Engineering (stEam)
Westminster students are consistently provided with opportunities to learn the principles of engineering in order to apply them to real-world problems. Engineering fosters critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity in elementary students. It encourages a hands-on approach, promoting curiosity, creativity, communication and exploration. Engaging with engineering concepts early helps develop a solid foundation in STEAM fields, preparing students for future challenges. Additionally, it instills resilience and teamwork, essential skills in both academic and real-world scenarios.
Additionally, our 5th Grade students have the opportunity to engage in the VEX Robotics program, which combines Engineering and Technology skills, as well as offers the opportunity to learn new skills, persevere through challenging tasks, and collaborate with a team and other elementary teams within our district.
Teachers encourage students to follow the Engineering Design Process. The engineering design process begins with a question: What is the problem? From there, students begin to imagine and plan, followed by creating, testing, and improving their designs. This enables educators to engage children's minds in solving real problems, and demonstrate the importance of testing, revising, and perseverance in learning. At Westminster, we believe that introducing our students to engineering consistently will cultivate skills and lay the groundwork for a lifelong interest in science and technology.
