Similar to the STEM model, STEAM is an educational approach that incorporates the arts into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program. This model allows learners to improve their artistic skills, including dance, photography, writing, and painting. Generally, students learn all the aspects of visual and performing arts.
However, to incorporate art in your STEM education, you need the right activities for your learners. Here are some project ideas for STEAM to get you started:
Magic mirrors can help you mesmerize your learners and improve their art skills. Reflection art also helps improve other aspects of your STEAM model, such as math and science. For this, you will need materials such as:
Students should see reflections of the drawing. As the students move the mirror, the drawings' reflections will change. This is a great way to teach students how symmetry, angles, and geometry work.
This STEAM idea allows learners to combine chemistry, engineering, and art in an exciting way. Exploding paint rockets are film canisters filled with fizzy tablets—they are similar to the Alka Seltzer Rockets, only that the fizzies are colored. Common materials for this project include:
Students will observe that the film canister will fly up to 20 feet in the air, exploding and spitting the paint on the paper. You can ask the students questions such as why the rockets exploded, what they found the best ratio of paint to water is, and how high the rockets went, etc.
Buying toys online is convenient; making them with your students is more exciting. To do this, you will need:
Have the students spin the penny spinners like a top. Ask them how the penny spinner can keep turning. This is a great way to teach them about centrifugal force. The various designs students create on their spinners can greatly improve this project.
Finding a project idea for STEAM is the first step; the second is to ensure the learners grasp what is intended. To do so with your students, you must
The STEAM program helps students cultivate the connection between the sciences and art and approach problems in creative ways. One of the best ways of achieving this is by incorporating art into the already-existing STEM system. Feel free to use the STEAM ideas to improve your students' creative skills.
Written by Mary Joseph
Education World Contributor
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