STEM learning is critical. We get it now. Two presidents have declared its importance. Our nation’s modest global rankings are unacceptable. And we are working diligently to engage our youth in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math curriculum during school and afterschool.

Now STEM has picked up innovative “STEAM” by adding the arts. If one of the goals of STEM learning is to increase innovation in America, then it makes perfect sense to include design, artistic expression, storytelling, and multi-sensory appeal in the mix.

Using the arts to demonstrate science and math understanding is a brilliant way to increase student participation and engagement in STEM. Certainly, afterschool is uniquely positioned to champion this integrated STEM delivery system called STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).

Are your students admittedly bored with math and science classes because they don’t seem to relate to their world? Capture some inspiration from four unique examples of relevance and creativity to adapt to your afterschool program.

NASA’s Space School Musical

What happens when NASA’s education program joins forces with an afterschool arts group called KidTribe from Los Angeles? An outstanding musical, DVD and curriculum from afterschool’s Kellee McQuinn that teaches kids about the solar system in a very cool way. Here is a sample of the rap that introduces the planet venus:

“V to the E to the N-U-S. I’m the hottest and brightest, don’t be envious. I’ve got a nickname, it’s ‘Morning Star’ and I’m covered in clouds that are thick as far. There are volcanoes all over my surface. Forgive me if I’m volatile, it’s not on purpose. I’m the second closest planet to the sun. If you like sulfuric acid we could have some fun.”

For  information: http://discovery.nasa.gov/musical/index.cfml

STEM-A

Taos, New Mexico is home to STEM-A, a center whose mission is to expand STEM education through arts immersion.  The program’s instructors are passionate about combining the five disciplines so that students can learn how to explore, experiment and construct through real-world applications.  For example, Citrus and Circuits is a class that examines aspects of electronic circuits using citrus and other organic material to power low voltage art devices students design themselves. Students learn how to produce an alternative battery, how to solder wires, how to use recycled materials, and are introduced to LED lighting technologies while also learning about energy efficiency.

For information: http://www.stem-a.org/

The STEAM of Kites

Fifth grade teacher Sandra Skea at The Mott Hall School in New York City is more than pleased to share her lesson on the research, design, construction and stories of kites. Kites are an excellent way to teach history (remember Ben Franklin and Alexander Graham Bell?), literacy and even music related to kites. Math and art merge during kite design, as do the ratio and proportion lessons during kite building. The culminating activity of flying student-designed kites then becomes a great way to introduce basic physics and aerodynamics.

For information: www.edutopia.org

Technology + Art + Physics = CrayonPhysics

What better way to teach children Newton’s Laws of Motion than give them a Web-based game that helps them design real-time contraptions? Students learn about the relationships of Newton’s Laws while watching how their contraption knocks a star off different platforms. Kids solve puzzles while designing innovative, functional, artistic, two-dimensional physical objects. The goal is to help students solve puzzles with artistic and physics creativity.

For information:  www.crayonphysics.com

Exploration. Curiosity. Risk taking. Questioning. Experimentation. Observation. Storytelling. Constructing. Imagination. Play. These are natural traits that can bring out the best in our youth—and are critical to the development of the left brain and right brain thinkers needed in our workforce. Let’s inspire afterschool youth to think creatively about the scientific method. Let’s show them how important failing and trying again is to the development of real-world projects, and to their development as human beings too.

Tell us how you are applying STEAM learning in your afterschool program so we may feature you in future e-newsletters. Central Valley Afterschool Foundation is in the process of developing STEM and other extensions for afterschool arts curriculum. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.