Learning that Starts with Real-World Application
At the Community STE[A]M Academy, students learn through hands-on projects connecting STEAM topics with creativity and innovation.
In the Sustainable Plant Pigment project, students investigated how plants naturally create color and transformed those pigments into safe, sustainable products like watercolor paints and cosmetics. Through research and experimentation, students explored how natural dyes can replace petroleum-based colorants while protecting the environment.
The Community STE[A]M Academy is a project based school - all learning happens with hands-on exploration and real-world application. In this student-created video, our learners document their Sustainable Plant Pigment Project, where they researched, extracted, and tested natural plant-based substances to make waterpaint from start to finish. Every step — from experimentation to final production — was designed and carried out by students, showcasing creativity, scientific thinking, and environmental responsibility in action.
Work-Force Ready Skills
Throughout this project, students gained career and workforce skills, including:
A scientific understanding of the integration of biology, chemistry, and environmental science.
Critical thinking skills by solving real-world problems through research and experimentation.
Collaboration and communication skills that resulted in learning teamwork and professional presentation skills.
This project was highlighted at TechFest at Sinclair Community College at the CSA booth. Among more than 90 interactive, hands-on activities for families, painting with plant-based watercolors quickly became a crowd favorite.
