Inside First-Grade’s Buzzing STEAM City

Each year, first-grade students have constructed their own cities over the course of multiple STEAM classes. Complete this year with a colorful Hancock Building, vibrant Ferris wheel, and houses of varying shapes and sizes, this hands-on project is designed to incorporate each element of the STEAM curriculum – and has quickly become a class favorite!

Starting with the construction process, which incorporates art and engineering, students build their cities using papier-mâché, cardboard cylinders and other recycled materials. Buildings are then placed across a square grid, which helps students improve their directional and counting skills as they introduce Bee-Bots to their cities. 

“Students design a building on paper and paint it, bringing an artistic dimension to the engineering part,” said first-grade teacher, Béatrice Mazoyer. “They also do some math – the letter M in STEAM – because the buildings have to be a certain size to fit in the Bee-Bot boards.”

Bee-Bots are small robots designed to help students learn counting, sequencing, directionality and problem-solving skills. In order to move the robots throughout their cities, students must mentally plan and calculate the route they’re going to take. After counting the number of squares needed, students then incorporate STEAM’s technology element by using early coding skills to program their Bee-Bots.

“I love to see the excitement when Wednesday comes and STEAM class is anticipated with so much motivation,” Mazoyer said. “Students often say it is their favorite class… It is very hands-on, and they clearly love it.”