STEAM
Where Innovation, Imagination, and Inner Calm Flourish
At Laurel Hill School, STEAM isn’t a buzzword—it’s a living, breathing experience. From engineering prototypes in the Outdoor Classroom to crafting scale-model cities in Architecture Lab, students are immersed in a dynamic world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. But innovation here goes beyond the academic. Through Mindfulness, students learn to quiet their minds, regulate emotions, and recharge their creativity. It’s an education of both head and heart.
The Outdoor Classroom
Inspired by Nature. Designed for Discovery.
Our award-winning Outdoor Classroom (ODC) is more than a garden or play space—it’s a living laboratory where the natural world meets the academic curriculum. Developed by national experts in outdoor education and environmental design, the ODC provides students with rich opportunities to explore, invent, and reflect.
Surrounded by native grasses, student-tended gardens, and thoughtfully curated learning zones, students engage in:
Nature-based science experiments
Applied mathematics using real-world data
Hands-on environmental stewardship
Artistic expression inspired by the elements
Sensory exploration that enhances focus and joy
Teachers across all grades and subjects use the ODC to extend classroom learning and align curriculum with real-world phenomena. Whether composing poetry under a tree canopy, measuring soil pH, or engineering erosion-resistant structures, students thrive in this open-air environment.
Architecture
Where Design Meets Purpose, and STEM Gains Its “A”
Architecture at Laurel Hill is the bridge between imagination and problem-solving. It’s where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics find expression through design, drafting, and innovation.
Introduction to Architectural Drawing: Students learn to sketch, measure, and draft using professional tools and methods.
Design Thinking in Action: Students explore residential and commercial structures, urban planning, and environmental design.
Model Construction: In grades 6–8, students collaborate to plan and build a scaled model city, applying concepts from math, engineering, and art.
Career Awareness: Students learn about architectural history and contemporary innovations while gaining insights into related professions.
🛠 Certificate of Completion is awarded for each program phase. Certificate of Mastery in Architecture is awarded to students completing the full multi-year track.
Engineering
Real-World Problem Solving, Fueled by Creativity
Engineering is seamlessly embedded throughout the Laurel Hill day. Students are encouraged to dream, test, and reimagine—bringing bold ideas to life through the Engineering Design Process.
Across the grades, students:
Pose real questions
Design, build, and iterate prototypes
Evaluate data and improve solutions
Collaborate across disciplines
From creating prosthetic beaks in life science to testing bridge strength in math, students experience the power of engineering to solve real-world problems. Units span Mechanical, Electrical, Agricultural, Transportation, and Chemical Engineering, while reinforcing core science content in Earth, Life, Space, and Physical Sciences.
Engineering at Laurel Hill transforms curiosity into action—and empowers students to see themselves as changemakers.
Mindfulness
Calm Minds. Focused Learning. Joyful Hearts.
At Laurel Hill, mindfulness is a treasured part of the school culture. Woven into the daily routine from kindergarten through middle school, mindfulness provides students with practical tools for emotional regulation, stress management, and mental clarity.
🧘♀️ Sample Practices:
Rainbow Breathing
Ocean Breath & Breathing Anchor
Play Dough Stress Relief
Rockabye Ducky Relaxation
Mindful Listening and Visualization
Before a big test, after a sibling disagreement, or during a challenging moment—students have learned how to pause, breathe, and reset.
Teachers incorporate mindfulness:
At the start of lessons
Before reading or math blocks
During transitions between subjects
During specialist periods (art, music, P.E.)
💬 Student Reflections:
“It unstressed my heart.”
“I heard birds chirping.”
“It helps me concentrate on my work—and not get upset with my little sister!”
Mindfulness at Laurel Hill is not just calming—it’s empowering.
Why STEAM at Laurel Hill?
Because we believe in thinkers who are also feelers.
Because we know the future belongs to those who can create, adapt, and lead with heart.
Because at Laurel Hill School, learning has no walls, and every student has a spark to ignite.
