Grade 4 STEAM project

This unit incorporates science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Students use
recycled materials to design a rocket racer. Each rocket racer is powered by air. Students dive
deep into newtons law of motion. The greatest learning experiences for students happen during
the blueprint, design and redesign process where students determine where to improve their
designs. This unit was planned for Grade 4, but could also be adapted to suit most grade levels.
The following is a group refection based on a trial run of our unit.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Our STEM team put our Rocket Racer project to the test and brought in two grade 4 students. As
we did not have the time a classroom could dedicate to all the stages of the project, we allowed
the students to pre-watch YouTube videos then work together to design, assemble, test, and re-
work their designs.

Project findings: Both students were excited, engaged and learned a great deal in a short span of
time. So much so, that both students want to take their racers to their respective teachers and
explain the project in an effort to replicate the project in their classrooms.

Reflections:
We learned than there was a difference in some of the materials we provided and that for
consistent results, we needed all the same materials.
We observed that for the students to learn the complete range of curriculum material offered by
our racer project, we would need the recommended class-time.
It would have been interesting to have the students design and build their own racers.
Students could also have been responsible for providing their own recycled materials to build the
racers based on their designs.