Exploring STEM in Early Childhood
Children are naturally curious beings and will often question the world around them. There are many opportunities for exploration and discovery in everyday situations. STEM is an inquiry-based approach to learning that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Learning in these subject areas does not usually happen alone but happens in unison across all areas. Children’s questions and curiosity often provide the starting point for STEM investigation.
STEM in the early years is a way for children to become familiar with scientific processes and encourages them to learn to think scientifically. This will lay a strong foundation for learning and education as they develop critical thinking skills and practice seeking knowledge.
STEM offers a hands-on approach to learning where children investigate and explore often taking the lead in finding answers to their questions. Children have opportunities to practice problem solving and experimenting. If STEM is implemented in groups, then children will also build on their social skills as they collaborate, negotiate and communicate with each other.
At Sage Early Learning Centre, STEM is one of our popular learning hubs throughout the rooms. Our childcare centre STEM hub houses a variety of tools and visual inspiration for exploration, inquiry and discovery. Our educators in our child care are well equipped to guide children’s curiosity and support them in seeking answers to their questions.
Interested in setting up STEM experiences for your child at home? Here are some fun STEM activities to set up at home:
Building with blocks – a great way for children to explore engineering. You can also encourage your children to count the blocks or sort them into different colours and shapes.
Floating and Sinking Experiment – a great way to investigate buoyancy and density of objects. Children can also document their findings through drawings.
Make a Volcano – A fun science activity involving baking soda and vinegar in a volcano mould. Children can see the effect when the two ingredients combine.
Cooking Fun: a great way to explore measurements and chemistry as ingredients combine.
Loose Parts Play: Provide your child with a variety of loose parts and see what they can create. Perhaps they can build a robot.
Marble Runs: Can they design and engineer a clear path for a marble to travel through
Playdough Creations: a fun opportunity to use their creativity to design moulds with the playdough. You can explore counting, colours, shapes and sizes. You can even make playdough from scratch with your child at home and add different colours and scents.
Children engaging in STEM activities at Sage Early Education Centre.