Engineering Imagination: How BAM! and Strawbees Are Powering K-8 Innovation - Brains & Motion

Engineering Imagination: How BAM! and Strawbees Are Powering K-8 Innovation


At Brains & Motion (BAM!), we believe in fostering a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom, transforming curious kids into confident innovators. That’s why we’ve partnered with Strawbees, the award-winning, Swedish building system of colorful straws and connectors that lets kids design, invent, and engineer anything they can imagine!

This month, we’re thrilled to highlight how our partnership with Strawbees brings cutting-edge, engaging STEM education directly to K-8 students, while offering seamless, standards-aligned enrichment solutions for districts and schools.

 

The Magic of Our BAM! & Strawbees Partnership

Our partnership with Strawbees combines BAM!'s holistic, active, and educationally aligned approach to enrichment with Strawbees' innovative, open-ended building system. This synergy provides an unparalleled learning experience that is deeply engaging for young learners.

Together, we empower students to:

 Develop 21st-Century Skills: Through screen-free, hands-on activities, students enhance fine-motor coordination, spatial awareness, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Foster a Love for STEM: Strawbees makes complex scientific and engineering principles accessible and fun, turning learning into an exciting adventure. 

Build Confidence: Students experience success through hands-on creation and learn from productive failures, developing resilience and a strong sense of accomplishment. 

Engage in Holistic Learning: Our programs balance physical engagement with intellectual stimulation, ensuring well-rounded development for every child. 

 

For district and school leaders, this partnership means:

  • Seamless Integration: Ready-to-teach resources and curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) minimize prep time and maximize impact.
  • Expanded STEM Participation: Strawbees' low-threshold toolkit makes hands-on STEM learning simple and inviting for all students and teachers, broadening access to technology and engineering.
  • High-Quality Enrichment: With a track record of partnering with over 1,100 schools, BAM! provides future-oriented, holistic learning opportunities that complement your academic goals.
  • Empowered Educators: Our programs support teachers in fostering creativity, coding, and rapid prototyping, making STEM subjects accessible and increasing long-term retention.

 

Dive into Our Enrichment Courses with Strawbees

Our Strawbees enrichment courses are meticulously designed to spark imagination and build essential skills across various STEM disciplines:

 

Strawbees Jr: Adventures for Little Innovators

This course invites young learners to explore building and engineering through playful, screen-free activities. Students use Strawbees kits to construct models of their surroundings, learn about tools and transportation, and discover global cultures and environmental interactions. It's an adventure in creativity and critical thinking, fostering scientific inquiry and literacy skills.


 

Strawbees Builders: Hands-on Invention

Aligned with NGSS, this course focuses on construction, biology, and mechanics. Students enhance spatial awareness, strategic thinking, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. They explore geometric shapes, animal biomes, and simple machines through engaging, hands-on activities, integrating STEM principles with English Language Arts (ELA) crossovers.


 

Strawbees Engineering: Innovative Constructs

Combining physics, earth science, and biomechanics, this course offers a dynamic learning experience. Students explore Newton's laws and simple machines, build wind and hydropower models, and design complex machines to solve real-world problems. They also delve into sustainable urban planning, enhancing technical abilities while developing problem-solving and communication skills.


 

Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit

In this course, young learners explore robotics and renewable energy through hands-on activities using Strawbees kits and the micro:bit. Students learn to design and build robots, replicate animal adaptations, and develop skills in programming and engineering to create autonomous robotic systems, all while integrating STEM principles with ELA crossovers.

 

The Benefits of Strawbees for Every Student

Strawbees provides a uniquely versatile and engaging platform for learning. Its simple yet powerful system of connectors and straws allows students to build anything they can imagine, promoting:

  • Creative Thinking and Inventive Spirit: Students are encouraged to experiment, innovate, and bring their ideas to life.
  • Hands-on, Student-Led Learning: Strawbees fosters active engagement, allowing students to learn by doing and directly observe the results of their creations.
  • Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Designing and building with Strawbees naturally leads to challenges that require analytical thinking and iterative solutions.
  • Collaboration and Communication: Many projects encourage teamwork, helping students develop essential social skills.
  • Accessibility: With a low barrier to entry, Strawbees empowers students of all abilities to explore and develop essential STEM skills, regardless of prior experience.

The partnership between Brains & Motion Education and Strawbees is more than just a collection of courses; it's a commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers. By bringing this dynamic and proven educational approach to your students, we help lay a strong foundation for their success in school, future careers, and life.

Ready to bring the magic of Strawbees and BAM! to your district or school? Explore our programs and see how we can join forces to unlock your students' full potential.

 

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