STEAM, Part 1: What is it?
- Ms. Maegan
- May 23, 2016
- 3 min read
Those of you who follow my Facebook page will have already realized how much I love STEAM.
What the marshmallow is STEAM, you ask? No, I'm not talking about water vapor.
STEAM stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics Education
This is a video made by the brilliant mind behind the creation of STEAM. It is VERY MUCH worth the 5+ minutes of time to watch. My favorite part might have been the accents...I am an Alabama girl originally, you know. But what the principle of this elementary school said is the reason why I love STEAM so much: "This is project based. Children get dirty with their hands, and create these objects for them[selves]. That's the real winners in all of this. The students."
STEAM is awesome because it brings to life the subject matter that students learn on a daily basis, and it connects the subject matter through all of the different ways of learning. For example, in the video it shows a group of students balancing base ten blocks on a homemade cardboard scale. 1. They are learning about balance using object that are typically used in mathematics lessons. 2. Engineering is used when they built their scale. 3. The teacher then explains that when the students go to P.E. they will be using their bodies to balance. The video also shows the students watching a video with people physically balancing on each other. Its cool..watch the video below!
So, how is STEAM incorporated in preschool?
This article simplifies STEM for the early learner(see the missing A? Arts are not included in this article). The author of the article did a great job explaining how to bring STEM to a simpler level for preschool+ aged children. (Her whole website is pretty fantastic. Check it out:
http://teachoutsidethebox.com/) http://teachoutsidethebox.com/2016/01/6-ways-to-simplify-stem/
I'll summarize:
1. Allow time for play and exploration. Super young ones need to explore the new materials they are given. Play is essential to the development of young minds! ESSENTIAL.
2. Discuss expectations. Have you ever helped your child do something and then have them absolutely fail? What do young children do when they fail? Often, they don't know what to do...they're shocked. Or they pout. Or even cry. When we talk with them ahead of time about what may happen, it may soften the blow to their self-esteem. When we warn them ahead of time, we can explain that failure is a good thing. It helps us to learn from our mistakes and do an even better job next time!
3. Prime their background knowledge. This is simply showing them real world examples (or digging up old memories they may have of the project at hand). Show them pictures of a real tower (or a video of one being built!) before you have them create a tower out of paper towel tubes and tape. Background knowledge...preschoolers know more than you may think!
4. Model. Show them how to do it, but tell them that your way is not the only way. They need to still be allowed creativity and imagination in their work. If theirs looks just like yours, then you've stifled some creativity.
5. Limit materials and writing. Well, for preschool we can pretty much eliminate writing. :) At least in sentences, that is. They will be overwhelmed by the options if they have 10 different things to use to build their tower. Simplify is the word the author of the article uses here. SIMPLIFY. This is also where we can throw a bit of the arts in with our project. Instead of writing about their project, preschoolers can draw/color a picture of their project. Teachers can also write down the students' narration about their project and all of the steps and re-tries it took to build their tower.
6. Pair students strategically. This last one is something that most teachers do anyway. Pair students so their strengths and weaknesses help fill in the gaps while learning.
Now, lets discuss the arts. Is there anything better?
The arts can be dance, theater, painting... you know, the arts. Its what little ones do best. Just yesterday, my daughter (preschool aged) was stomping her feet and hitting the walls. When I asked what she was doing, her quick reply was: "I'm making music!" Children gravitate towards arts of all kinds. I love incorporating arts into their STEM learning. Learning about plants and flowers? Create a picture of a flower using flower petals instead of crayons. That's what STEAM is all about. Bringing everyday lessons into real life and using all types of learning styles to do so!
Do you use STEAM activities with your children?
Comments