S.T.E.A.M. Program

Wilson Hall is a certified Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) school by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). To earn the certification, the school met SCISA STEAM standards that include having an inquiry-based learning environment for students that encourages problem-solving, students working independently and collaboratively, and students demonstrating creative and critical thinking.

Other STEAM standards include students using technology resources to conduct research, learning through performance-based assessments, and students demonstrating oral and verbal communication skills to express and elaborate their conclusions. STEAM activities are incorporated into classes, involving hands-on activities to enhance and compliment traditional teaching methods. Students in each class, from three-year-old preschool through twelfth grade and across all academic disciplines, participate in STEAM activities.

eSteam Festival

Wilson Hall participated in the annual eSteam Sumter Festival, a family festival celebrating and bringing together enthusiasts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math. Held on Main Street, the festival has the purpose of exposing participants to STEAM through interactive exhibits, fun-filled displays, and hands-on activities. Wilson Hall was one of over 50 exhibitors with a booth featuring one of the school’s 35 3-D printers. Mr. David Tuders, engineering teacher, and Mrs. Leann Tuders, robotics teacher, along with student volunteers, assisted festival attendees with printing their own 3-D item as a souvenir. 

Preschool 3 Five Senses Experiment

While learning about the five senses, Preschool 3 students conducted a taste test to distinguish the differences between salty, sweet, sour, and bitter. They also made listening ears, painted with smelly, smoky paint, to know when to find an exit sign. The week ended with the Five Senses Popcorn Challenge to encourage the use of all five of their senses. 

Spanish II STEAM Activity

By using STEAM activities designed to reinforce the lesson, Spanish II students learn the difference between the verbs “saber” and “conocer.” 

Anatomy Skin Experiment

While studying touch receptors in the skin during anatomy class, students focus on different types of mechanoreceptors located in the epidermis and dermis and how they respond to mechanical stimulation.

English 12 Free Read Friday

Taking advantage of the sunshine on the Bynum Rooftop Garden, students in the English 12/Senior Seminar classes enjoy a Free-Read Friday.

8th Grade Literature Plot Diagraming

To correctly complete a plot diagram, 8th Grade Literature students collaborate to identify key events from a short story. 

Pre-Algebra I Activity

Through a variety of hands-on activities, 7th grade students in the Pre-Algebra I Plus class build critical, problem-solving and cooperative thinking skills. 

Spanish II Conjugation Activity

Students in the Spanish II class use bracelets to practice and learn verb conjugations as a STEAM activity.

Anatomy Terminology Project

As a STEAM activity, students in the Honors Anatomy class practice mapping body region terminology.

Preschool 3 Nature Hunt

Preschool 3 students went on a nature hunt around campus. As students found items such as rocks, leaves, sticks, trees and ladybugs, they stopped to color them on their paper and be marked off their list.

Engineering III Project

Mr. Brent Kaneft, Head of School, and Logan Schumacher play a game of chess on a set made by Logan with a 3D printer using the skills he learned in his Engineering III class taught by Mr. David Tuders. 

AP Language Combine

The AP Combine—similar to the NFL Combine—was one of the final training exercises before the Advanced Placement English Language students take their College Board AP Exam. The Combine was designed to give the students practice at making quick mind shifts and using varying skills needed to write three different essays in a timed format. In between using their AP writing skills, the students had fun assignments to mark the change of task, such as skipping backwards on the track, doing ballet dance moves on the football field, and running the bleachers. The students are taught by Mrs. Molly Matthews. 

Health & Human Development Class

Students in the Health & Human Development classes, taught by Mrs. Allyson Sanders, learned about different treatment and therapy techniques to improve mental health. Mrs. Melissa McIntosh of Southern Bliss Yoga visited campus to teach the students meditation, Tai chi defense mechanisms, and pet therapy.

Preschool 4 Taste Test

While learning about the letter Vv, Preschool 4 students tasted and rated different vegetables, including bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and cucumbers.

3rd Grade Physics Project

After studying about force and motion in science, third grade students taught by Mrs. Anne Gratz applied what they learned by building ramps. Working in small groups, students designed and built a ramp that would roll a tennis ball a certain distance.

