S.T.E.A.M. stands for science, tools/ technology, engineering, arts, & math. Read below to learn why S.T.E.A.M. based activities are so important and how they are integrated into my lesson plans.

These lessons meet children where they are developmentally. We lay the groundwork for scientific thinking by focusing on comparative thinking, such as noting paints that are lighter, darker, thinner, or thicker than each other. We also describe craft supplies such as strings and pompoms as stiffer, scratchier, or softer than one another.

The T in S.T.E.A.M. typically stands for “technology,” but Steam Engines Learning Co. takes note of the American Academy of Pediatrics‘ recommendation that children ages 2-5 years old have no more than an hour of screen use each day. I choose not to include technology in these art lesson plans, so parents can instead use screen time as a tool at home without the worry of overusing screens.

Steam Engines Learning Co. uses “tools” in place of “technology.” Around 24-30 months old, according to findings by the American Association of Pediatrics, is when children begin using tools to solve a problem or complete a task (such as using a stool to reach something, or using a spoon to feed themselves). We use tools such as eyedroppers and tweezers, in order to complement and help fine-tune these skills.

The age-appropriate engineering concept that we work with in class, is the idea that everything is made of shapes. A project based around this concept will start with children being shown an example of what we’ll be making, and asked to point out the shapes they see. Next, they’ll get glue, some pre-cut shapes, and a piece of construction paper to glue the shapes down to. For kids who are new to gluing, Tr. Erica will draw lines and dots, and ask little-ones to trace and glue over them.

The A stands for art! It’s a method for getting the S.T.E.M. concepts into little-guys’ little brains- and a great one at that. It’s said that children who are actively engaged in what they’re learning (rather than hearing or reading about it) have an easier time understanding the concepts.

Math is included in Steam Engines Learning Co.’s lesson plans through the use of patterns, symmetry, and quantity. For example, we might paint a half of a shape and fold it over the unpainted half to make both sides match, decorate an animal with stripes, or decorate trees with a certain amount of branches, leaves, and flowers.