Welcome to the eXtreme STEAM Bat Edition Project

For 2022, we have considered ways students can participate in any learning environment. Whether your classes are in person or virtual, we have entry points for your creative thinkers. Welcome aboard!

 STEP 1 - Read the Story

To set the stage for the project, begin with a reading of Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds. The book is available in both print or Kindle version. Did you know that you can read a Kindle book in a web browser? Simply use the Kindle Cloud Reader. This allows you to screen share the pages making it easy for students to follow along as you read.  

In the story, students learn about bats alongside Amara. Invite your students to discuss some of the innovative ways Amara and her friends learn to help their community and the bats.  
  • Which ideas or designs impress you? Why?
  • Which of the illustrations spark your imagination?
  • How might you go about designing a new bat house concept? What might you create?

STEP 2 - Let's Walk Through an Initial Design Thinking Experience. Begin with empathizing with the bats.

, Our eXtreme STEAM project is designed so that students can make a positive impact on their community, but we highly recommend starting with a Design Thinking Challenge centered on the book.

​The beginning of the Design Thinking process is to consider the character or person's needs. Ask students to go back into the text to find evidence of what bats need for their homes, for example.
  • What evidence do you see in the text or the illustrations that the bats in Amara's community need help?
  • What is important to the bats for their homes?
  • How can bats help the community? What clues do you have that help you come to that conclusion?

STEP 3 - Define the Problem

Now it's time for students to define a problem statement that will focus their design work.  Problem statements have 3 components: 1) a user, 2) a need, and 3) a goal. These are then combined following the pattern [A user] needs [need] in order to accomplish [goal].
Example: Jane, who must carry textbooks, library books, a water bottle, technology, and her diabetic supplies to school each day, needs a backpack that will keep all of her items organized, protected, and easy to access.

​Invite your class to develop their own problem statement for Amara and the Bats.

STEP 4 - Ideation Phase

Challenge your students to design a bat house.  It can be practical, fanciful, magical, or even over the top.  See where their imaginations lead them.  
  • Encourage students to list out all the features they believe would make their bat house the best solution for Amara's new community.
  • Ask the students to sketch out their ideas as much as possible. These visuals will help them explain their solution to others. NOTE - for Remote Students, this could be a great opportunity for them to work collaboratively in a virtual breakout room.
Be sure to capture this phase through photos. We would love to see the learning process at work. Share photos on Twitter or Instagram using our #eXtremeSTEAMedu hashtag.

STEP 5 - Construct a Bat House Prototype 

Now it's time for students to construct a 3D prototype of their bat house. The best part of prototyping is students can use any materials they have available. 
  • In person and virtual classrooms can create individual structures out of classroom supplies - paper, scissors, index cards, tape, crayons, LEGO, play dough, etc.  
  • Virtual classrooms - If packets of supplies can be delivered to students, that's the best option to provide equity. Students can also use found objects such as LEGO bricks, cardboard, pantry items, snacks, and scrap materials to design their bat house prototypes.
An additional makerspace challenge that might be of interest to older students is for them to create cardboard automata - using elements of simple machines to give movement to their houses. 

STEP 5 - Share the Class Designs

We would love to see your students' solutions to helping the bats in Amara's community.  Please share photos of their designs on social media using #eXtremeSTEAMedu. 

PART 2 :
​Now Let's Design a Solution for the Community

We understand that some district COVID restrictions make community service projects difficult, but we do invite you to continue reading through the steps to see if there is
​a possible opportunity for your students.

STEP 6 -  Research - Interview a Nonprofit or Organization that Services the Community

The goals of eXtremeSTEAM are:
1) to challenge students through design thinking 
2) to positively impact their communities  
During this phase, students should interview a local nonprofit or organization that services the community. It's difficult to have guest speakers visit schools, especially if your class is fully remote, but luckily, virtual connections are possible. 
Every school district's guest speaker policy varies, so please check with your school leaders about virtual guest speakers.
  • Option 1 - Invite a guest speaker to a class meeting (Email the meeting link to your guest speaker). You will need to consider student privacy if they are fully remote. 
  • Option 2 - Set up a Flipgrid where students can ask their questions to a guest speaker. Your speaker can respond in personalized messages or create one video message back to the class.  NOTE - Remember to protect the time of your guest speaker. We encourage the class to develop a list of their TOP FIVE questions to share with the guest speaker. That's easier for one person to answer.
    • ​​Common Questions 
      • What is the mission of your organization?
      • What are some needs you have at this time?
      • What have been the biggest challenges in serving our community?
      • How might our class partner with you?
  • Option 3 - Create a form with the top 3  questions for community helpers to answer and invite guests to complete the form.This is a great way to involve parents, as well. Classes can analyze the data and discuss as a whole group.
  • Option 4 - Arrange for a virtual tour with local organizations. It's challenging to take students on a real field trip, but virtual tours can be fantastic! Often teachers will visit places and record the tour on their phones to share with students or schedule a virtual call where the guest speaker can provide a live tour via phone.

STEP 7 - Identify a Problem Statement for Your Service Project

After listening and interviewing the guest speaker, invite the class to draft a problem statement.  Similar to the process with STEP 4 above, Problem statements have 3 components: 1) a user, 2) a need, and 3) a goal. These are then combined following the pattern [A user] needs [need] in order to accomplish [goal].

Example: Our community, which has a low bat population, needs strategically placed bat houses to attract bats that will help with pollination and insect control. 

STEP 8 - Ideate Solutions

Now it's time to ideate possible solutions for the class to support the nonprofit or organization. 
​
A great way to get the creative juices flowing is to complete a "The Worst Idea" exercise. Also known as "The Bad Idea Factory", students come up with as many terrible solutions to the problem as they can. Believe it or not, this exercise pushes creative thinking and boosts student confidence when sharing of ideas. 
  • Using a tools such as Whiteboard.fi, Jamboard, or Padlet, collecting these ideas as a class is easy and opens great conversation whether you are in house, hybrid, or completely remote.
Once the ideas are collected, ask the students which of these ideas are viable? Could any of these ideas be combined to be a solution?

STEP 9 - Prototype the Solution

Now that your students have an idea that could help their partner organization, it's time to prototype their solution on paper/digital collaborative document. The class should consider all the steps needed to complete the solution.
  • How might we build awareness for the organization?
  • How might we gather possible donations?
  • How might the organization receive these donations?
  • How might we use social media to spread the word?
  • What are our time constraints?
  • Who could be partners in helping us with our project?

Be sure to check out 45 Socially Distanced Service Project Ideas

We highly encourage classes to share their ideas with building administration. It's important that you have leadership support for the project. Plus, the administrator can act as a positive critical friend by offering feedback to students.
Don't forget to share prototype photos on social media with our #eXtremeSTEAMedu hashtag. We can't wait to see students' creativity in action.

STEP 10 - Time for Action

It's go time! Students complete their service project. Whether they are raising funds for a local organization or hosting a drive for goods to build bat houses for the community, we are cheering your student leaders on. 

STEP 11 - Celebrate and Share Your Story on Social Media

We can't wait to celebrate your students' creativity and generosity! Please share your story on social media using our #eXtremeSTEAMedu hashtag. We love to help cheer your student on! ​