Long Island Sound STEAM Work: Layering in Important Real World Connections in 3rd and 4th Grade

In their classrooms, the science lab, and the art studio, the third and fourth grade classes collaborated to study Long Island Sound through a STEAM lens. With a strong commitment to environmental learning and stewardship, each class took the lead on different aspects of the study. The third graders learned about population sampling methods and tide pool taxonomy, the fourth graders learned about water testing methods and tools, and both classes used iPad apps to observe and discuss real time, technical tide and weather data from the NOAA buoys in the Sound.

           

On the Grass Island field trip, the third graders conducted population sampling and field explorations while the fourth graders used thermometers, hydrometers and chemical testing strips to measure water temperature, salinity and nitrite and nitrate levels in the Sound’s water. Both groups recorded their data, discussed their results and made plans to collaborate to share with each other and the school community.

   

Back at school, the third graders compiled their data on group charts and data tables, they explored Google Earth and mapped the ecosystems of Grass Island using different collage techniques. Meanwhile, the fourth graders analyzed both groups’ data and researched plant and animal life and food webs of the Sound. Additionally, they created and tested an interactive, whole group food web game.

           

With the help of their families and teachers, members of both classes participated in the International Coastal Cleanup on Grass Island, where they collected and tallied data on types of garbage washed up on shore. Soon, they will compare the data they collected with statewide and worldwide information shared by the Ocean Conservancy (https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/).

   

In writing workshop, the fourth graders developed descriptive paragraphs based on their scientific research.  Students were taught the “Hamburger Model” for formulating their paragraph and worked on organizing their information. In math class, they created bar graphs reflecting the data the third grade collected.  Fourth graders also used a computer graphing program to represent the third graders’ population sampling data in pie graphs using https://www.meta-chart.com/pie.

     

In the art studio, both classes studied the flora and fauna of Long Island Sound, and, taking inspiration from several artists, they created vibrant watercolor and colored pencil illustrations of the animals and plants they researched. In particular, the students found energy in the works of John James Audubon and his The Birds of America. Inspired by the gifts of this naturalist and artist, the students realized the need for careful observation and depiction of the birds in Audubon’s time, when there were no cameras. They then time-traveled in the art studio to an era before cameras to make their own drawings and paintings. A wonderful outing to complement this unit would be to visit Yale’s Beinecke Library where a complete set of the 430 prints of Audubon’s The Birds of America is on permanent display. The prints are truly inspiring and one of only 120 complete sets to exist in the world.

We hope you enjoy seeing and hearing about the multifaceted creative and collaborative (and very important!) efforts of the TCS third and fourth grade students!