Session Number T4-03

T4-03 2021 Session

An Ocean of Opportunity: Building STEAM Skills & Confidence with Miniboats Cassie Stymiest, Miniboat Education Program Consultant, Educational Passages, and Sheila Adams

Level: Beginner Grades: 6-8

Discover the ocean like never before " come hear how students from Rye Junior High assembled and launched their very own miniature sailboat ("miniboat") and are now tracking it as it sails unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean. With a GPS transmitter onboard, students are able to follow their 21st Century "Message in a Bottle," that they themselves assembled in their classroom, from the Educational Passages website. Lead teacher Ms. Adams will share how she used the miniboat to build student confidence and connect with ocean currents, geography, map reading, and more. She will also share how unique opportunities allowed the students to virtually connect with other organizations and people during the pandemic, including a very special launch story. Ms. Stymiest, of Educational Passages, will share how she helped these students make final preparations to their boats when they were learning remotely, and also share how miniboats just like the Rye Riptides are being built by students and connecting people all around the world. Find out if the boat has made landfall and learn about how you can join the journey, use the boat track in your classroom, integrate ocean data and research, or build your very own miniboat too.