I’ve mentioned in previous posts how much we love Nia’s school in Mumbai. They just go the extra mile in everything, which never fails to impress me. Take STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) Maker Saturdays, for example, which they do one Saturday a month. The event is billed as “providing hands-on Maker activities for children and parents to play and have “hard fun†while exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.”
So not only is the school offering additional focused learning experiences in areas that will be essential for a child’s future success, but they’re also providing a forum for parents & children to come together on a regular basis and create. I absolutely love the concept. I typically go to Sharanam Centre for Girls on Saturday morning to teach English, so Nick & Nia attend most of the STEAM Maker Saturdays together.
Each month the school has 10-15 different stations that kids can move between. The event lasts 2 hours, so kids really have time to explore a variety of activities with their parent(s). Here’s a peek at the STEAM Maker Saturday from October. You’ll see Nia featured at 1:41.
Each month there is a featured activity that combines two or more of the STEAM areas. This past month the school participated in the Cardboard Challenge. Nia was told to watch this video in advance, which shares an inspiring story about a boy who created something incredible with cardboard. She & Nick were then tasked with bringing materials to create their own cardboard masterpiece during the event.
Here’s what Nick and Nia designed:
As you probably guessed, it’s a telescope. I’m going to let Nia tell you a bit about her creation.
Pretty cool, huh? On a related note, I am shocked by how interested Nia has become in Robotics & Coding. In fact, she received a wide variety of robotics and coding-related gifts for Christmas. She got an Ozobot (also featured in the 1st video), a SMARTIVITY DIY Kit, and Lego BOOST.Â
Nia would like to show you some of the things that she’s programmed her Lego BOOST kitty to do. Check it out:
I know next to nothing about coding and robotics, so it’s pretty cool to have my 1st grader teaching me a thing or two. I am struck by how these two subjects engage both the right and the left brain. There is the technical part of the actual building or coding but then there is the creative aspect of deciding what you want the program/object to do or look like. Nia has strengths in both the Arts and Math/Science and I imagine that it’s the combination of it all that’s appealing to her.
Makes me wonder if I would have gone into a STEM field had it been more “trendy” in my school years. I am happy for her though. It’s a fun, creative way to stretch her mind. Can’t wait to see what she creates next!
