Photo Provided. Students at St. Matthew’s focus on prayer, ethics from a Catholic perspective, and the importance of being good stewards of God’s creation.

During the 2017-2018 school year, St. Matthew Catholic School successfully implemented its Project Based Learning through STREAM Initiative. Project Based Learning (PBL) is an inquiry-based instructional approach in a real-world context where students generate the pathways and products that meet defined, standards-based outcomes. STREAM is the incorporation of science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math; it is a learning opportunity that is unique to Catholic schools.

Each grade at St. Matthew is conducting two major PBL STREAM projects this year. Units include constructing rollercoasters to study force and motion, building miniature water parks to explore water conservation, and designing animal enclosures to apply concepts of wildlife rehabilitation. Teachers and students extended the learning experience into our community. Lower grade students visited a local orchard and farm to view the life cycle of various plants and vegetables. Intermediate students explored the zoo with a new meaning and purpose: animal conservation.

Our upper-grade students invited local scientists to our school with a Science Expo hosted by the RISE UTSA Scholars Program. Through all of these experiences, our students are also able to focus on prayer, ethics from a Catholic perspective, and the importance of being good stewards of God’s creation. At St. Matthew our students are engaged, active learners. In the spirit of this year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week, we will continue encouraging our students to: “Learn, Serve, Lead, Succeed.” In fact, this year we will celebrate 25 years of excellence in learning, living and serving in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

By Today's Catholic Newspaper

Be an informed Catholic by subscribing to Today's Catholic Newspaper online! Save time by renewing or purchasing for yourself, friend, or family member. Click here to find out more information. #iamTodaysCatholic