Fifth Grade Drop Everything and STEAM Week

Shorecrest fifth graders and their team of teachers tackled the annual Drop Everything and STEAM Week on December 12-19. A Middle School tradition, STEAM Week is dedicated to exploring real-world application and intersection of science, technology, engineering, art and math with a central theme of "space technology and exploration." 

Field Experiences & Guest Experts 

Prior to the start of STEAM Week, fifth graders received their STEAM "crew" assignments for the week and worked together to design a mission patch, symbolizing the mission's objective and the crew's identity. They were introduced to the engineering design process - a critical skill to completing the week's challenges. They also enjoyed a field experience at the St. Petersburg College Planetarium and Observatory. There students learned how to identify many objects in the night sky. 

They also met virtually with Mick Frawley, a NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Engineer. Mr. Frawley worked on the team that built the Perseverance Rover and the Europa Clipper. He talked with the students about the engineering design process, teamwork and having a growth mindset. 

STEAM Week closed with featured guest expert Nicole Stott, a NASA astronaut and aquanaut.  Ms. Stott  spent 104 days in space on two space shuttle missions. She came to Shorecrest and shared insights about using science done in space to improve life on earth. She was impressed by how well STEAM is incorporated into so many aspects of Shorecrest life.

Hands-on Design Challenges

The week featured a number of space-themed design challenges for students to test their learning and collaboration, including the "Egg Drop and Rove" challenge, inspired by the Google Lunar X Prize. In a "Heat Shield Challenge" students demonstrated their understanding of thermal protection in a mock space shuttle re-entry by creating a heat shield that would protect an egg from the heat of a blowtorch for two minutes.

Other activities explored origami and demonstrated how engineers optimize space-saving through folding techniques and Cubesats - small, cube-shaped satellites. Other work with paper included constructing and launching paper rockets to investigate how factors like height, angle, speed and mass affect a projectile’s flight. 

During their down time, students were offered issues of NASA’s graphic novels, "First Woman: NASA’s Promise For Humanity," which tells the story of Callie, the first woman on the moon. They imagined the perseverance needed to overcome obstacles in space exploration, drawing connections to their own problem-solving experiences throughout the week. 

As they progressed through each challenge students reflected on their engineering strengths and areas for improvement. Through debriefs and documentation, teams began to see how each person’s strengths contributed to the group, and how teams were strongest when everyone brought their own talents to the table.

Demonstrating Learning

A STEAM Showcase on Friday, December 19, allowed students to present their projects to their families. They shared their triumphs, reflected on challenges, and demonstrated their newfound knowledge. Guests were impressed by the depth of learning and creativity on display.

STEAM Week reflects Shorecrest’s commitment to hands-on, project-based learning that encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and a willingness to take academic risks. These engaging experiences help students build problem-solving skills they’ll use well beyond the classroom.

More Photos

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