Welcome to the Grapevine Elementary STEAM Hub! 🌟

Here, curiosity meets creativity as we explore the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Our goal is to inspire students, engage families, and ignite a lifelong love for learning through hands-on activities, innovative projects, and community events.

 

Whether you're looking for project inspiration, helpful resources, or ways to get involved, this is your go-to destination for all things STEAM at Grapevine Elementary. Let's build, create, and discover together!

 

Get Ready for the STEAM Fair!

Join us on Monday, April 1, 2024, from 6:15 PM to 8:00 PM in the GES Cafeteria and Gym for an evening of exploration and innovation!

• Students: Submit your project starting March 1, and showcase your ideas to the community!
• Families: Enjoy interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities presented by the Fort Worth Museum of Science.
  
  

• Click here to sign up and submit your project

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About STEAM

 

What is STEAM?

• STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—five subjects that come together to inspire creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. It’s all about encouraging curiosity and showing kids how to turn their big ideas into reality!
• STEAM projects let students ask questions like:
  1. How do things work?
  2. Can I create something new?
  3. What happens if I try this?
• By experimenting, building, and exploring, kids learn skills that help them in school and in life—like critical thinking, teamwork, and perseverance.

STEAM at Grapevine Elementary

 

At Grapevine Elementary, we want students and families to feel excited and supported as they dive into the world of STEAM. Our annual STEAM Fair is a special opportunity for students to share their creativity and discoveries with the community.

 

What Makes Our STEAM Fair Unique?

• Family Involvement: This is a chance for students and parents to work together on something fun and meaningful. Your child’s curiosity, combined with your support, can lead to amazing results!
• Hands-On Learning at Home: Projects are completed outside of school, so kids can explore their interests in their own way and at their own pace.
• Celebrating Creativity: Whether it’s testing a scientific question, designing an invention, or creating something artistic, every project is an opportunity to shine.

We know families have busy schedules, so we’re here to make this as easy and fun as possible. You’ll find plenty of resources, ideas, and tips on this site to help guide you every step of the way. Together, let’s make this year’s STEAM Fair a memorable experience for everyone!

 

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Student Projects

 

Sign Up to Participate:

• Are you curious about the world around you and how things work?  Do you like to create experiments to test your ideas? Do you have an idea for an invention or a way to improve something that already exists?  If yes, the STEAM Fair is for YOU! 
• Create a project based on one of the five STEAM subjects to share at the Grapevine Elementary STEAM Fair. Projects and experiments are completed at home. You create a display board and bring your project to the STEAM Fair to share what you learned. 

• Click here to sign up and submit your project

Decide on Your Project:

• Before you start, think about which area of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics) excites you the most. What do you love to do? What are you curious about?

Science Project Are you curious about the world around you?

Technology Project Do you love coding, robotics, or digital creativity?

Engineering Project Do you enjoy solving problems or building things?

Arts Project Are you a creative thinker who loves to express yourself?

Mathematics Project Do you enjoy solving puzzles, finding patterns,

or answering questions with numbers?

 

How to Complete your STEAM Fair Project: 

 

No matter what type of project you choose—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics—the steps to success are similar. Follow this process to create a project you’re proud of:

• Choose a Topic:
• What are you curious about?
• What inspires or excites you?
• Think about questions or problems you want to explore.
• Ask Questions and Research:
• What do you need to learn about your topic?
• Use books, websites, or other resources to gather information.
• Plan Your Project:
• Write down your ideas and steps.
• Sketch designs, make lists, or outline your approach.
• Decide on materials and gather everything you need.
• Create and Experiment:
• Build your project, test your ideas, or start creating!
• Keep notes about what works and what doesn’t.
• Take pictures or videos of your process.
• Improve and Reflect:
• Ask yourself: Did it work as expected? Why or why not?
• Make adjustments or improvements if needed.
• Think about what you learned or new questions you have.
• Prepare Your Display:
• Use a board or presentation to show your process and results.
• Include your question, research, steps, and what you discovered.
• Add pictures, diagrams, or anything else that helps tell your story.
• Share Your Work:
• Bring your project to the STEAM Fair and present it with confidence!
• Be ready to explain what you did, how you did it, and why it matters.

