Children burn off some energy with a game of dodge ball.
STEAM-ing Through Spring Break at Summit Christian Academy
S
ummit Christian Academy (SCA) in Salt Lake City, Utah, offers transitional kindergarten (TK) through eighth-grade to nearly 60 students. As part of a strategic effort, SCA’s school board has been exploring ways to expand learning opportunities outside of the classroom that continue the school’s emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) and reduce the potential for learning loss during breaks. The result has been the development of a new Extended Learning Program, which launched during this year’s spring break. Fourteen students attended the one-week Spring Break STEAM Program held onsite in the school’s gymnasium. Each day focused on one of the five elements of STEAM. Children also learned about the power of prayer and strengthened friendships outside of their usual classroom or cohort groups— unique to this year because of COVID-19 protocols at the school. Custom curriculum was developed for the program, considering attending age groups and the school’s facilities. Engaging, hands-on activities—DIY nano bugs, popsicle catapults, simple robots, 3D animal Gia Lal shows off her marble puzzles, popsicle flashlights, and more—provided maze made with drinking engaging learning opportunities while encouraging straws and recyclables. problem-solving and teamwork. Children also grew their critical- and creative-thinking skills through playful activities, such as obstacle course construction. For this activity, children were broken into two groups and instructed
36 Pacific Union Recorder
Nevada-Utah Conference
