At Emmanuel Lutheran School in Asheville, we're pioneering an innovative approach to education that prepares students for future success while grounding them in timeless Christian values. Our comprehensive STEAM program integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics into a cohesive learning experience that develops critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills from preschool through 8th grade.
Emmanuel Lutheran School stands apart as Western North Carolina's first Christian parochial STEAM school. Our approach combines rigorous academics with hands-on exploration in a faith-based environment where students learn to see God's handiwork in scientific discovery, mathematical patterns, technological innovation, engineering solutions, and artistic expression.
Our STEAM program is built on the belief that exploring and creating through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics allows students to better understand God's creation and their role as stewards of it. Students learn that their intellectual gifts and creative abilities are meant to be developed in service to others and to glorify God.
Unlike programs that offer STEAM as an add-on or elective, Emmanuel integrates STEAM principles across all grade levels and throughout the curriculum. Beginning in kindergarten and building sequentially through eighth grade, our approach ensures that students develop age-appropriate skills that grow more sophisticated over time.
Our classrooms and specialized learning spaces are designed to facilitate active, project-based learning:
Our teachers receive ongoing professional development in STEAM education methods and technologies. They expertly guide students through the inquiry process—asking questions, investigating possibilities, creating solutions, and evaluating results—while integrating Christian perspectives throughout.
In these formative years, students develop fundamental STEAM concepts through guided play and exploration:
Our youngest learners develop curiosity, observation skills, and creative problem-solving abilities that form the foundation for future STEAM learning.
Elementary students engage in increasingly complex STEAM projects that integrate multiple subject areas:
Projects at this level might include designing sustainable habitats, creating digital animations to explain scientific concepts, or building working simple machines to understand physics principles.
Middle school students tackle sophisticated, often community-connected STEAM projects:
Middle school projects often address real-world problems—like designing water filtration systems, creating assistive technologies for people with disabilities, or developing data-driven proposals for community improvements.
Our students' STEAM projects demonstrate the power of integrated learning:
Kindergarten: Students designed and tested various paper airplane designs, measuring flight distances, recording data, and creating graphs to determine which designs flew farthest.
Third Grade: After studying pollinators and their importance to ecosystems, students engineered bee-inspired robots that could transfer "pollen" (colored powder) between artificial flowers, combining biology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Fifth Grade: Students researched renewable energy sources, then designed, built, and tested solar ovens, collecting temperature data at regular intervals and analyzing which designs most efficiently captured and maintained heat.
Eighth Grade: Middle school students developed an automated garden irrigation system using moisture sensors, microcontrollers, and programming, then applied mathematical concepts to calculate optimal watering schedules based on plant types and soil conditions.
Each spring, Emmanuel hosts a school-wide STEAM Showcase where students present projects to families, community members, and local STEAM professionals. This event celebrates student achievement while developing presentation skills and connecting classroom learning to real-world applications.
We've developed partnerships with local STEAM professionals and organizations that enrich our program:
These partnerships provide authentic contexts for learning and help students envision future educational and career possibilities.
Our STEAM program develops essential skills for future academic and career success:
STEAM education enhances overall academic performance by:
At Emmanuel, STEAM education reinforces rather than contradicts faith development:
STEAM education at Emmanuel prepares students for success in high school, college, and beyond:
Asheville and Western North Carolina offer a vibrant context for STEAM education:
Emmanuel Lutheran School prepares students to engage with and contribute to this dynamic regional landscape while maintaining a global perspective.
Our location in Asheville allows us to take advantage of exceptional local resources:
These partnerships extend learning beyond our campus and connect students with the broader community.
STEM focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, while STEAM adds the Arts component. At Emmanuel, we believe the arts are essential to developing creative thinking, design skills, and communication abilities that complement technical knowledge.
Not at all. At Emmanuel, STEAM is integrated with our strong core curriculum. Reading, writing, and communication skills are essential components of STEAM projects as students research, document their work, and present their findings.
No. Our STEAM program is designed for all learners. The interdisciplinary nature of STEAM means that students with different strengths—whether in art, writing, math, or hands-on building—can all contribute meaningfully and develop skills in areas where they may initially be less confident.
The skills developed through STEAM education—critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity—are valuable in virtually every career and throughout life. Even students who pursue non-technical careers benefit from technological literacy and analytical thinking in our increasingly digital world.
Faith integration happens naturally throughout our STEAM curriculum. Students learn that exploring God's creation through science, developing technology that serves others, engineering solutions to problems, expressing faith through art, and discovering mathematical patterns all connect to our understanding of God and our purpose in the world.
Parents can encourage curiosity, provide opportunities for exploration and experimentation, ask open-ended questions, support persistence through challenges, and expose children to diverse experiences in science, technology, arts, and nature. We provide parent resources with grade-appropriate activities to extend STEAM learning at home.
We invite you to see our distinctive STEAM program in action:
Contact our admissions office to arrange a personalized tour of our campus and STEAM facilities. You'll have the opportunity to observe classes, meet teachers, and see student projects in progress.
Ready to provide your child with the benefits of Christ-centered STEAM education? Our admissions process includes:
Emmanuel Lutheran School equips students with the knowledge, skills, and character needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while remaining grounded in timeless Christian values. We invite your family to join our community of faith and learning.
