Using Stories to Practice STEAM Skills

Children's Stories Can Build STEAM Skills

I am pretty sure everyone who has had the good fortune of growing up with and around books, loves to be read to. There is something very soothing about listening to a nurturing voice and turning on one's imagination whilst listening to the adventures amidst the pages of a good children's book. 

Not only does a well structured read-a-loud improve speaking, listening, writing and reading skills, they are also a very powerful tool when used to inspire S.T.E.A.M design challenges. S.T.E.A.M is an acronym used to define curriculum that incorporates all parts of the word; science, technology, engineering, art and math. When STEAM is married with an award winning children's book, the affects on the individual is measurable success!

One of my favorite children's books to use in a S.T.E.A.M design challenge is by Kobi Yamda (seen in above photo). After the (gender neutral) main character learns how to grow, support and be confident with their own ideas, they build a safe place to dream. Thus, students can engage in following the design process to build their own "safe place to dream" (student example below).

Using arts and crafts, recyclable materials, children (old and young) can make to their hearts content. The above image is one team's example of a "safe place to dream." Students listened to the story and then engaged within the design process to create and then present their learning experience. The result of any design challenge that involves award winning children's books is endless hours of fun with very little management.