What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. It’s an educational approach that goes beyond traditional subject boundaries, encouraging students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and collaborate across disciplines. By integrating the arts with STEM subjects, STEAM helps students develop both analytical and innovative thinking—skills essential for success in today’s rapidly changing world.
STEAM at Sebastian Middle School
At Sebastian Middle School, STEAM is at the heart of what we do. As a STEAM-certified school, we focus on hands-on, inquiry-based learning that connects classroom lessons to real-world applications. Our students engage in projects that challenge them to design, build, test, and refine their ideas—whether they’re programming robots, creating digital art, conducting scientific experiments, or designing sustainable solutions for community issues.
Learning Through Innovation and Collaboration
Students work both independently and in teams to explore complex problems and develop meaningful solutions. This collaborative, project-based environment encourages curiosity and resilience, while helping students see how science, technology, engineering, art, and math work together in everyday life.
Preparing for the Future
Through our STEAM-focused instruction, Sebastian Middle School students gain valuable skills in creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration—often referred to as the “4 Cs” of 21st-century learning. These skills prepare them for high school, future careers, and lifelong success in an increasingly interconnected world.
STEM Coach Letter:
The Greek Philosopher Diogenes said, “The foundation of every society is the education of its youth.” Here at Sebastian Middle School, we have the responsibility, and privilege, to help mold that foundation. Through our STEM and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) classes we introduce students to a plethora of different career-oriented topics, in doing so, we begin to light a spark and interest that not only develops many skills but can lead to life-long career pathways.
To help ignite student interest we hone in on things important to them such as pop culture. When we are learning a 3D design program, we have students design a skate park, sneaker store, or their dream house. If we are teaching audio engineering, the students compose their own music that they can later make into a ringtone or alarm for their parent’s phones. To teach coding, we have students code games like Minecraft in Mr. Huffman’s class.
In addition, we integrate these skills and topics into the other core classes. In 7th grade ELA students read “The Boy who Harnessed the Wind.” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Then in STEM class students worked on building a wind turbine. In social studies with Mrs. Sims and Mr. Stevens, students learned about the systems of government and then created their own websites using the skills they learned in STEM class. In 6th grade social studies students will learn about the Greek and Roman empires and then work on designing and 3D printing miniature columns, temples, and sculptures. These are just some of the many examples of interdisciplinary connections we make here at our amazing school.
We have evidence of success when students want to learn the skills, when they go home and work on their projects without being given homework, when they call us over to show us their latest creations with enthusiasm, and when they tell us they want to pursue a career on the topic we introduced. Recently, St Augustine High School declared that they had an uptick in their aerospace academy enrollment from Sebastian. While interviewing their freshman class, many attributed their interest in aerospace to their 8th grade STEM classes.
Sebastian, a Cognia STEM certified school, continues to move forward and upward creating those foundational building blocks that carve out career pathways for this generation, and the ones that follow. We are deeply grateful to the community members who serve on our STEM advisory board who continue to help us strengthen our study to career correlation and continue to make Sebastian an exciting place to learn!
Frankie Portelos
STEM Coach