teaching trend - STEM

STEM in Elementary Schools
By: Angie Pyron

STEM is an educational program that is used to prepare students in the fields of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It doesn’t just prepare students for specific fields of
work, it develops a set of thinking, reasoning, teamwork, investigative, and creative skills that
they can use in all areas of their lives. It focuses on creating a student-centered learning
environment by getting students involved in hands-on activities that help them develop
questioning, problem solving, and collaboration skills. These skills aim to help students become
critical thinkers and excellent communicators.

Educators break STEM down into seven different skill sets that include: learning and
applying content, integrating content, interpreting and communicating information, engaging in
inquiry, engaging in logical reasoning, collaborating as a team, and applying technology
appropriately.

The importance of STEM and Technology education in elementary schools has been
increasing. It’s important for children to practice STEM education early because it can shape
their whole educational experience. Students who experience STEM early through hands-on
experiences can better develop STEM skills and concepts at an older age. Research shows that
about 1/3 of students have lost interest in the sciences by fourth grade, and by eighth grade more
than half of students have lost interest. An emphasis on STEM early in elementary school years
can help cultivate a long-lasting love for these subjects.

STEM education pushes students to figure things out for themselves, with the teacher as a
facilitator to guide them. Teachers need to be trained appropriately to teach STEM well.
Teachers can adopt STEM practices by simply changing the kinds of questions they ask their
students. They can ask more questions that require the students to use critical thinking. Allowing
students to design or create something also helps them exercise and develop STEM skills.
Schools can also reach out to STEM businesses or university’s STEM departments for support.
Teachers can incorporate STEM lessons in their curriculum by reading books about STEM
topics, doing hands-on activities, and even elementary physics lessons. Teachers can create
lessons that require their students to create and design with their classmates. Teachers can then
observe and ask questions to guide them.

Recently, the Idaho STEM Action Center awarded about $150,000 in grants to give
drones to 22 schools in Idaho. Teton Elementary, a small elementary school outside of Rexburg,
Idaho, received drones. The students were involved in a 5-week course where they learned to
build drones, code, and fly the drones. Allowing these young students to work with drones will
help them develop STEM skills that will get them excited about their future.

Using technology is also very important, as long as it’s guided learning. Teachers can use
competition to encourage students to succeed in STEM activities. Technology must be used
properly in schools to benefit the students. It can be used to allow students to create and design.
Elementary school technology education has helped with the students’ development of
vocabulary, language use, creative communication, and improved technological knowledge and
capabilities. It has also helped the students improve their perceptual and motor skills, as well as
their social and life skills.

STEM promotes motivation, engagement, independent learning, and collaboration at a
young age. These skills will set the foundation for the students’ futures, as they will use them
throughout their educational career and carry them into their lives and career after high school.

Even parents can give their children STEM projects and activities to develop their skills at a
young age. There are many different science projects kids can do using household items. Kids

can use technology at school or at home to learn coding, play strategy games, explore NASA
pictures, and design and create buildings and layouts. Kids can experiment with engineering as

they build with Legos, design bridges out of straws, and race designed cars. There are many fun
games for young children to practice math with and without technology. Teachers and parents

can easily find an abundance of STEM lessons and activities online, but it is also easy to come
up with their own. Teachers can look at their course objective, then come up with a real-world

lesson to write their lesson.
In STEM lessons, students can learn how to deal with real social, economic, and

environmental problems and their solutions. The STEM learning environment allows students
the opportunity to find multiple right answers and approaches as they use critical thinking to

create and solve problems. The lessons also call for reframe failure, where the students can just
try again if they’re solution does not work. This teaches the students to learn from what went

wrong and try again. It’s important for kids to learn that failure can be positive and lead them
towards discovering a better design or solution. Teachers can easily adapt STEM lessons as

necessary for students of different learning abilities. Even if the students are working in teams,
various learning abilities can work and learn together.

The number one reason for teachers to use STEM learning is that it develops a lifelong
love for learning in children. Teachers have been finding it difficult to teach children because of

their constantly decreasing desire and motivation to learn at school. Strict curriculums and
constant assessments have been taking the fun out of learning and making school feel like work

for students. STEM lessons can pull these students back in and help them develop a love and
desire for education. STEM engages students in lessons that help them acquire knowledge in

ways that are used in the real world. If they come out of the school system without a desire or
love for learning, they will struggle in the real world. These STEM lessons can prepare students

for the real world by getting them excited and experience.
STEM is also student-centered which motivates children to get engaged as they have

more control. It gives the students the opportunity to be creative and use critical thinking as they
work in teams or independently. It allows the students to take ownership and pride in their work.



References:

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Science? Or Does it Never Emerge? A Possible and Overlooked Explanation. Retrieved
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Barrington. K. (2017, June 20). What Are the Top 5 Trends in Elementary Schoool Education?
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elementary-school-education

Hollowell, M. (2016, Oct. 28). 40 STEM Activities for Kids. Retrieved from
https://www.playdoughtoplato.com/stem-activities-for-kids/

Holter, C. (2017). The Role of STEM Education/TE Education in Elementary Schools. Retrieved
from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/

Janne, N. (2017, June 26). Idaho STEM Action Center Awards Drones to Schools. Retrieved
from https://www.byui.edu/radio/idaho-stem-action-center-awards-drones-to-schools

Jolly, A. (2014, June 17). Six Characteristics of a Great STEM Lesson. Retrieved from
https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/06/17/ctq_jolly_stem.html

Kroeger, J. (2016 Aug. 1). Importance of STEM Education in Elementary School. Retrieved from
https://education.fsu.edu/importance-stem-education-elementary-school

Rouse, M. (2013, April). STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Retrieved
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We Are Teachers Staff. (2013, May 20). Expert Tips and Tricks for Elementary STEM
Education. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/stem-its-elementary/