At Milton Hershey School, our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum is a major part of students’ education beginning in elementary school.

In our dynamic Innovation Lab designed for first through fourth-graders, students complete interactive activities that revolve around science, technology, computer programming, art, and robotics. With introductions to design thinking, coding, engineering, and more, we’re taking theoretical concepts and making them real for students.

As they develop their logic and reasoning skills through deep thinking and trial and error, students begin to view failure as a positive outcome. They also feel empowered by having an authentic purpose when solving a problem or completing a task.

“Productive failure leads to success, but students are still programmed to view failure as negative,” said MHS Science Curriculum Supervisor, Dr. Jaunine Fouché. “In the classroom, we set the expectation that everyone will have to approach a problem multiple times.”

To get an inside look at our innovative approach to education, MHS Technology Innovation Lab Instructor Joel Crowley shared four of his favorite lessons that bring STEAM to life for elementary students.

Read our four approaches here: http://www.mhskids.org/4-ways-bring-steam-life-elementary-students/.