High Kool-Aid Dosage...Breakfast, S'Mores, and Computers

The STEM teacher at my school is gulping the Kool-Aid.  Instead of relying on the faculty to solve problems at our school, she is allowing the students to grapple with the problems while she monitors and facilitates.  Read the stories below and think about how many practice standards were involved with each experience. 

Here's a recent problem.  Breakfast numbers had been going down since the first week of school.  We needed to get them back up in order to keep the breakfast program.  Mrs. Siembieda asked the 5th graders to figure out how they could save the breakfast program.  They decided to survey students from various grades to see what foods they liked to eat.  They collected, analyzed, represented, and presented the data to our cafeteria manager.  This gave her valuable feedback about changes she could make to the menu that would encourage more students to start eating breakfast at school again.  These kids were excited about solving a problem that mattered to them, and most importantly, making a difference.  So powerful.

Another problem...the younger students wanted to make S'mores.  But, they knew fires were not safe (or allowed at school).  They also knew they could not use the oven in the cafeteria.  But, they wanted S'mores!  So, Mrs. Siembieda told them to solve the problem on their own.  They decided to make solar ovens!  They completed all of the engineering themselves.  Some students even made adjustments to their design so their food could cook faster!  (pictures below)

Since this has happened, similar ideas are spreading.  Kids are identifying and taking appropriate actions to solve school problems (with appropriate adult help).  It's quite powerful to see.  Now, the teachers have come up with an idea for our IT Specialist Mrs. Preston to work with the "tech squad," a group of students who she mentors.  They work on computer lab set up, and mini trainings for students.  This allows the participants to be actively engaged in metacognition, reflection, and critical thought about the technology they use at school.  Ohhhhhh my.  It's starting to get REALLY good.  As I rub my hands together and smile, I wonder, "What if math was like this everyday?"  Hmmm.  To be continued...