We celebrate a lot of days and things, some more known than others. But November 8 is definitely a day we think deserves NATIONAL RECOGNITION. It's National #STEMSTEAMDay, a day to celebrate what we here at Pitsco love best (besides students and teachers, of course) – science, technology, engineering, art, and math!

STEM projects integrate the core disciplines that enable students to solve problems, be creative, think with their hands, work together, and articulate ideas. Add the A for art, and you add in even more opportunities for creative exploration.

Why #STEMSTEAMDay?

So, why do we need a day to celebrate STEM/STEAM? Isn’t it being emphasized in classrooms?

While there has been a rather large movement to bring more STEM and STEAM into classrooms, the great thing about STEM/STEAM activities is that they don’t have to be strictly school related. STEM/STEAM is simply the integration of a student’s body of knowledge with what children love to do every day – play! It’s getting students to understand that using what they know to explore the world around them can not only be fun, it can also lead to exciting careers.

Children who learn through hands-on, project-based exploration learn to be creators in the playground of technology. STEM and STEAM and the related competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL) invite children to bring their whole selves to the learning table (“The Value of Teaching STEM and STEAM in the Classroom”).

So why not have a day to celebrate the exciting world of STEM and STEAM?

Let’s Celebrate!

What’s the best way to celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day? By getting students excited about exploring new ideas, of course!

For starters, you can encourage students to show what they already know. Start off easy with a building kit or a simple art project. Engage their interests! Projects using items such as a KUBO Robotics set are a great way to introduce young children to technology and coding. Easing students into discovery mode by starting with things they already know helps build their confidence and primes them for more exploration. Be sure to check out the loads of free activities over at KUBO.education. 

You can also use everyday life to teach STEM/STEAM. Encourage students to list all the things they did that day and what STEM/STEAM inventions or occupations enabled them to do those things.

• Cereal with milk for breakfast? What kept the milk cold? Why is it important to keep milk cold? What technology goes into creating their favorite cereal?
• Did they ride a bike to school? How does a bike work? Are there any improvements that could be made?
• What can we learn about barometric pressure, the water cycle, storms, and so forth from today’s weather?

And, be sure to check out this blog for five additional ways to bring the arts, including music, into your space. 

Free STEM/STEAM Activities!

Need more inspiration? We have it for you at Pitsco. Our enhanced teacher guides and Elementary STEM activity guides are free to download, offering even more ways to help you and your students explore a variety of STEM/STEAM subjects.

Looking for a new way to spice up your straw rockets? Our new Rad Rockets are just what you need! These free, downloadable rocket templates turn your rockets into a full STEAM experience. Students will love designing their rockets with everything from butterflies to birds to planes and more! 

Need a simple art activity? These free coloring pages are a great way to get your students’ artistic juices flowing. And they’re perfect for a rainy-day recess activity as well!

Full STEAM ahead!

Now that you have the means, there’s no stopping you! Summon your classroom ingenuity and celebrate #STEMSTEAMDay with us! Share your ideas for celebrating in the comments below.

Resources
“5 Ways to Celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day”
“National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day – November 8”