 

Project Ideas: A list of example projects across STEAM disciplines.

• Education.Com - Lots of project ideas with instructions. Search by grade-level. 
• Science Fair Central: Scientific Project Ideas and Engineering Project Ideas - organized by subject (developed by Home Depot and Discovery Education) 
• Science Buddies - Lots of project ideas. Take a quiz to find a project that matches your interests. 
• Science Bob - Simple Experiments 
• Babble Dabble Do - Art, Engineering, Science, Design - lots of project ideas. 
• Made for STEAM - Engineering project ideas with step-by-step guides and a materials shopping list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• General Questions  

Q:  What is the STEAM Fair?

A:  The STEAM Fair is a fun and exciting event where students can explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics by creating projects at home and sharing them with the community.

Q: Who can participate?

A: All K-5 students at Grapevine Elementary are welcome to participate.

Q: Is participation required?

A: No, participation in the STEAM Fair is optional, but we encourage students to get involved and have fun learning something new!

• Project Guidelines

Q: Can students work in pairs or groups?
A: Yes! Students can work individually or with a partner. If working with a partner, each student’s parent needs to complete a registration form.

 

Q: Are there any safety rules for projects?
A: Absolutely! Projects must avoid dangerous materials such as chemicals, flammable items, sharp objects, high voltage electricity, or live animals. Safety is our top priority!

 

Q: Can students choose any topic for their project?
A: Yes, students can explore any topic within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics that interests them, as long as it’s safe and manageable.

• Event Details

Q: When is the STEAM Fair?
A: The STEAM Fair will take place on Monday, April 1, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the GES Cafeteria and Gym.

 

Q: When do projects need to be submitted?
A: Projects will be brought to the STEAM Fair on the evening of the event. Families should plan to arrive early (6:15 PM) to set up their displays.

 

Q: Is there a registration deadline?
A: Students my submit to participate up to one week prior to the event.

• Planning and Preparation

Q: How do we register for the STEAM Fair?
A: Parents can complete the online registration form. The link will be shared on the website as soon as it becomes available.

 

Q: How much help can parents provide?
A: Parents are encouraged to guide and support their children, but the project should primarily reflect the student’s creativity and work.

 

Q: Where can we find project ideas?
A: Visit the Project Ideas section of this website for inspiration and helpful links to resources like Science Buddies, Education.com, and more.

• Event Day

Q: What should students bring to the STEAM Fair?
A: Students should bring their completed project, a display board explaining their process, and any photos or videos that showcase their work.

 

Q: Can we include a video or slideshow in our presentation?
A: Yes! Students can bring a tablet or laptop to show a video or slideshow about their project.

 

Q: Are there winners at the STEAM Fair?
A: No, the STEAM Fair is all about celebrating creativity and discovery! It’s a non-competitive event where students can share their ideas, projects, and learning experiences with the community. Everyone who participates will receive a certificate of participation.

 

Q: Is there a formal presentation required?
A: No, there is no formal presentation. Students will set up their projects and share them with visitors during the fair. Students may be asked questions about their project, so they should be ready to explain what they learned and created in their own words.

 

Q: What if my child’s project involves a demonstration or performance?

A: If your child’s project includes a live demonstration or performance, please email steam@gespta.org in advance so we can make arrangements.

• Other Questions

Q: What if my child’s project isn’t finished by the event?
A: That’s okay! Encourage your child to share what they’ve learned so far. The goal is to have fun and celebrate the process of discovery and creativity.

 

Q: What if my child is interested in STEAM but not ready to participate at this year’s STEAM Fair?
A: There are so many great resources and websites out there to explore the world of STEAM. Here are just a few. 

