The Power of Experimentation
At St. Dominic School, curiosity and creativity came together in a lively Grade 5 STEAM project that turned science and engineering concepts into hands-on discovery. To consolidate their learning on forces, structures, and simple machines, students took on a St. Patrick’s Day inspired challenge that tested both their ingenuity and teamwork.
Working in collaborative groups, students followed the engineering design process of planning, creating, testing, and presenting through one of two challenges. They either designed a “Leprechaun Trap” that used a specific simple machine to catch a seven-centimetre target or built a “Rainbow Run” track to demonstrate how potential energy converts into kinetic energy.
Each group documented their progress across three trials, testing and refining their designs with every iteration. The process pushed students to problem-solve creatively and persist through trial and error, just like real engineers and inventors. The classroom was filled with excitement and determination as students discovered that mistakes were not failures but steps toward better solutions.
From STEM to STEAM: Adding Art to Innovation
While traditional STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math, STEAM adds a crucial element — the arts. This approach blended the technical with the creative, integrating design, visual arts, music, and drama into the learning process.
At its core, STEAM valued creative problem-solving as much as technical skill. It encouraged students to express themselves, think critically, and apply both analytical and artistic thinking to find innovative solutions.
This interdisciplinary and holistic approach fostered well-rounded learners who could navigate complex problems with both logic and imagination, building skills that prepared them for a rapidly evolving future.
A Celebration of Learning
The project culminated in a gallery walk where students proudly presented their final creations, explained their design choices, and demonstrated how they turned abstract concepts like energy and mechanics into working models.
Deep Learning in Action
This project reflected Deep Learning at the Ottawa Catholic School Board, where students did more than learn facts. They grew as creators, collaborators, and problem-solvers. By merging science and art, St. Dominic’s Grade 5 students built more than leprechaun traps and rainbow tracks. They built confidence, creativity, and the skills to turn big ideas into reality.
