using toothpicks, to identify and label the 

different parts.  In the process students will analyze the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells, and learn how to distinguish between them. This activity enables students to better retain information. Working in pairs encourages cooperation and communication skills.