Steam Program

Preparing Your Child for the Future Through Our STEAM Programs

Our STEAM program is designed to incorporate STEAM into everyday activities.

We have all heard of the acronym STEM. STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

STEM learning was a program created by scientific administrators at the National Science Foundation as a way to align the curriculum in the classroom with career fields in science, technology, engineering, and math. It was considered a way to create an interest in the fields and begin preparation for a learning path from preschool and beyond.

STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Art based on Mathematics. STEAM was created by the Rhode Island School of Design as a way to bring Art into those fields of learning, which encourages creativity and makes learning fun.

STEAM is active learning, and the “A” in STEAM Education is just as important as every other letter.

We will focus on bringing STEAM into day-to-day learning in many ways. Our newly designed playground will also incorporate STEAM materials and activities that foster learning through free play.

science, tech, engineering, art, and mathematics

Science – Encourages investigation and answering questions, often involving experimentation.
Technology – Using simple tools like crayons and rulers as well as complex tools like computers.
Engineering – Encourages students to recognize problems and test solutions.
Arts – Encourages creativity and allows children to illustrate concepts they are learning.
Mathematics – Teaches number, pattern and shape recognition, organizational skills, and much more.

Science

Children are natural scientists. They like to figure out how things work. Our Pre-K student’s scientific curiosity is fostered in our classrooms through observation and experimentation.

Students will be given opportunities to engage in hands-on scientific exploration and predict the outcomes of experiments. To help children explore science concepts, teachers will encourage children to sort objects based on different attributes and explain their reasoning.

Teachers will plan scientific experiments such as:

Mixing baking soda and vinegar and have children observe what happens.
Experiment with colored water so children can examine primary colors and create secondary colors.
Plant seeds and have children predict growth patterns and document their observations.
Insect and animal life through microscope and x-ray.

Science

Children are natural scientists. They like to figure out how things work. Our Pre-K student’s scientific curiosity is fostered in our classrooms through observation and experimentation.

Teachers will plan scientific experiments such as:

Mixing baking soda and vinegar and have children observe what happens.
Experiment with colored water so children can examine primary colors and create secondary colors.
Plant seeds and have children predict growth patterns and document their observations.
Insect and animal life through microscope and x-ray.

Technology

Technology comes in many forms. Most Pre-K students understand what cell phones, tablets, and computers are, but technology can also mean many other things.

Teachers will introduce technology in multiple ways, including simple tools like pulleys, wheels, levers, scissors, and ramps. Technology can support cognitive development as children play with tools and observe and learn how they work.

Our program will use computers and tablets, but it will also focus on the simple everyday tools that children encounter every day.

Engineering

Engineering uses science, math, and technology to solve problems. Engineering uses materials, design, crafts, and building to teach children how things work. Technology and engineering will be introduced by:

Using computers in a weekly computer lab.
Building pulley and lever systems.
Building cars, track, and ramp systems to teach children about movement.
Making calculations and learning physics through play.
Microscopes and other technology.

Art

Art encourages innovation. Active and self-guided discovery through art can allow young children the opportunity to learn through expression. Students will engage in painting, dramatic play, music, and drawing.

Art is a sensory exploration that promotes the desire to learn about tools and materials used to create. Drawing and dramatic play also allow children to express how they feel and what they know, even before they learn to read or write. Art is also associated with math and can aid in pattern recognition and sequencing.

To encourage the exploration of art, teachers will:

Incorporate art mediums into other areas of learning.
Encourage expression through art.
Encourage children to use art as a means to express feelings and promote creativity.

Art

Art is also associated with math and can aid in pattern recognition and sequencing.

To encourage the exploration of art, teachers will:

Incorporate art mediums into other areas of learning.
Encourage expression through art.
Encourage children to use art as a means to express feelings and promote creativity.

Math

Math is integrated into all our learning experiences in Pre-K. Children use math to solve problems, create plans and interpret the world around them. Math includes numbers, operation, measuring, use of patterns and pattern recognition, and space and time.

Students can learn concepts like geometry and spatial relationship through object exploration. Teachers will reinforce math concepts by intentionally using math language throughout the day.

To encourage the exploration of math concepts, teachers will:

Provide board games with opportunities to count and
compare quantities.
Encourage children to match patterns of items and create
their own patterns.
Have children help set the table, and count items to ensure that each member of the class has what they need.
Encourage children to talk about the sequence of events.
Encourage children to create and extend patterns.
Encourage children to name and write numbers.
Use position terms such as above, below, beside,
and between.

Math

Students can learn concepts like geometry and spatial relationship through object exploration. Teachers will reinforce math concepts by intentionally using math language throughout the day.

To encourage the exploration of math concepts, teachers will:

Provide board games with opportunities to count and
compare quantities.
Encourage children to match patterns of items and create
their own patterns.
Have children help set the table, and count items to ensure that each member of the class has what they need.
Encourage children to talk about the sequence of events.
Encourage children to create and extend patterns.
Encourage children to name and write numbers.
Use position terms such as above, below, beside,
and between