Retrofitted bus offers alternative to traditional classroom

Call it a classroom with wheels.

Sycamore Community Schools has recently been using a decommissioned school bus for a classroom. The STEAM bus, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, has been making the rounds at various schools in the district.

"I like using the bus because it's more spacious and you have more activities," Blue Ash Elementary School student Jada Meade said. Meade and other third-grade classmates had a chance to use the bus when it arrived at the school Dec. 5.

Meade and the other students worked on a Lego project in which they built a maze through which a marble was then navigated.

"We're trying to get a marble from start to finish," said third-grader Barrett Burden, who was among the students in Emily Kohls' class that had an hour of time allotted in the bus.

The activities vary depending on the grade level of the student.

"It's another way to get kids excited," said Mallory Bonbright, chief public relations and communications officer for the district, adding the idea is to encourage students to explore math and science.

The bus has been designed to accommodate computers being hooked up to it, and a large touchscreen television is positioned at the rear of the bus, which is also used for after-school programs at various locations.

Retrofitting the bus was funded by donations and grant money, Bonbright said. Additionally, Sycamore High School engineering and architectural students provided feedback on features that would be beneficial on the bus.

Kohls, who teaches English and language arts, said she sees a great value in using the bus in a variety of subject areas.

"I chose a project that would build on collaborating, communicating and brainstorming," she said.

Watching her students working together building Lego mazes, Kohls felt her goal was well on its way to being achieved.