Essential Skills and Habits of Mind for a STEAM Classroom:
Curiosity
Observation and Inquiry
Creativity
Resilience
Problem-Solving
Collaboration
cooperation
Persistence
Reflection
Openness to New Ideas

Creativity and Innovation is a powerful habit of mind that can be developed across multiple subject areas in Year 1 and is especially effective for integrating learning. For example, students can express creativity through a cross-curricular project that combines literacy and science. After learning about different animals and their habitats in science, students can create their own imaginary animal and write a short descriptive story or report about it in literacy. They can then design a model or drawing of the animal and its habitat using various art materials. This activity encourages imaginative thinking while reinforcing scientific knowledge about animal features and environments, and it supports language development through writing and storytelling.