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McPherson's STEM Lab

Project Lead the Way

McPherson'sSTEM LabProject Lead the Way

Kindergarten

Structure and Function: Human Body


Kinder students are considering why different parts of our bodies have different structures and functions. They make observations as they interact with models and describe the structure of each part. Communication helps students connect with how each structure is related to the overall function of the organ.

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Inflation

Our lungs inflate with fresh air like balloons, and work with our hearts to pump blood all around our body.
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Stretchy Stomachs

Students watched the "food" move down the esophagus into the "stomach." Our stomachs break up the food we eat and turn it into energy our bodies can use.
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Bones Bones Bones

Our hands are not just one big bone, but a unique assembly of 14 bones. Students traced, painted, and then glued bones to their hands.

1st Grade

Animal Adaptations


Students are exploring five different environments: the Arctic, the African Savanna, the Sahara Desert, the Pacific Ocean, and the Amazon Rainforest. They are investigating two organisms that live in each of these environments and are explaining the variety of adaptations that each of these organisms have to help them survive in each environment.

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Pacific Ocean

We are learning about plants and animals that are adapted to live in the Pacific Ocean. The great white shark is difficult to see due to its counter shading-dark coloring on top and white coloring below.
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Amazon Rainforest

Students are exploring the adaptations the poison arrow dart frog and toucan have that allow the animals to survive in the wet rainforest.
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Arctic

Alec drew the ears of the arctic fox and shared with the class how its ears help protect the fox in this cold environment.

2nd Grade

Properties of Matter


Students are investigating and classifying different kinds of materials by their observable properties, including color, texture, and heat conduction. We know that engineers and designers create new products or improve existing products and technology to meet human needs and wants.

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Young Inventors

Students brainstorm their ideas for inventions that will help solve a problem or make their lives better.
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What Happened?

2nd graders sketch and explain what happened to create the change they observed in frozen ice pops over time.
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Monster Trucks

Students were introduced to the concepts of matter and the properties of color and texture by exploring the features of toy monster trucks.

3rd Grade

Science of Flight


3rd grade students are learning about the forces involved in flight as well as Newton's Laws of Motion. In this activity they had the opportunity to add forces to a teeter-totter system to explore the causes of motion and stability. Then students had hands-on practice while learning about four important forces of flight.

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Forces of Flight

Students experienced the four forces of flight: lift, drag, thrust, and weight by using the Aero app to control an albatross soaring over the ocean.
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Hand-launched Propellers

By spinning the axle, students launched propellers and then discussed what created lift and what caused the propeller to fall back to the ground,
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Teeter-Totter Systems

Students constructed teeter-totter systems to explore the causes of motion and stability.

4th Grade

Input/Output: Human Brain


At the end of every module, students apply the skills and knowledge they have learned to help solve a real world problem. 4th graders were tasked to use their knowledge of the brain to design, plan, and create videos to raise awareness about concussions, and educate their peers on the importance of early identification or how concussions can be prevented.

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Basketball Safety

Team Tahlia, Sara, Sophia, and Yissette discuss the importance of letting your brain rest so it heals if you get hurt when playing basketball.
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Skateboarding Rules

Team Shane, Dylan, Eric, and Andre share why it's so important for skateboarders to wear helmets to protect their brains.
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Storyboard

Lan Tho, Isabella, Marissa, and Vanessa chose to draw pictures that tell a story of the importance of keeping our brains safe during sports.

5th Grade

Infection: Modeling and Simulation


This module has students discovering how modeling and simulation provide powerful insight into complex systems. Students will build their own simple computer models, and learn that computers are essential tools because they can calculate and display information about a system.



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Simulation

5th graders played a game in which they acted as agents in an illness transmission simulation. Students with red cards are "infected", and students with blue cards are "susceptible." This simulation shows how quickly sickness can spread from person to person.
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Virtual Ecosystem

Students used a SIS (susceptible--infected--susceptible) model to run a simulation of an infectious disease.
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Pair Programming

Students take turns in the roles of driver and navigator to build skills and knowledge with computer programming using Tynker.

6th Grade

Design and Modeling


6th grade students learn to use the design process to solve problems and understand the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They work in teams and use tools such as mathematics software, computer-aided design programs, and engineering notebooks to design, model, and build objects.

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Newspaper Christmas Tree

Before we closed up for winter break, students were challenged to build the tallest Christmas tree possible using just 5 sheets of newspaper and a little bit of tape.
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Ankle Foot Orthosis

6th graders designed prototypes of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) for a cerebral palsy patient. Students had limited supplies and a short amount of time to collaborate and apply the design process.
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Teamwork!

Kendall, Jessy, Laurel, and Dominick model their final (AFO) prototype. Each team member had a specific role: team manager, model tester, recorder, and presenter in order to accomplish the task.