On November 8, 2023 we celebrate National STEAM Day! STEAM stands for Science, Technology, engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Studies show that children are drastically better off with strong skills in these five areas. This type of learning encourages kids to be hands-on and prepares them for future careers in many different sectors. Here are five ways you can join in on the fun of National STEAM Day!
Read a Book
Take a trip to your local library and grab a book about STEAM. Some good titles are:
- Steam Kids in the Kitchen by Jamie Hand and Leslie Manlapig
- STEAM Play and Learn by Anna Dziengel
- The Questioneers book series by Andrea Beaty
- The Book of Comparisons by Clive Gofford
- Amazing Scientists books by Julia Finley Mosca
Make a Donation
Donate items or funds to your local schools, more specifically to science, math, or art teachers. Chances are they could use help in gathering supplies for their classrooms. Many teachers have wishlist pages as well to help them cover the supplies they use in their classrooms throughout the year.
Try STEAM Activities at Home
The options for STEAM activities are endless! Here are a few to get you started:
- Create art with the items in your recycling bin. Let your creativity run wild or try to make something with a theme like a birdhouse or a type of car.
- Download the Lego or Brick It app and make new master pieces out of the Legos you already have at home. The app scans the pieces and shows you how to make a new creation!
- Create 2-D and 3-D sculptures with toothpicks and marshmallows.
- Try a science experiment like making your own rock candy, create a water bottle rocket, try the Egg Drop Challenge and more!
Use Electronics
Start a coding session using programs like Tynker. They have thousands of lessons to teach kids how to code and offer sessions from social studies to geometry. Or, visit a virtual museum like the Metropolitan Museum for Art or the Department of Energy National Laboratories. You can even download the NASA app so you can visit space.
Learn About STEAM Careers
Talk to your kids about the various career opportunities in STEAM. Just some of the careers include: programing, graphics, architecture, urban planner, product designer, archaeology, engineering, forensics, and astrophysics. One of the best ways to discover a passion is to try one out. Contact professionals in these areas to see if you can connect your child with them to gain a hands on learning experience.
Starting the curiosity for these subjects will help your children excel in life. They can develop problem solving skills through innovation and design and help them with real world scenarios. We hope you ALL have fun celebration National STEAM Day!
