A STEM Curriculum For Your Child?
This is a sponsored post and I have received compensation. However, all opinions are mine. This post may contain affiliate links. My daughter is a geek and we couldn’t be prouder!
When a kid is smart and geeky like Caitlin, they don’t always have the social skills they need to, shall we say, blend in. We were dreading her going to high school because we knew bullying could get worse.
Thankfully we learned about a STEM school that was located within miles of our home. We spoke with the guidance counselor and we learned all about a STEM Curriculum and how to get Caitlin ready for it.
If you don’t know what a STEM Curriculum is, here is the skinny on it! STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.
Instead of teaching kids the four as separate subjects, STEM integrates them into a learning experience based on real-world applications. If you are interested in getting your child into a STEM school, here are some great tips:
What does a STEM Curriculum Do Anyway?!
Encourage Curiosity: When children are young, they are quite curious. As they get older, this tends to wane a bit. A STEM education encourages that innate curiosity. So, ask your kids lots of questions with a focus on the four STEM disciplines.
So, if you are eating pizza, talk about fractions or if you are raking leaves, talk about the gravity that made the leaves fall to the ground.
Encourage Research: As a parent, I tend to spout off answers to all of my kids questions. Face it. It is easier. Instead of being quick with a solution, get your child to do some research into the issue and see what they come up with.
Encourage STEM Television: My kids love to watch TV, but it is usually stuff like Teen Titans or Doctor Who. Look for science based programs the kids will enjoy. Watch it with them and spark a conversation about it.
Encourage STEM Activities: Take the kids to the local science museum or planetarium. Many of these museums are hands on, making it more fun and interesting for the kids. Get the kids on the computer and look up STEM games and activities they can play. Minecraft is a good one!
Encourage STEM Play: We have a lot of board games we play on family game night. Almost half of those are educationally based. Two of our favorites right now are Math Dice and Code Master from ThinkFun Toys, where education is fun!
Math Dice: Build those math skills by thinking on the fly! Kids will roll the two 12-sided target dice and multiply them to get a target number. Then they will roll the three scoring dice and combine these numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
This mental challenge helps players solve math problems in a fun new way and has helped Henry sharpen his lagging math skills. Math Dice is available on Amazon for $9.99. Code Master is a new board game that takes kids on the ultimate coding adventure.
Kids learn how to step through code and understand the logic and sequence behind a computer’s actions. Kids will be entertained while developing an understanding of computer programming principles, which is part of a STEM Curriculum.
Are you interested in a STEM Curriculum for you child? If so, why?
Not sure about a STEM Curriculum for your child yet? Try out some of these products and see if they enjoy them! Click below to order:
ThinkFun Laser Chess Two Player Strategy Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – MENSA Award Winner
ThinkFun Code Master Programming Logic Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Teaches Programming Skills Through Fun GameplayThinkFun Rush Hour Junior Traffic Jam Logic Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 5 and Up – Junior Version of the International Bestseller Rush HourThinkFun Escape the Room Secret of Dr. Gravely’s Retreat – An Escape Room Experience in a Box For Age 13 and UpThink Fun Robot Turtles STEM Toy and Coding Board Game for Preschoolers – Made Famous on Kickstarter, Teaches Programming Principles to PreschoolersThinkFun Math Dice Junior Game for Boys and Girls Age 6 and Up – Teachers Favorite and Toy of the Year NomineeThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Logic Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Award Winner
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Kelly Hutchinson
Denise S says
October 21, 2015 at 6:20 pmYes, I”m interested in things that help my kids learn in new ways.
beth shepherd says
October 21, 2015 at 10:53 pmYes, I am interested in this for my children. I love learning new things for them. Thank you
Jonathan Gordon says
October 22, 2015 at 6:02 amYes I am interested in helping our kids learn in new, interesting, and creative ways.
sandra says
October 22, 2015 at 1:51 pmI am because it is the wave of the future
Pamela says
October 22, 2015 at 6:44 pmI’ve always loved science and technology, so I think STEM is a great way to educate children.
June S. says
October 22, 2015 at 10:34 pmThis sounds very interesting to me, if it helps kids have a easier time learning then I am all for it.
Rosanne says
October 23, 2015 at 1:32 pmTruthfully because they are better paying jobs and we need a more educated workforce.
Lana Bradstream says
October 23, 2015 at 2:39 pmIt certainly sounds beneficial. I am interested.
