What is STEM Education?

STEM education is becoming increasingly popular in our school systems.  Students often take STEM classes and participate in STEM activities at school.  What is STEM and why is it so important?  Read on to find out!

STEM is an acronym.  It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Sometimes you will see an A added to it to make the word STEAM.  STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

Math, science, engineering, and technology have traditionally been taught as separate subjects.  STEM education, however, takes these subjects and integrates them with one another to create meaningful, hands-on activities for students.

Students of all ages can participate in STEM activities.  Examples of STEM activities include growing crystals, making volcanoes, building rockets, growing plants from seeds, conducting surveys, graphic the results, using telescopes and microscopes, coding a computer, and more.

When students participate in STEM activities, they are actively engaged in their learning.  They are doing more than just listening to a lecture, taking notes, and being bored.

STEM education also prepares our students for the future.  Students who participate in STEM activities at a young age often discover an excitement and passion that fuel a desire to go to college.

(Next Article: The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla)