STEM Education
Miss Hestermann explains STEM science in her classroom:
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. STEM activities provide hands-on and minds-on lessons for the student. I use these in my classroom every week and they are also incorporated into our elementary Makerspace.
Why do I do STEM? Well here are the benefits that I have seen in my classroom and in my students.
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Fosters ingenuity and creativity: Students are able to develop new ideas and innovations that solve a problem.
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Builds resilience: It allows them to make mistakes and fall but they are able to learn from their mistakes and try again.
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Encourages experimentation: They are able to take risks and try their own ideas.
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Encourages teamwork: Students are learning with other students that may have different ideas and have to cooperate.
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Knowledge application: The challenges they are given are real world oriented
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Problem Solving: Have to examine a problem, create a plan and use critical thinking skills.
Pictured is one of our November Makerspace STEM kits. Students had to recreate the MayFlower from given materials and it had to hold weight.