Jennifer Juenke says
October 23, 2015 at 5:53 pmMy nephew so needs this. He loves new games, but hates math.
michelle k. says
October 23, 2015 at 8:26 pmOur schools are all bringing STEM into the curriculum. I think it is great and kids should learn this to stay competitve
allyson tice says
October 25, 2015 at 3:04 ami am totallyinterested! i like how the approach is a hands on experience!
sue v says
October 25, 2015 at 3:38 pmno i am not interested in this
heather kaufman says
October 25, 2015 at 6:16 pmYes, my oldest was really into a stem event we went to .
Michelle Boor says
October 25, 2015 at 8:10 pmI’m always interested in helping my kids grow and learn. Thanks for the chance!
jeanette sheets says
October 25, 2015 at 11:29 pmwould love to win becuase i have a son with autism and this would be great way to teach him!thanks!
Brittney House says
October 26, 2015 at 12:23 amI’m very interested in trying it. I like finding new ways to learn and see which she responds best to.
DJ says
October 27, 2015 at 10:33 amDefinitely, girls need to know they can do anything!
Laura says
October 27, 2015 at 5:34 pmYes, I would be interested in STEM. Anything to help kids learn and be creative is awesome.
Christian Alejandro says
October 27, 2015 at 5:52 pmI’m not overly familiar with it, but definitely intrigued.
Jessica Mcfarlin says
October 29, 2015 at 12:16 amNot familiar with it but would love to win a try ii
Carol Nine says
October 30, 2015 at 2:07 pmAll of my children are grown up and out of school, except for my daughter, who is attending college right now.
Rija says
October 30, 2015 at 2:44 pmInterested with stem for my kids because it’s encouraging them to learn and play being competitive,it;s great!
Kristy Wolfgang says
October 31, 2015 at 2:15 amNo, but I do think these games would be fun!
Dana Matthews says
November 1, 2015 at 2:22 pmI’ve never heard of STEM, but after reading thru this post, I do see it being beneficial for my child. I know all subjects are important, but sciences and maths are on the top of my list! Great information.
JAY SMALL says
November 2, 2015 at 7:44 amYes, I am interested in this for my children. I love learning new things for them. Thank you
tara darity says
November 2, 2015 at 5:00 pmYes this sounds very interesting!!
spring ross says
November 3, 2015 at 9:42 amI am interested in the STEM education. I think it is a great way to teach and to learn.
Stephanie Liske says
November 3, 2015 at 8:36 pmI believe my kids already get STEM education in their schools.
Jamie Williams says
November 5, 2015 at 7:35 amyes, anything to broaden her horizens when it comes to education!
laura says
November 5, 2015 at 5:04 pmYes so important!
Erica B. says
November 6, 2015 at 4:17 amSTEM is great…I definitely want to encourage it.
charlene says
November 7, 2015 at 8:25 pmUnfortunately there is not a STEM school near me but I think my daughter would benefit from it. She is in 10th grade and the public school has been a big disappointment. She has straight A’s but she is bored all the time and not challenged at all. I am glad that she is very curious and always wants to know the technical side of things and asks me a million questions a day
Kristi C says
November 8, 2015 at 5:41 amI would love a STEM education for my son. He is more interested in math and science than any of the other classes.
karen mayernick says
November 8, 2015 at 9:47 pmI am interested for my son, but their are none in our area. I like how the vitals are taught together. That is real world application right there! Thank you for the opportunity!
tina reynolds says
November 9, 2015 at 1:15 pmYes I think my 9 year old would benfit from this
susan smoaks says
November 9, 2015 at 2:18 pmi am interested in learning in new creative ways
kelley roach says
November 9, 2015 at 10:31 pmYes I am interested in helping our kids learn in new fun ways
Stacey C says
November 10, 2015 at 9:19 amI love the STEM movement for kids these days. I read an article talking about how few women were in scientific fields and how important an early start in the field for girls is. Hopefully upcoming generations will have more females in scientific arenas.
Heather Poindexter says
November 10, 2015 at 9:29 amI am always interesed in explorin new and interesin ways for kids to learn!
Cassandra says
November 10, 2015 at 10:43 amYes, I believe a STEM Education is the foundation for everything else in life.
Donna Kozar says
November 10, 2015 at 6:25 pmYes, it is a great area for future jobs.
Brandon Sparks says
November 10, 2015 at 7:31 pminterested in things that help my kids learn
Jennifer H. says
November 10, 2015 at 8:25 pmI think that science, technology, engineering and mathematics are all important in education.
Jennifer H. says
November 10, 2015 at 8:26 pmI think that science, technology, engineering and mathematics are all very important in education.
AEKZ2 says
November 10, 2015 at 9:19 pmYes, I’m interested in STEM education for my child, because it helps with their analytical thinking.
rajee says
November 10, 2015 at 9:37 pmYes I am interested to learn new things for kids