What is STEAM and Why is it Important?

Picture it.

A world without life-saving medicine.

Or clean water.
Or food to eat.

A world with dwindling resources.
With no solutions.

It’s not that hard to picture, right? Because those very things are happening in many places in our world.  And for many, it can feel like there’s no answer to these problems.

But that’s not true. Because there’s hope.

It’s called STEAM. And our kids are the key.

Learn what is STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & math) and why STEAM is important for our kids & quick steps to get started with STEAM!

Learn what is STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & math) and why STEAM is important for our kids & quick steps to get started with STEAM!

What is STEAM?

STEAM is the abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math. It’s an integrated approach to learning that encourages students to think more broadly about real-world problems.

This interdisciplinary approach has helped create innovations like the iPhone, the original laptop computer, and is even revolutionizing cooking in third world countries, and improving air quality as a result.

It helps students:

  • Ask questions
  • Connect the dots
  • Problem solve
  • Think creatively
  • Be innovative

Why are STEM & STEAM Important?

Not only can STEAM save the world, it can save our kids too by making their future bright. STEM jobs are expected to grow by 16% in the US between 2014 and 2024 compared to only 11% for other sectors*. And right now, science & engineering careers earn more than double the income of the median job in the United States.* Despite this, math performance in US students is faltering and STEM graduates are dropping out of their fields. And let’s not even get started on some of the inequities for women and minorities….

So how do we fix this? Start young. Let’s work together to get more STEAM education into elementary schools. Because without improving STEAM education in our schools, the US is going to fall behind in the global technology race. And with that goes the potential for our children’s futures.

Why the A in STEAM?

Why not just STEM? This is where STEAM gets personal for me….

I’m an engineer. And a makeup artist….
I’m the daughter of a painter. And a chemical engineer….
I learned to code in 3rd grade (and I’m old!). It was a drawing program….

When I was a kid, there was no STEM without the A. Because the benefits of thinking creatively were obvious to my parents. Both the engineer and the painter.

But it’s not just a personal story. Here are some of the concrete benefits to incorporating the arts into science and engineering:

  • It helps remove idea inhibition (there’s no wrong answer in art!).
  • It focuses on the process which helps drive innovation.
  • It teaches the power of observation, of people and your surroundings.
  • It helps hone spatial awareness and mathematical concepts like geometry.

To help celebrate STEAM, I created this fun and FREE STEAM poster for you. Simply fill out the form below to have it emailed to you!

 

Free Printable STEAM Poster 1360x900
Free Printable STEAM Poster 1500x1500

FREE! PRINTABLE
STEAM POSTER

!
!
Terms and Conditions checkbox is required.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

 

How to Get Started with STEAM

It all sounds pretty lofty, right? Go save the world with STEAM! But it can start with your family. And your classroom. Saving the world starts with inspiring kids to ask questions. To think creatively. It doesn’t have to be hard to incorporate STEAM in your world. It’s all around you! And here’s a great way to get started.

Looking for some more STEAM inspiration that you can use right now? Instant gratification style? Check out STEAM Explorers!! The coolest creative experience for kids is here! It's a digital book of the month club filled with tons of fun stuff for the kids to do and learn. All engineer, teacher, and mom-approved. And most definitely KID APPROVED!⁣

What’s included?⁣

  • A monthly digital magazine with cool themes that are fun to read
  • Hands-on, exciting projects the kids will love.⁣
  • Science, tech, engineering, art, and math learning YOU’LL love.⁣
  • Delicious recipes the kids can make.⁣
  • Fun printables and games⁣

Join us as we make some music in March!! All in the name of having fun with STEAM, of course. We’re exploring sound waves and animal ears and of course, music through hands-on projects the kids will love. The kids will love creating their own rhythms, testing sound with spoons, seeing sound waves with salt, amping up their ear power with paper, and so much more! You’ll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM exploration easy! 

We’ve split the issue into four weekly themes:

  • This issue has four weekly themes to inspire your kiddos:
  • WEEK 1: MAKING NOISE
  • WEEK 2: SEEING SOUND
  • WEEK 3: HEARING NATURE
  • WEEK 4: CREATING MUSIC

More STEM & STEAM Resources

Check out some of these amazing projects that incorporate Art into Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math.

Sensing STEAM: 30+ Learning Activities for Kids

Sensing STEAM 30 Learning Activities for Kids LBCB FB

28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities

 

* http://vitalsigns.changetheequation.org/state/united-states/print

** SEI 2014 Chapter 3 » S&E Labor Market Conditions » Earnings

Free Printable STEAM Poster 1360x900
Free Printable STEAM Poster 1500x1500

FREE! PRINTABLE
STEAM POSTER

!
!
Terms and Conditions checkbox is required.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
Scroll to Top