Into the classroom丨STEAM Activities in the Junior School

From Ms Yan

Mandarin Teacher / EdTech Lead

At Wellington College Tianjin, we have always placed great emphasis on cultivating our pupils' interest in learning and all-round development. As educators and lifelong learners, we are committed to deepening and optimising our existing curriculum and educational resources, as well as constantly innovating and exploring new educational resources and learning content. We aim to open up children's horizons and help them find joy in learning. We are also keeping pace with the development of education technology, and with the increasing impact of technology on education, we continue to bring more and better activities to our pupils, providing them with a better learning experience. This reflects our school's educational philosophy of fostering global citizenship and digital citizenship.

To help pupils appreciate the beauty of autumn, explore the theme of nature, and deepen their understanding of nature, we integrated the Mandarin learning topic "Autumn" the Inquiry theme "Nature" and the autumn farm educational visit with the STEAM curriculum. We conducted a "Curriculum Innovation Integration Activity" where pupils reflected on what they learned about nature and language and recalled memorable moments from the visit.

After the activity, pupils used Lego to build an autumn farm map in class. These activities not only enhance pupils' hands-on and teamwork skills but also connect learning with real life, enabling them to better understand and appreciate the wonders of nature.

The school arranged a visit to the Tianjin Fifth Avenue History Museum and Nei Shan Bookstore. Such activities not only expand pupils' learning of Mandarin but also provide a fresh learning experience outside the classroom. At the Tianjin Fifth Avenue History Museum, pupils learned about important figures and historical events in Tianjin's modern history, gaining a deeper understanding of its culture. At the Nei Shan Bookstore, pupils read about ancient Chinese culture and stories of famous people in history, enhancing their learning of the Chinese language. 

After the activity, we organised an extended integration session in the school's STEAM classroom. We integrated the educational visit, the historical features, English learning, and LEGO programming to present the activity together. Pupils worked in groups to design LEGO programming and led the tour of the historical features of Fifth Avenue through LEGO model cars. They explained the buildings, further exercising their hands-on ability and teamwork skills. The integration of English content enabled pupils to exercise their oral expression skills during the exhibition activities.

In the new year, the STEAM programme will continue to enrich the activities and curriculum, providing more opportunities for pupils to participate in related competitions. As a part of the Wellington community, we believe that success belongs to those who have the courage and determination to achieve it. Let's work together to make it happen.