A Mission to Save the World with STEM
Mission Inspire is the first of two whole-school STEMinn events on the calendar each year at Stamford. Read more about Stamford's unique approach to STEM education to help foster students who embrace challenges and create innovative solutions.
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At Stamford American School Hong Kong, preparing children to succeed in tomorrow’s world is a top priority. Mission Inspire is the first of two whole-school STEMinn (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Innovation) events on the calendar each year at Stamford. The name “Mission Inspire” perfectly depicts the purpose of this month-long project, which aims to challenge and inspire children through future-focused topics that are relevant to student’s lives and interests. This large-scale project involves the entire school in different missions under a common theme designed to inspire students to create, innovate and showcase their ideas as change agents.
“Mission Inspire allows students in lower grades to develop their confidence around their contributions and their place in the world. In our higher grades, students are challenged to innovate and bring their inventions to life, an opportunity that every child dreams of,” shared Stamford’s STEMinn Coordinator Ms. Linda Cheung.
The Theme
Greta Thurnberg’s advocacy for climate change has highlighted how children are capable of making significant changes. This year’s Mission Inspire posed the question:
How will being a good global citizen make a positive impact on the future?
All students from pre-primary to high school were encouraged to consider current issues affecting both local and global communities. They inquired into climate change, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and even a future for humans in space. Through this process, students demonstrated creativity and concern for the future. Most importantly, it showed that as global citizens, they could have a positive impact in the community.
The Projects
Some of the project highlights included an in-depth investigation by Grade 3 students who were challenged to capitalize on sustainable development goals “zero hunger” and “clean water and sanitation”. In teams, they designed products that would solve the scarcity of food and clean water, and then 3D printed their prototypes. By showcasing their projects to classmates and across grade levels, students built leadership and presentation skills in addition to the valuable critical thinking skills gained by an inquiry into world issues.
Why STEM?
The interdisciplinary approach to science, technology, engineering and math provides the perfect platform for students to apply their knowledge in solving real-world problems, while developing skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills through the design-thinking process. These higher-order thinking skills are what will set students apart in tomorrow’s workforce, according to reports from the World Economic Forum.
“As a leader in innovative education through our STEMinn Program, we know that projects like Mission Inspire will motivate students into making personal connections to their learning and become true lifelong learners. We empower our students to become responsible global citizens that will shape our future,” Ms. Cheung explained.
Mission Inspire provided students with an authentic and meaningful learning experience, as well as additional mentorship opportunities by connecting them with community groups like Redress, Mills Fabrica, and Food Angel. In Grade 2, for example, families donated a total of 60.45 kg of clothing to Redress for recycling and upcycling, as part of their Climate Superhero project.
"Grade 2’s mission was to help spread awareness of global climate change by creating superheroes that combat the problems. Their resulting superheroes addressed issues such as industrial emissions, climate change, plastic waste in the ocean and food waste in communities. Students created superhero capes and starred in their short films to present their message to parents and secondary students."
“It’s a great opportunity for students to work with people in industries that make a difference, they also served as role models and imparted valuable knowledge and feedback for students,” Ms. Cheung shared.