• Grapevine Public Library: offers a variety of educational resources, including STEM kits, Launchpad tablets, and access to over 170,000 eBooks and audiobooks through CloudLibrary. 
• Code.org: Offers free coding lessons for kids with fun, interactive activities.
• Scratch: A block-based coding platform designed for younger students to create games and animations.
• PBS Kids: Features educational games and videos focusing on STEAM topics.
• National Geographic Kids: Provides science experiments, games, and videos tailored for children.

Q: Who can we contact if we have questions?
A: You can reach out to Heather Cato, STEAM Coordinator, at steam@gespta.org or 817-706-9955 for any additional questions or concerns.

 

 

 

 

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OTHER RESOURCES 

 

Here’s a suggested process to help you get started in each area:

 

Science Project:

Are you curious about the world around you? Use science to explore questions, test ideas, and uncover discoveries!

1. Ask a Question: What do you want to learn or investigate?
2. Research Your Topic: Gather information to better understand your question.
3. State Your Hypothesis: Make an educated guess about what you think will happen.
4. Plan Your Experiment: List the materials you’ll need and the steps you’ll follow.
5. Conduct Your Experiment: Test your hypothesis by following your plan and collecting data.
6. Analyze Your Data: Look for patterns or results that answer your question.
7. Draw Conclusions: Was your hypothesis correct? What did you learn?
8. Prepare Your Display: Include your question, hypothesis, data, and results to share what you discovered.

Technology Project:

 

Are you a tech enthusiast who loves coding, robotics, or digital design? Use technology to solve a problem, create something cool, or explore new ideas!

1. Identify a Goal: What do you want to create or solve? A game? An app? A robot? A digital artwork?
2. Research Your Tools: Learn about the software, hardware, or coding languages you’ll need.
3. Plan Your Design: Sketch out your interface, storyboard your project, or write pseudo-code.
4. Build and Test: Start creating your project and test it along the way to find and fix problems.
5. Iterate and Improve: Use feedback to make your project even better.
6. Explain Your Technology: Prepare a short explanation of how your project works and why it’s important.

Engineering Project:

 

Do you have an idea for an invention or a way to improve something that already exists? Use the engineering process to solve a problem and build a solution!

1. Identify a Problem: What issue or challenge do you want to address?
2. Research and Explore: Learn about the problem and what others have done to solve it.
3. Brainstorm Solutions: Think of creative ways to solve the problem and choose the best idea.
4. Plan Your Design: Sketch your solution, label the parts, and list the materials you’ll need.
5. Build and Test: Create your prototype and test how well it works.
6. Improve Your Design: Make changes to fix issues or make your solution even better.
7. Evaluate and Reflect: Did your solution work as intended? What did you learn?
8. Prepare Your Display: Show your design process with sketches, photos, and an explanation of your solution. 

Arts Project:

 

Do you love to express yourself through creativity? Use your artistic skills to create a project that inspires, teaches, or amazes!

1. Choose Your Medium: Decide whether you’ll paint, draw, sculpt, perform, or create something digital.
2. Define Your Idea: What do you want to express or communicate? Is it a concept, story, or idea?
3. Research for Inspiration: Explore different techniques, styles, or cultural influences related to your idea.
4. Plan Your Creation: Sketch out your design, outline your performance, or gather your materials.
5. Create Your Masterpiece: Put your plan into action!
6. Reflect: Think about what your project means to you and what you want others to learn or feel from it.
7. Prepare Your Display: Include photos, sketches, or a short write-up about your artistic process.

Mathematics Project:

 

Do you enjoy numbers, patterns, or solving puzzles? Use math to answer questions, create models, or discover new connections!

1. Choose a Math Topic: What interests you? Geometry, statistics, probability, or another area?
2. Ask a Question: What do you want to explore or solve? Examples: “What is the most efficient shape for a bridge?” or “How do patterns form in nature?”
3. Research and Plan: Learn about the math behind your question and plan your approach.
4. Solve or Model: Use equations, graphs, or simulations to explore your question.
5. Analyze Results: What did you discover? Were there patterns or surprising findings?
6. Create a Visual: Make graphs, diagrams, or interactive models to explain your results.
7. Show Your Thinking: Include a step-by-step explanation of your math process.