STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities are an important part of a well-rounded education. Some people still wonder about the purpose of all these hands-on, experiential learning activities and how they help STEM students? In this article, we will explore the many goals of STEM activities and how they can help kids learn and grow.
From introducing STEM fields and kids develop important skills to teaching topics like the scientific method and applied mathematics, STEM activities offer a wealth of opportunities for learning and exploration. There are a bunch ways STEM activities can benefit kids and help them thrive. Let’s explore!
Why Do STEM Activities?
The purpose of STEM activities is to engage kids in hands-on, experiential learning that helps them develop skills and knowledge in these fields. STEM activities often involve problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity, and they can be used to teach a wide range of concepts and skills.
Some specific goals of STEM activities include:
- Introducing kids to STEM fields and helping them understand how these fields are used in the real world
- Encouraging kids to pursue careers in STEM fields
- Developing kids’ critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills
- Teaching kids about the scientific method and how to design and conduct experiments
- Improving kids’ understanding of math and how it is used in different contexts
- Encouraging kids to be curious and ask questions about the world around them
Introducing kids to STEM fields and helping them understand how these fields are used in the real world
One of the main purposes of STEM activities is to introduce kids to STEM fields and help them understand the role they play in our daily lives. For example, kids might learn about how engineers design and build bridges, how scientists us the scientific method, or how technology is used to communicate and connect people around the globe.
By participating in STEM activities, kids can learn about the diverse range of careers available in STEM fields and start to think about their own interests and goals. STEM subjects can give kids a taste of what may be involved in the course of future careers. They’ll get a sense of the skillsets needed and some of the tasks and challenges involved.
Developing kids’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity skills
Another purpose of STEM activities is to develop kids’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Many STEM activities involve challenges or problems that kids must work to solve, encouraging them to think creatively and come up with novel solutions. For example, kids might use LEGOs to build a structure that can withstand the weight of a book, or they might use simple machines to move an object from one place to another. These types of activities help kids develop important skills that will be useful in any career or subject area.
Teaching kids about the scientific method and how to design and conduct experiments
In addition to introducing kids to STEM fields and helping them develop important skills, STEM activities are also designed to teach kids about the scientific method and how to design and conduct experiments. By participating in STEM activities, kids can learn how to ask questions, make observations, form hypotheses, and test their ideas. This helps kids develop important skills in scientific thinking and inquiry.
Related Post: Read more about the The Scientific Method for Kids
Improving kids’ understanding of math and how it is used in different contexts
“When am I going to use this in real life?” is the battle cry of frustrated math students everywhere (Yes, I was one of the many.)
STEM learning can be used to improve kids’ understanding of math and how it is used in different contexts. These activities often involve challenges or problems that require kids to use math skills in order to solve them.
Related posts: Learn How to Make Math Fun and Overcome Math Anxiety
Kids can learn how to apply their math skills in real-world situations and see how math is used to solve problems and understand the relevance of math in their lives.
For example, kids might learn that math is used calculate the amount of materials needed for a recipe, the ratio of ingredients in a batch of slime, or how much more money the need to buy that toy or game they’ve got their eye on.
Kids might learn about ratios and proportions while building a simple machine (like a catapult!), or they might learn about geometry and spatial reasoning while designing a structure (like Legos!)
The key is to make math relatable. By finding a frame of reference like baking, building Legos, or simple finance, it’s easier to use that understanding to get to more advanced concepts. Check out our post on fun activities to teach algebra for some more math ideas.
Related Post: Find out how Music relates to Math for a different approach to teaching math concepts.
Encouraging kids to be curious and ask questions about the world around them
STEM activities are designed to encourage kids to be curious and ask questions about the world around them. These activities often involve challenges or problems that kids must work to solve, encouraging them to think creatively and come up with novel solutions. For example, kids might use LEGOs to build a structure that can withstand the weight of a book, or they might create a simple machine to move an object from one place to another.
As kids work through STEM challenges, they are naturally encouraged to ask questions about how things work and why things happen the way they do. For example, they might ask questions like:
- How can I make this structure stronger?
- What if I build it taller?
- What happens if I change the length of this lever?
- Why does this machine work the way it does?
- Why didn’t it work? (and yes, they will learn sometimes it is okay to fail!)
By asking these types of questions, kids are developing important skills in scientific thinking and inquiry. They’re learning how to ask questions, make observations, form hypotheses, and test their ideas. These skills are essential for success in any STEM field, and they can also be useful in other areas of life.
Related Post: Read more about the Scientific Method for Kids
Wrap Up – What do STEM Activities Teach?
Whether it’s bolstering their cognitive abilities, introducing kids to STEM careers, or just having fun learning, STEM activities help kids tackle complex concepts and apply them to everyday life. Through hands-on experience, activities provide a fun way to present STEM topics.
STEM activities are designed to help kids learn and explore in a fun and engaging way, and they can be an important part of a well-rounded education teaching 21st century skills. Kids can combine lessons from multiple STEM disciplines to learn real life skills and situations.
STEM challenges are designed to be engaging and interactive, encouraging kids to be curious and ask questions about the world around them. They provide an important foundation for a lifetime of learning and exploration.
Spend some time looking through the activities here at STEMtropolis and try out a few that look like they’ll connect with you kid(s) today.
Read more about the Benefits of STEM education in our STEM 101 article
