Understanding the Need for STEAM

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Picture of little girl making a structure from gumdrops and toothpicks

You may have noticed the acronym STEAM in many of our children’s events. What is STEAM and how do we incorporate it into crafts and classes?

STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. STEAM learning is very important because these five disciplines are used in everyday activities. They promote problem solving and creative and analytical thinking

The key component of STEAM is integration. STEAM aligns with the way we work and problem solve in our daily lives making it an exceptional way of learning. With STEAM we are introducing skills the way they will be used in the real world. Rarely does a job require only one skill set like math. Imagine an architect who will use science, math, engineering and technology when creating a design. The subjects do not work on their own, rather they are woven together in practical and seamless ways allowing the architect to design complex structures.

We illustrate this concept in our Gumdrop Bridge STEAM Labs. With toothpicks and gumdrops, kids design structures that may be simple or complex using engineering and math to make attractive structures that span varying distances depending on the child’s skill and bravery. The bridges are colorful, creative and functional. Best of all, while having fun, everyone is learning.

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