Play is an essential part of children's learning and growth. It provides them with a variety of benefits that extend beyond just having fun. It helps children develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills that are essential for their overall growth. By participating in enjoyable and captivating activities, students can fulfill their learning and developmental requirements effectively.
Incorporating play into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities can make learning more engaging and enjoyable for learners of all ages. A STEAM Lab Can Benefit Your Classes:
- By bringing STEAM to your classes with our unique team-teaching.
- Allowing you to evaluate STEAM tools hands-on before you buy.
- Creating great supplemental activities for elementary and middle schoolers
- Increasing student engagement with activities that excite and motivate them.
Here are some creative ideas for STEAM activities that involve play while using Northern Buckeye and other STEAM lab and resources:
VEX Robotics: VEX Robotics is educational robotics for everyone. VEX solutions span all levels of both formal and informal education with accessible, scalable, and affordable solutions. Beyond science and engineering principles, VEX encourages creativity, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving among groups.
Sphero INDI cars: Speed into STEAM with indi—the most approachable entry-level learning robot for ages 4+. indi inspires imaginative, play-based learning by empowering kids to design and build their own mazes while creating opportunities for students to learn the basics of coding, solve problems, and nurture computational thinking skills.
Science Experiments with Playdough: Combine science with creativity by using playdough to model different scientific concepts. Create models of molecules, landforms, or even simple machines like levers and pulleys.
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Take learning outdoors by organizing a nature scavenger hunt where participants search for specific plant species, insects, rocks, or other natural objects. Integrate math by counting and categorizing their findings.
Building Bridges with Everyday Materials: Challenge students to build bridges using everyday items like popsicle sticks, straws, and tape. Test the bridges for strength by placing objects of increasing weight on them.
Math Puzzles and Board Games: Incorporate math into playtime by using puzzles, board games, and card games that involve math skills. Games like Sudoku, chess, Set, and Prime Climb can sharpen critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
DIY Musical Instruments: Explore sound waves and frequency by creating homemade musical instruments such as rubber band guitars or straw pan flutes.
Math in the Playground: Incorporate math into playground activities. Measure the height of swings, calculate the speed of a slide, or estimate the angles of different play structures.
Remember, the key is to foster a sense of curiosity and exploration while integrating STEAM concepts into playful activities. Adapt these ideas to the age and interests of the participants to ensure a fun and educational experience.
