A term you may have heard before when exploring the curriculum is “STEM”, or “STEAM” as it’s now called. It’s an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths. They are subjects that schools have been placing a heavy emphasis on in recent years to give children a solid understanding of the real world, the sort of issues they will face and the skills to be able to tackle those challenges. Here in the UK in particular there is a huge skills gap despite the uptake and launch of initiatives such as STEM summer camps, proving that more is required in terms of STEM education. To learn about the importance of STEM education in greater detail, below is a list of benefits shared by a private school in Surrey.
Developing Life Skills
While maths and science may not be their favourite subjects at school, there are great benefits to studying them. Children can develop essential life skills such as their numeracy and learn about how the world around them works. They are also complex in nature which can help children with their logical thinking and analytical skills.
How To Handle Problems
To follow on from the point above, maths teaches children how to handle problems. They are taught how and when to use various operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages and how to tell the time amongst many other things. In class children explore a range of word problems that put what they learn into real life context.
What To Do When in Danger
Similarly, science can make children more aware of potential dangers and how to overcome challenges like a fire breaking out. They are taught concepts like the fire triangle and how to put one out safely and effectively.
How to Take Care of Themselves
As well as the world around them, children explore their very own biology and what we are made up of as humans. They explore the various organs we have, their function and how we can stay healthy and avoid getting ill.
Creative Thinking
STEM interestingly fosters creativity. The lessons can be fun and encourage children to think for themselves and use their imagination. With science in particular, children can think of their own hypotheses and put them to the test by carrying out experiments.
Digital Skills
In 2023 we’re in the midst of an AI revolution, and it’s unlikely that things will slow down any time soon. It’s vital that children understand and learn how to use these new technologies. In computing children are now coding to develop their digital literacy.
STEM Can Take Them Everywhere
There are lots of exciting things STEM can make happen, children can explore careers in nursing, software engineering, medicine and much more. The careers are usually very lucrative and give them an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
How to Support Children with Their STEM Education
There are lots of fun ways that you can get your child to practise and help them improve their STEM. Below are a few examples:
Water Play
Water is a great resource for teaching children science. It is a compound made up of oxygen and hydrogen which can be split using heat and frozen to show children how it can easily change state. Using objects you find around the house, you can explore how some objects float while others sink when immersed in water.
Screen Time
Despite the reputation it gets, screen time can be greatly beneficial for children in developing their digital skills. They can learn how to use devices and become familiar with the various platforms we use every day. They can use their screen time to also work on projects, such as building their own website or blog.
