Steam and Maker Education

Innovators, Inventors, Leaders

Research shows that girls have higher interest and persistence rates in STEAM fields when they are afforded ample opportunities to tinker and build. By introducing design challenges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes starting in the lower school, we prepare our girls to embrace robotics with an eagerness to explore, a willingness to build upon failure, and an openness to constructive feedback. Our K-12 interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to STEAM ensures that Hewitt girls graduate well on their way to becoming the next generation of innovators, inventors, and leaders.

Hewitt students explore, experiment, and play with technology, computer programming, digital fabrication and maker tools, and robotics at every stage of their academic career.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR STEAM PROGRAM

Graphic design and digital art using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Programming in Scratch, JavaScript, and Processing
Digital fabrication such as laser cutting, etching, and milling with wood and plastic
3D printing and design with Tinkercad
Tinkering with gears and circuitry
Robotics with VEX IQ, VEX EDR, and Arduino
E-textile design with LilyPad
Physical computing with Makey Makey and Micro:bit
Fabrication with sustainable materials such as mycelium and recycled plastic
Computer science classes that engage students in circuitry, software development, product design and fabrication, and building and programming robots.

Three students wear glasses/safety goggles and gloves and lean over a hunk of melting metal — Casting medallions for Hewitt Athletics in the Innovation Lab

Three second graders wear masks and lean over a VEX 123 robotics grid — Second graders use VEX 123 robots to learn about programming, automation, spatial reasoning, and computational thinking

Three students hold soldering irons and work at tables covered in cords and motherboards — Upper school Girls Who Code club members learning to solder

Four students in masks hold up a large navy Hewitt Robotics banner and a %22tournament champions%22 certificate — Hewitt Robotics Team 11442X after winning the 2021 New York State VEX Robotics qualifier

A student sits at a desk inflating a large yellow balloon — As part of their study of physics, seventh grade scientists build balloon rockets

Two students use tools to take apart a CPU — Students break down old electronic devices to identify their components and learn how they function

A student wears a mask and builds using green paper and cardboard. — First graders rely on principles of design thinking to understand their user, develop innovative solutions, and build prototypes

Three students use screwdrivers to take apart a CPU — Upper school students take apart, clean, and upgrade parts of a computer to prepare it for donation

Two students wear safety goggles and gloves as they use tools to debark tree branches — Middle school students make block sets out of fallen tree branches for pediatric patients at Mount Sinai Hospital

A student uses a hand plane to smooth her piece of wood for a project

A student connects an old motor to a power supply in the Innovation Lab — After disassembling a broken paper shredder, a student tests its motor using a power supply in the Hewitt Innovation Lab

A closeup of hands measuring wood with a saw on the table — Eighth graders drawing plans, measuring, and cutting wood for a woodworking project

Lower school students record video tutorials to share their skills and expertise with peers

A lower school student sits on the carpet next to her Beebot, a small, round robot with red and blue flashing lights — Using counting, sequencing, estimation, and problem-solving skills, kindergarten engineers program Beebots to navigate mazes

A student creates a custom nightlight cover in the Hewitt Innovation Lab

A student interviews a teacher as three others operate an iPad on a tripod, a boom mic, and a clapboard — Kindergarteners act as videographers, interviewers, and sound operators while filming interviews with members of the Hewitt community

Three students use drills and screwdrivers to take apart a flat screen TV — Middle school students take apart an old TV in order to reclaim its parts for future Innovation Lab projects

A student wears safety goggles and leans over a wood cutting machine — Cutting pieces of wood for a construction project in the Hewitt Innovation Lab

STEAM News

A student stands in front of an outdoor sculpture writing in a notebook

Seventh Graders Explore Barriers and Biases Impacting Women’s Voices

During their minimester, seventh graders were guided by the central question, “Whose voices are heard; whose voices are not?” As they conducted field research, historical investigations, and interviews, students reflected on how different voices have been amplified or quieted throughout history.

Pairs of students pose in front of their model playgrounds and look proudly at the camera.

First Graders Study Playground Accessibility

First grade engineers conducted field research in Central Park to understand how to make playgrounds more accessible to people with different physical abilities. They then used what they had learned to design scaled versions of inclusive playground equipment such as slides, swings, and monkey bars.

Three students stand on an NYC street holding up sheets of paper they used to take a survey

Sixth Graders Advocate For Sustainable and Accessible Transportation

As they wrestled with the real-world question, “What can Hewitt students do to promote a sustainable and accessible transportation system in New York City?” sixth graders engaged with local experts to better understand the challenges and benefits of creating resilient and inclusive transportation systems.

Discovering a Passion for Computer Science at Hewitt

In this video interview, Caroline B., Class of 2022, reflects on the joy and sense of accomplishment she gets from writing code and building apps, and shares how her teachers have supported and encouraged her to pursue her passion for computer science at Hewitt and beyond.

Three students stand around a table covered in plastic sheeting, One is spraying water on the plastic.

Fifth Graders Dive into Freshwater

After investigating water pollution through the lenses of equity and social justice, civic engagement, and sustainable engineering, fifth grade change-makers proposed ways for members of the Hewitt community to reduce their unsustainable impacts on freshwater systems.

Two students sit across from a pink canvas. They are working on laptops.

Eighth Graders Investigate Sustainable Production and Consumption

During their week-long minimester, eighth graders investigated the lasting impacts of certain kinds of waste on our environment and researched the power of community activism. Students applied what they learned as they collaborated on ways to address the real-world issue of sustainable consumption at Hewitt.

A student in a light blue jacket and gray pants crouches and measures an oyster.

Solving a Local, Real-World Challenge with the Billion Oyster Project

Hewitt high school students are helping the Billion Oyster Project solve the local, real-world challenge of regenerating New York Harbor's oyster reefs. As community scientists, these students conduct hands-on field research and send valuable data back to the Billion Oyster Project.

Two students sit at desks working on math problems in their notebooks

A Passion for Mathematical Problem Solving

Our experiences at Hewitt have encouraged our passion for mathematics and helped us develop a sense of purpose around sharing that passion with our peers. Through the Math Olympiad club, we hope to give all upper school students a space outside of their classes to develop positive attitudes about mathematics while expanding their analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

A student crouches in front of a yard stick and prepares to toss a basketball in the air

Breaking Down Complex Principles in Ninth Grade Physics

Instead of relying on dry textbooks to teach confusing concepts, my freshman physics class showed me how effectively student-led, hands-on labs based in real-world scenarios could help break down complex principles. My experiences in ninth grade physics have given me the courage to pursue a subject that I initially thought would be overwhelmingly challenging, which feels heartening and empowering.

A student sits at a desk watching a drawing tutorial on an iPad

Lower School Students Find Their Inner Teacher

When students teach their peers they take ownership of their knowledge and sharing new skills ceases to be a top-down exercise that must be led by the adult in the room. In these moments, the student sharing her wisdom deepens her own understanding and gains confidence in herself, while the student being taught gets the chance to hear a peer explain a new skill or concept, demystifying it and making it instantly more accessible.