Read time 6 minutes
Published on Feb 20, 2024
Read time 6 minutes
Published on Feb 20, 2024
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Approved by the dean of the College of Education on Jan. 29, 2024.
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STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in elementary school and secondary school is a critical springboard for students who want to pursue postsecondary STEM degrees and, eventually, STEM careers. Yet, the U.S. lags behind other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, ranking 25th out of 37 in mathematics literacy and 7th out of 37 in science scores.1 If you aspire to become an elementary school teacher, you could help promote STEM to kids, preparing future generations to tackle modern challenges.
Engaging kids in STEM activities is important for a number of reasons. First, it can prepare them for modern job opportunities in high-tech fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth rate for all types of STEM occupations is expected to be 10.8% from 2022 through 2032, faster than average,2 whereas non-STEM occupations are expected to grow more slowly, at 2.3% in the same timeframe.2
An elementary STEM education can also offer the following benefits:3, 4
In short, an elementary STEM curriculum can help prepare students for their academic years and beyond.
Now that you have a stronger idea of the importance of STEM education in elementary school, let’s take a look at some engaging STEM activities you could use in the classroom. It’s important to know that these activities should be driven by and aligned with state standards in the STEM subjects.
The classic egg drop project is a popular STEM activity in elementary schools. The challenge is to create a contraption using everyday materials that will prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a specific height. You can choose to provide materials for the kids to work with or instruct them to bring in certain materials from home. Be sure to establish limitations on the types of materials (e.g., no battery-powered devices like drones).
It’s ideal to have kids work in pairs or small groups to construct their contraption, as this provides opportunities to practice collaboration, interpersonal skills and communication skills. Ahead of the actual drop, have each pair or group of kids explain how they made their device and how it’s supposed to protect the egg.
Then, provide the eggs to be inserted into each contraption, and take a class trip out to a high point outdoors. One by one, each pair or group can drop their contraption and see whether it accomplishes the goal of protecting the egg.
At the end of the activity, assess the results and have each pair or group explain why they thought their egg did or didn’t break.
Dreaming up a new animal or plant is an assignment ideally given to children (typically second graders) who are currently learning about biological sciences, such as the basic needs of plants and animals (e.g., oxygen, food, sunshine). This STEM project not only teaches critical thinking skills but also nurtures children's innate creativity. The assignment is to "invent" a new animal or plant that doesn't already exist.
The assignment should direct the children to come up with:
This is a fun activity that can help kids become more engaged in exploring the natural world around them.
When you reach the part of your curriculum that discusses energy and the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy, one fun project to reinforce the lesson plan is to build a solar oven. This project works particularly well if you happen to live in a sunny, hot climate. If you live in a rainy, cooler climate, plan on doing this activity either early in the school year (September) or as late as possible (June).
You will need:
You'll also need food items to bake in the solar oven. Consider using graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars to make s'mores. (Be sure to double-check the class roster for food allergies first.)
Steps:
Pair this fun activity with a discussion of how the sun's rays enter the atmosphere and are reflected off items like aluminum foil. Discuss how the foil directs more sunlight into the solar oven and how the plastic wrap traps the hot air inside the oven. You could also turn this elementary STEM activity into a STEAM activity (the ‘A’ stands for art) by having the kids decorate their solar ovens.
STEM activities that involve plants are perfect for the spring, and this activity is well suited to younger elementary school children. Discuss how plants need water to grow and explain the fundamentals of a scientific experiment (e.g., the need to control variables). Then, gather your supplies:
Have the students follow these steps:
Prepare to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher at Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in STEM degree program, which can lead to initial teacher licensure, combines classroom instruction with field experience hours for a well-rounded, comprehensive education for future teachers. Fill out the form at the top of your screen to learn how you can join our Christian learning community.
