Legacy Elementary School has recently opened its new science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) Lab offering students hands-on opportunities to enhance their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Led by STEM and Literacy Teacher Lisa Mercier, the lab is open to all grade levels, with students attending once a week and engaging in hands-on learning and creative problem-solving.
From kindergarten to fifth grade, students are diving into creative projects that encourage both individual expression and collaborative learning. Fifth graders, for instance, are participating in a “One Word” project using Keynote, a presentation app that allows them to illustrate meaningful words that reflect their identities. First graders recently completed a design challenge inspired by the children’s book Stellaluna, constructing homes for the characters by combining literacy with hands-on engineering.
At the core of the STEAM Lab is the design thinking process, a problem-solving approach that encourages creativity and innovation by helping students develop empathy, define problems, ideate solutions, create prototypes, and test their creations. “Students develop critical and creative thinking skills through this process, which can be applied across any subject area,” said Mercier. “STEAM provides students with new ways to express themselves, allowing them to discover their strengths and thrive in different learning environments.”
In addition to the projects, the STEAM Lab aligns with Legacy’s broader educational goals by encouraging cross-curricular learning. Mercier believes that when students connect ideas across different subjects, it enhances their understanding and equips them better for real-world challenges.
What sets Legacy’s STEAM Lab apart is its dedicated space for innovation, creativity and exploration. Mercier hopes that this environment will inspire students to feel excited about building, experimenting, and learning in new ways. “This is a space where students can really dive into their projects, express themselves and approach challenges with curiosity and confidence.”