STEAM is an interdisciplinary approach applied throughout our Lower School that highlights the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math while developing students’ abilities to create, think critically, embrace curiosity and explore global problems. All of this is done using the Design Thinking framework, which allows students to gain awareness and understanding of global issues—often related to the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) annual global theme. As students grapple with these real-world problems with a human-centered, hands-on and team-based approach, they learn how to become empathic, effective and engaged citizens. Design Thinking is also emphasized in other classrooms throughout the school.

We employ the following terms when conversing about Design Thinking:

• Empathize

• Define

• Ideate

• Prototype

• Reflect