Session D3. Joyful Learning: The Story of STEAM Told Through the Joy of Art Making

Presenters:
Christell Lewis, Executive Director, Young Audiences of Northern California
Kirah Caminos, Director of Programs, Young Audiences of Northern California 

Since 2019, Young Audiences of Northern California (YANC), in partnership with the South San Francisco Unified School District, has supported the district’s STEAM Summer School through curriculum development and program delivery. Serving 3rd–8th grade students, the program integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through hands-on, project-based learning. Students build essential 21st-century competencies—Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration—while also supporting their social–emotional wellbeing. 

In summer 2025, YANC conducted an in-depth observation and evaluation process to better understand the program’s impact. Our goal was to collect qualitative data that captured the lived, human experience of STEAM learning. Through classroom observations, interviews with teachers, students, and teaching artists, and reflective conversations, we gathered stories that illuminated not just what students learned, but how they felt, grew, and connected. These narratives revealed the joy of learning, the power of creative problem-solving, and the ways students saw themselves as capable thinkers and makers. They also informed the creation of a short film and a collection of poems and monologues inspired by participant voices. In this session, we will share YANC’s observation framework and explore how narrative—through story, film, and art—helps us more deeply understand, communicate, and honor the true impact of our work.