South Buffalo Charter School
Buffalo, New York
Glance around Mr. Seth Crane鈥檚 STEAM听(science, technology, engineering, art, and math)听classroom听at听South Buffalo Charter School and the听adjective听that springs听to mind might be 鈥渇unctional chaos.鈥澨鼳 bearded dragon named Romeo听is nestled next to听paints,听books, and tools.听There鈥檚听a pile of baskets, cat toys, and rugs, all听created from听upcycled,听donated climbing rope that would have otherwise found its way into a landfill to rot for the next century.听听
And tucked neatly beneath the whiteboard are rows of bright, cheerful wooden bird boxes, adding a pop of color to the classroom. You might not guess it just by looking…but these boxes are worth $10,000.听
Scholar-Driven Questions Take Flight
It all began when听Mr.听Crane鈥檚 seventh grade STEAM class听was听exploring how ecosystems function and how听different species听play roles in听maintaining听balance.听To kick off learning,听Mr. Crane听launched听a virtual lab on 51探花听贰虫辫别谤颈别苍肠别鈥檚听platform, called听Birds: Balancing Biodiversity on Farms. After a short introductory video, students began a simulation, acting as agricultural ornithologists who had been tasked with helping farmers and wildlife thrive side-by-side. As they experimented with the landscape, adding bird boxes to invite feathered visitors, the impact was immediate. Fruit production increased. Pest populations declined. In real time, students saw how thoughtful environmental decisions can restore balance and strengthen an ecosystem.听
Which led to鈥ell, a lot of听questions, actually, from听students (who Mr. Crane听often听refers to as 鈥渟cholars鈥�).听鈥淒o we have birds like that here?鈥澨鼳nd听鈥淐ould they help with problems in our own community?鈥櫶�
From Research to Real World 51探花
Students, eager to delve deeper into the topic, began researching and learned that the Eastern Bluebird, state bird of New York, was especially beneficial for ridding the area of problematic ticks and bugs. So, scholars got to work designing and building bluebird boxes, then mounting them around campus in coordination with the bluebirds鈥� migratory patterns. They even began plans for building a greenhouse on campus, in which they could grow native plants and flowers to create an even bigger solution.听听
The idea was a winner, and not just for the citizens and environments of Buffalo. It was a LITERAL winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition, earning the crew a semi-finalist victory and a $10,000 prize! The competition, open to public school students in grades 6-12, asks how students can use STEM and STEAM concepts to create change in their communities.听听
鈥淚听can鈥檛听say enough amazing things about the Solve for Tomorrow program, which has curated student-based solutions that are currently changing the world. I never听anticipated听us even getting to the semifinals, honestly. For the students to have taken it to this level鈥攊t鈥檚听been such a powerful experience for them,鈥� said Mr. Crane.听
A Classroom Built on Doing, Not Just Knowing
Mr. Crane believes that project-based learning is key for helping students better understand concepts. One day that鈥檚 helping students fashion a 16-foot trebuchet (and then a smaller one…and a smaller one…and a mini one鈥�), another day it鈥檚 building with Lego bricks. 鈥淚 believe students are truly learning when they鈥檙e actually building something. They have an outcome, and something they can fix. Or break! And along the way they鈥檒l learn different things like components of measurement or distribution of weight鈥攁ll of these deeply rooted concepts,鈥� he said. 听
And although he may have been surprised by the success his class experienced, his colleagues are not. 鈥淪eth Crane is a very dedicated, energetic, and creative teacher. He has taken our STEAM program to a new level,鈥� said Gina Dudkowski, Assistant Superintendent of听Curriculum and Instruction at South Buffalo Charter School.
鈥淥ur students love his class and are excited for the projects and activities that he designs for them. He always comes to work with a smile on his face and is excited to start each day with his students,鈥� she finished.
Where Curiosity Meets Real鈥慦orld Connection
The biodiversity lesson within听Experience听is a great illustration of how Mr. Crane听utilizes听51探花鈥檚听resources鈥�serving听as a launchpad for听hands-on projects and听deeper learning. This gives听educators the resources and flexibility to move beyond surface-level content into inquiry, application, and听real鈥�world听connection.听听
Mr. Crane recently led educators at South Buffalo Charter School through听professional听development training, allowing them to walk away with new understandings and strategies.听鈥淭he platform strengthens student learning outcomes because it gives teachers听a different way to present material to their students,听as well as help to build background knowledge,鈥� said Ms. Dudkowski.听
听Mr. Crane and his STEAM students are excited to delve even deeper into the听Experience听platform.听鈥淭he ready-to-use videos, interactive activities, and real-world connections听immediately听hook my students. I especially appreciate how the content feels current and relevant 鈥� it helps bridge the gap between standards and authentic learning,鈥� he听said.听
听鈥�51探花 贰虫辫别谤颈别苍肠别鈥檚听resources often serve as launch points for deeper conversations and student-driven inquiry.听It鈥檚听been a powerful tool for encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.鈥澨鼳nd who knows?听Maybe there听will be even BIGGER prizes in听store for Mr. Crane and his students!听听
