What Is STEAM Education?
Doctors, teachers, builders, and vets are just a few of the many people that use STEAM concepts everyday. So, our children will learn these skills in high school or college, right? No! STEAM Education needs to begin at an early age!
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What is STEAM Education?
STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. From constructing a castle out of blocks to making a pattern with their toys, your young learners are already learning many important STEAM concepts. Developing these skills at an early age will help your kids as they continue to grow and learn throughout their lives.
Why STEAM Education Is Important In Early Elementary?
Science: In science, your young learners will not only learn scientific concepts but other important skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. They can also practice asking questions, observing, recording data, analyzing the results, drawing conclusions, and much more.
Technology: Under the guidance of teachers and parents, developmentally appropriate use of technology in the classroom and at home can help your children learn new concepts. Through technology, your kids can experience things that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise.
Engineering: Through engineering, your children can learn how to construct things and why things are built certain ways. They will also learn how to improve the way things are constructed. This will help your kids learn problem solving, critical thinking, decision making, and many other important skills.
Art: Through the arts, your children can use their creativity to make something that is unique and original. They can explore using different techniques, tools, and materials to learn the process in which art is created. Creating art can also be very relaxing and calming for children.
Math: Math is apart of your children’s everyday lives and daily routines. Though simple activities, your young learners are learning important mathematical concepts such as number recognition, counting, identifying shapes, patterning, and much more. The skills that your kids are learning now will help them to build the foundation for learning and using more complex math concepts in school and life.
What Does STEAM Education Look Like in Early Elementary?
Science: From recording the weather to learning the parts of a butterfly, your children can learn science concepts through simple activities and experiments. They can also learn how to use tools like magnets, eye droppers, magnify glasses, and much more.
Technology: The use of technology in the classroom or at home can enhance a lesson. By using a computer, your children can view the panda cams at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park to watch and learn about animals that aren’t found in their everyday lives. Your kids can also use a camera to take pictures or record a video of a homemade erupting volcano, a stop watch to time a racing Lego car that they build, and much more!
Engineering: Through play, your children can be an engineer. They can build a structure out of blocks, create a marble run, make a sandcastle, and much more. Your children can use a variety of manipulatives such as pattern blocks, snap cubes, and craft sticks to complete building challenges. There are many different types of engineering kits that you can buy too.
Art: Making a process art project, creating a piece of music on an instrument, or making an original dance routine are just some of the many ways that your children can explore the arts in your classroom or homeschool. By choosing what materials they want to use and how to make it, your children can create art is entirely their own creation
Math: Learning math skills can be a simple part of your children’s everyday lives from counting toys to making a pattern out of their snack. Your kids can also use manipulatives such as links, counters, or base ten blocks or simple tools like rulers, dice, or a deck or cards.
STEAM Education is important in early childhood classrooms today. From constructing a castle with blocks to creating artwork with paints, it can be easily implemented through simple activities and play.
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