Sam Cover is a world-class chef, but he also has a strong interest in technology. He is an advocate of tech and education. He believes that STEM is an essential part of education in today’s world. He presents # tips for getting your child interested in STEM.
What is STEM and Why Is It Important?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Instead of focusing on these as Cover explains, it typically uses project-based hands-on learning. Instead of focusing on textbooks, STEM focuses on allowing kids to come to their own conclusions.
In addition to teaching the concepts themselves, STEM teaches kids logic, problem-solving, and helps them apply their knowledge to the real world.
Day to Day STEM
Many people make the mistake of thinking STEM activities must require lots of preparation, or that they are reserved solely for study time. In fact, STEM plays a big role in our everyday lives.
Sam Cover notes if you have a child that is reluctant because they don’t like science or math, incorporating it into their daily life can be a great way to spark their interest.
If your child loves cooking, you can bring STEM into the kitchen. Measuring ingredients requires math. Have your child half or double a recipe to learn more about math concepts. Give them a task, like cutting a pie into 8ths.
Science can also be incorporated into cooking, particularly baking. You can discuss the chemical reactions taking place during the cooking process, like why yeast causes bread to rise.
Shopping is another great opportunity to teach your child STEM concepts. Counting money is a great math activity. You can also provide problem-solving opportunities and logic.
Have them decide between two less expensive toys, or one more costly toy, for example. You can also let them help you do price comparisons. What is a better deal, a smaller portion for a lower price, or a larger portion for more money?
STEM is involved in nearly everything. Shopping and cooking are only two of a world of examples. Looking at the stars is a great way to introduce STEM. Astrology combines computing, mathematics, and science.
Even a scavenger hunt can be a STEM activity. Your child will learn about the different objects and develop problem-solving and logic skills to find them.
Use Their Interest
Cover believes that once you understand that STEM is everywhere, you can begin incorporating it into things your child is already interested in. Do they enjoy Legos? It’s a great way to learn early engineering concepts.
Do they enjoy video games? This teaches them computer and technology skills, as well as logic.
Music is another example. Music and math are intimately connected. In fact, music can be used to help teach coding and engineering skills.
Nurture Curiosity
STEM is based on children’s natural curiosity. To get your child interested in STEM, you’ll need to follow their lead, at least part of the time.
When they ask a question, “How are computers made”, “How do cars run”, or “Why is the sky blue”, this provides a wonderful STEM opportunity.
Instead of a quick, simple answer, help them find the answer on their own. This may mean a trip to the library or a Google search. Be sure that they find an in-depth but age-appropriate explanation.
The best thing about curiosity is that it is impossible to satisfy. Let’s say your child wants to know how moths turn into butterflies. This could lead them to learn about cocoons, the life cycle of butterflies, what they eat, where different species can be found, and why they are important to the ecosystem.
Your child could learn about the nectar of different flowers that butterflies eat, and the animals that feed off the butterflies themselves. There are a myriad of paths to travel down from one simple question.
Take Field Trips
Field trips are essential for inspiring an interest in STEM. Take your child to the zoo or the science museum. History and art museums are also excellent locations to visit.
Historical buildings, wilderness trails, and even amusement parks all provide valuable opportunities for STEM learning, notes Cover. The best part is, your child won’t even realize they are learning.
Get Online
There are also lots of great learning platforms that teach STEM skills. Whitehat Jr. teaches coding to kids. This provides experience in math, engineering, and technology. Kids can even create their own games with Whitehat Jr. It also helps kids learn logical thinking, which is applicable in any subject.
CSI: Web Adventures provides crime-solving games. Kids learn science and problem-solving. Kids are given a case and must use the clues provided to solve the crime.
Science Kids provides science lessons and experiments. It’s perfect for exposing kids to science and technology with a combination of learning and hands-on projects.
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