The Quick Start Guide to STEAM Activities for Kids
STEM + ART = STEAM
STEAM represents the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. The inclusion of adding Art to the STEM core subjects is essential to encouraging your students’ creative and critical thinking skills.
STEAM activities support curiosity, creativity, innovative thinking and help prepare your students for an unknown future.
Related Reading: STEM vs. STEAM, Does the A Really Matter?
Scientists, mathematicians, engineers and business leaders all need to develop creative thinking, critical thinking and problems solving skills to be successful in creating new and unique solutions related to their field or industry.
No matter what unknown technologies, industries or careers lay ahead, creative thinkers and problem solvers will be the future innovators and leaders.
Teaching your students how to think creatively and how to solve problems is how you prepare your children for an unknown future.
SAVE TIME & MONEY
Encouraging creativity through the use of STEAM activities does not require a lot of time, prep or fancy materials. Use common household items to stretch and grow your students’ natural curiosity.
The activities below use commonly found materials and can easily be done in the classroom or at home. Check out the lists below for ideas on how you can integrate STEAM today!
Science
Science is the process of learning about and understanding the natural world. Science activities include exploring water, sand, and other natural materials like rocks and soil.
Technology
Technology refers to the use of tools, not just electronics. Tools are things used to make a job easier. Tools like scissors, gears, wheels, and pulleys are hands-on ways to experience technology. Electronics like a digital camera, iPad or tablet, and computer are also tools that help us complete a job.
How to Make a Digital Photo Number Book
Create a Digital Photo Alphabet Collage
Blast Off with a Digital Photo Collage
Engineering
Engineering is the process of building and designing something to solve a problem. Engineering activities regularly happens with playing with blocks. As your child plans and design structures and buildings.
LEGO Boat Engineering Challenge
Build a Cave Engineering Challenge
Build with Unconventional Materials
Build a Rain Shelter (for a Toy) Challenge
Art
Art is the process of designing creative solutions to a problem. Process art or open-ended art allows your students to express their own creativity and how to visually communicate their own original idea. Art experiences allow your students to explore how to make marks in new ways.
Math
Math is the process of understanding relationships among patterns, numbers, and shapes. Math is an abstract subject but having “hands-on” objects to play with can help your students understand the concepts in a concrete way.
Apple Printmaking with a Math Twist
“Add” to Your Garden Math Game
Build, Draw and Create with Shapes