U.S. History Project

For his U.S. History class taught by Mrs. Lori Brown, eighth-grader Gibb Wilder arranged for a Ford Model-T to visit campus as a prop for his research project on Henry Ford. Each student gave multimedia presentations on important Americans or eras in our nation’s history. 

AP Seminar Presentations

The 15 sophomores in the Advanced Placement Seminar class presented research-based Individual Multimedia Presentations for the College Board. Complementing each presentation was a 2,000-word Individual Written Argument. The class, part of the AP Capstone Diploma Program, develops students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. 

Wilson Hall is the only school in the area approved by the College Board to offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program. The program is based on two, yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world. Only 38 schools in South Carolina offer the program and Wilson Hall is one of only five private schools in the state to offer it. Wilson Hall will offer 22 AP courses, the most of any school in the area. 

Anatomy Brain Hat Project

Students in the anatomy classes, taught by Mrs. Ashley Morris, wear brain hats as a project for an upcoming test. Students made the hats, identifying the areas of the brain and their functions, and wore them the entire day. Each of their teachers were given questions about the brain to ask the students throughout the day as a way to review and possibly earn extra points. 

P.E. Tennis Clinic

Professionals from the Palmetto Tennis Center conducted a week-long tennis clinic for 4th-6th grade physical education classes in the Nash Student Center. Ms. Julia Sorrells, the J.V. girls tennis coach, and Mr. Luke Whitehead, the varsity boys tennis coach, were among the instructors who brought the equipment for and taught the classes.

Preschool 4 Dental Experiment

While discussing dental health, Preschool 4 students conducted an “egg-speriment” by placing a hard-boiled white egg in a cup of water, a cup of cola, and a cup of grape juice. The students predicted what would happen to the eggs before letting them soak for 24 hours. After taking the eggs out of the liquids, the students observed the effect of sugary drinks on teeth. 

Senior Seminar Research Presentation

As the culmination of a six-week research project, students in the English 12-Senior Seminar classes deliver their presentations to classmates and faculty. The presentation, which was accompanied by a research paper, stemmed from the following task: develop a research question that expresses your curiosity about the human need for connection. Topics ranged from the value of networking for a professional career to the extent social skills acquired as a child affect one’s adult life.

6th Grade History Project

Mr. Nicky, who writes the parody songs sixth grade students listen to in order to assist in their learning of ancient history, made a virtual visit to their history class. Students sang along with him on their favorite songs, and they wrote their own song about world religions. 

Pre-Algebra Multimodal Learning

As a STEAM project, students order and compare rational numbers through multimodal learning. They are 7th Grade Pre-Algebra I Plus and 8th Grade Pre-Algebra II students taught by Mrs. Teresa Alexander.

AP Seminar Theme Connection Project

Advanced Placement Seminar sophomores connect themes between stimulus sources to prepare for their College Board Task Two Individual Written Arguments and Individual Multimedia Presentations. 

Anatomy Muscle Project

As a STEAM activity, students use Play Doh to model muscle contraction in their Honors Anatomy class.

Biology Muscle Lab

To observe the effects of fatigue in skeletal muscle contractions, freshmen in the biology classes conduct a lab to demonstrate how muscle fatigue can occur when a buildup of lactic acid disables muscle function. 

Preschool 3 Letter O Projects

While studying the letter O, Preschool 3 students enjoyed ocean yoga, made bird ornament feeders, and developed fine motor skills with ice hammers. 

Computer Designed Cookie Project

As a STEAM project, students in the lower school computer science classes, taught by Mrs. Emma Ayres, designed sugar cookies on Google Jamboard. Mrs. Ayres baked sugar cookies so the students could then create their computer-created designs on an actual cookie. When they finished, they used their Chromebooks to take a cookie selfie before enjoying eating their creations.

1st Grade Potato Santa Parade

A Christmas tradition for first grade students, the Potato Santa Parade was held just before Christmas break. For the fun STEAM project that encourages creativity and craftsmanship, each student makes a unique Santa Claus by using a potato as a base. Students parade throughout campus to visit other classrooms to share their festive creations, posing for photos with siblings. 

Kindergarten Author's Celebration

Kindergarten students enjoyed an author’s celebration in recognition of completing their first unit of narrative writing. The students are writing and illustrating books which they then read to their classmates.