This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
Academics
Upper School
Curriculum
Select A Department
STEAM X
THE PHILOSOPHY
The STEAM X program introduces students to Design Thinking models that leverage Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (“STEAM”) to solve authentic problems. In a STEAM X course, students engage in hands-on design work as they tackle challenges and tasks. Whether it’s designing software, a personal budget, building a robot, or experimenting with bridge design, by challenging students to explore the unknown, we aim to ignite student creativity and empower them to answer important world questions.
STEAM X: Design Thinking Open To: Grade 6 In this trimester course, students will apply engineering and design principles to the problems faced by ancient Romans. As students progress through two units, monument and measurement, they will develop tests for strength and durability as a metric to improve materials, and they will have opportunities to learn the techniques of surveying. Through the latter part of this project-based course, they will learn about distance, angle, and how to translate vectors to paper to create maps and courses.
Computer Science: Coder X I Open To: Grade 6 In this trimester course, students learn about computer technology and the fundamentals of computer programming. Students learn what modern computers are and why they are useful. Students also learn the fundamentals of programming using MIT’s Scratch programming language. Students create animated movies, build arcade-style video games, and develop challenging brain games while learning how to write event-driven programs using Scratch. This course is designed to be a fun and engaging introduction to the world of computer technology.
Computer Science: Coder X II Open To: Grade 7 This trimester course will introduce students to programming using two applications: the Swift Playground App and the micro:bit App. Students begin using the Swift Playground lessons which highlight key coding concepts while demonstrating how coding is a way of thinking that can be applied to other subjects and everyday life. Along with developing programming skills, students will engage in project-based coding using the micro:bit App. This part of the course uses a project-based curriculum, with a maker philosophy, that provides a context for learning coding and computer science concepts through the act of making a project.
Open To: Grade 8 In this trimester course, students apply math practically, building their financial literacy. Widely regarded as one of the most important sets of life skills, basic understanding of the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, debt and investing will impact every part of a student's life during and beyond school. Example topics include consumer skills, budgeting, credit, saving, investing, and financing life after high school. Through engaging resources and activities, students will practice the skills to get started on the right track to effectively manage their personal finances
Thomas Eng joined The Derryfield School in the fall of 2021 as a member of the STEM X and upper school mathematics faculty, teaching courses in geometry, STEM, and computer science. Previously, Tom spent nine years at FIRST in Manchester, NH, where he eventually became the Senior Engineering Manager responsible for the development and support of a robotics control system used by over 76,000 students worldwide at FIRST Tech Challenge events. Tom’s relationship with Derryfield began when he assisted with the coaching of Derryfield’s robotics team. Tom’s interest in teaching was developed during his undergraduate tenure at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he tutored inner-city kids. Not surprisingly, Tom likes to tinker with things, especially bicycles, which he enjoys pulling apart and re-assembling. Tom aspires to commute on his bicycle to school from his home in Bedford. He has optimized the gears on the bike to fit his specific challenges (several large hills) and has purchased electric mittens and socks to make cold weather travel more bearable.
Steve Young grew up in Queens, NY, where there were snow days, but far less often. He received Masters degrees in Math from University of Wisconsin-Madison and Computer Science from NYU, and enjoyed careers as an Actuary and an Information Technologist, before returning to his first love, education. After ten years of teaching at Hunter College High School in Manhattan and looking for parking in Brooklyn, he moved to his wife's homeland of New Hampshire and was lucky to find a home at Derryfield. Steve’s hobbies include the usual nerd pursuits of board games, trivia, pointing out where you lost a minus sign, and realizing a newfound passion for Puritan chicken tenders.
Located in Manchester, NH, The Derryfield School is a private day school for grades 6-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.