The STEAM program at Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools is helping shape bright futures by merging creative and technological curriculums

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Ever wonder how bridges are built, or how rockets launch into space? The K-5 students at Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools are diving headfirst into these questions and more through the newly introduced STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics).

By integrating arts with science and technology, the program fosters creative thinkers and problem-solvers who excel at thinking outside the box.

“While many local schools have STEM or STEAM programs, ours is unique because we developed it from the ground up,” says STEAM teacher Tony Marinelli. “We did not purchase a curriculum—we created it. This endeavor, while time-consuming, has allowed us to ensure that all the concepts and skills will align within and across grade levels.”

STEAM teachers spent time last school year and during the summer creating units of learning that are taught in all STEAM classes at the five elementary buildings. The school district restructured staffing and schedules this school year to accommodate the program. Students attend these classes every third day.

Examples of what’s happening in the high-tech makerspaces and innovation labs are mind-blowing. On any given day you’ll see the following:

• A kindergartener designing and building a three-tier skyscraper that can hold weight without falling

• A second grader designing and building circuits where the components (lights, fans and switches) work successfully

• A fifth grader designing and building Rube Goldberg machines (similar to the board game Mouse Trap)

“Often, we discuss with the students the career opportunities they will have because of the skills they are learning now,” he says. “We are using words like ‘engineer, architect, designer, coder, programmer, artist,’ etc., to help kids understand that they can follow this path that would lead to actual careers in these fields.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEAM-related occupations are projected to grow significantly faster than non-STEAM ones, meaning these students can look forward to more job opportunities with a higher earning potential.

Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools System. For details, visit WESchools.org.