Thanks to a grant received from the Berkeley Heights Education for a 4th Grade STEAM unit, Miss Pamela Wilczynski, STEAM teacher for BHPS, recently completed an exciting project with all of the 4th grade students at Mountain Park and Hughes Elementary Schools.
The students each received a NIHFty (National Inventors Hall of Fame) Bot plushie that they used to apply STEAM and creative problem-solving skills with. They designed solutions and engineered new innovations to bring NIHFty's world to life using the Engineering Design Process. The class completed 3 lessons / activities with their NIHFty Bots. These activities included: designing a rover for NIHFty, making long-reaching arms for NIHFty, and creating gadgets and gear for NIHFty to go on an adventure. At the end of the unit, the students brought their NIHFty Bots and inventions home with NIHFty Bot Explores Activity Cards so that they will be able to keep inventing at home with their families. The additional activities that are suggested include designing deep sea gear for NIHFty, creating a play or movie starring NIHFty, and making NIHFty a part of a chain reaction. NIHFty Bots, and the correlating suggested activities, are a unique and exciting way to encourage creative thinking and BHPS fourth graders enjoyed the hands-on STEAM activities this unit encouraged.
Special thanks to the BHEF for sponsoring this fun and engaging STEAM unit!