STEAM Design Project: Inflatable Air Creatures

After the success of our STEAM building project in December (the results of which can be found on our youtube page), I decided to aim for one STEAM project a month.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Typically, students are given a 'making' task. In the previous STEAM activity, students had to create a Rube Goldberg machine...that worked.

I've been trying to incorporate 'found' items into the projects. The previous project involved wood blocks, race tracks, cars, marbles, golf balls.

Yesterday's task asked students to make an 'inflatable air creature' using a fan and plastic bags. Again, 'regular' found items. There was also an environmental message: raising awareness that plastic bags are STILL TOO common place and easy to find.

It was inspired by this street artist:

Similar to last time, the task requires significant trial and error: coming up with a plan, trying something new if it doesn't work, etc. It also involved a fair bit of communication and collaboration: sharing ideas with their partners, dividing up roles, deciding who will get or do what, etc.

The results (again) were very impressive!

Not just in terms of the various different creations (everyone chose a different and unique inflatable air creature)...but also with regards to the reflection process that such a design project naturally creates.

Students end up wondering what could have gone better, what worked well and what didn't, what part was fun and what part was pure frustration...and of course displaying the necessary fortitude when things get tough...

Reflection vids can be found on our youtube page!

Here are photos of the finished results!

A few finished designs: inflatable air creatures #steam created with plastic bags and fans pic.twitter.com/nQCCLgkera

— Julie Johnson (@JulieeJohnsonn) January 25, 2016

A few more inflatable bag creatures from today's #steam design project: panda, octopus, Phoenix, b ball player pic.twitter.com/XlAPBI7Bbs

— Julie Johnson (@JulieeJohnsonn) January 25, 2016

And the awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle #steam inflatable air creatures w plastic bags and fans pic.twitter.com/4sA4nhjYFF

— Julie Johnson (@JulieeJohnsonn) January 25, 2016

***With thanks to the SCDSB Innovation Team for the ideas! 



Next STEAM project tentatively set for MONDAY FEBRUARY 22!

WANTED FOR THE NEXT STEAM PROJECT: paper tubes of all sizes!