STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. It is a curriculum approach that emphasises the integration of these subjects in early childhood education.
By providing children with hands-on, interactive experiences that integrate these subjects, they can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, creativity and a love of learning. For example, children might use art to express their understanding of a scientific concept or use technology to enhance their creativity in music. STEAM activities can also help children develop important skills such as collaboration, communication and persistence.
It can help to familiarise children with the technology used in the supermarket such as barcode scanners, touchscreens, and self-checkout machines. Shopping this way can help to develop chilren’s digital literacy skills as they learn how to use technology to complete a task, as well as learning about the importance of accuracy and attention to detail when using technology.
Furthermore, it can also be a great way to introduce children to the concept of technology in the real world and how it is used in everyday life.
Creative experiences can be used to help children learn about colour, shape, form and texture. They can also help to foster children’s self-esteem.
By encouraging children to take photos whilst you are out and about, on holiday, or at home, helps to develop the child’s creativity and imagination as they learn to compose and capture different images. Additionally, it can help to improve their problem-solving, curiosity, and critical thinking skills as they learn how to adjust camera settings, lighting and angles to achieve the desired effect.
Creating a kaleidoscope of colours with Skittles at home can be a fun and educational activity for children, assisting the child’s understanding of cause and effect.
Working with different colours can help with their colour recognition and vocabulary, as they learn the names of the different hues. It can also foster creativity as they come up with different patterns and designs using the Skittles. See Home Resources for the worksheet.
Mixing cornflour with water is a great way for a child to develop scientific skills. The activity allows them to observe how the cornflour thickens and how the mixture behaves when it is in water. This helps children understand the concept of viscosity and how different substances respond to different conditions. The experiment allows children to practice following instructions and measuring ingredients, which are important skills for scientific experimentation.