What Makes a STEM Activity Great?

A successful activity sparks the imagination and gives kids creative skills they can use daily.

The right STEM activities possess a unique set of characteristics that help enhance the learning experience. If you’re looking for new ways to connect with your students, learning how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math better them as individuals and scholars is key. The lessons that you teach to the kids you’re in charge of today can significantly benefit the world in the future as many young students grow up and work in positions where the skills come into play.

The six characteristics of an excellent STEM activity are explained below.

Characteristic #1: Real-world issues and challenges are emphasized.

Whatever is going on in society, the economy, and the environment is explored through STEM activities. Students learn how they can affect these areas positively.

Characteristic #2: The engineering design process guides the lesson being taught.

Children learn to identify problems as well as create and develop solutions. They get to experience big picture thinking and directly influence the outcome of a situation.

Characteristic #3: Students get to ask questions and get fully immersed in a hands-on experience.

Students collaborate to come up with the best solution. They get to see how things work personally by having a hand in the creative thought process.

Characteristic #4: Teamwork is key to the lesson’s success.

Kids work with their classmates to build upon one another’s unique ideas and skills. This facilitates faster and better solutions overall.

Characteristic #5: Students get to apply the math and science lessons they’ve already learned to the STEM activity.

Taking knowledge that they already possess, children get to apply it to STEM lessons. They see why the information was important in the first place.

Characteristic #6: There is no one right answer and failures are seen as yet another step to learning.

Kids learn that there are many outcomes with each lesson. They also learn to see failure as a part of the learning process.

Now that you know what characteristics make a STEM activity great, you’ll be better able to plan activities for your own classroom. You’ll be able to add value to your students’ day by sparking meaningful discussion following a successful science, technology, engineering, and math event. The skills that the kids in your class learn are ones they can use in everyday situations.

How to Start Building Good Character in the Classroom Today

Good character is learned. It is nurtured through meaningful activities led by role models such as parents, community leaders, and teachers. Your role as an educator requires many things from you. One, in particular, character building, has the power to transform your students in a truly meaningful way.

Here are ways to start building good character in the classroom:

1.    Introduce the pillars of good character in the activities you choose and the way things are run in class and school. According to the Josephson Institute of Ethics, areas of emphasis should include trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, caring, fairness, and citizenship.  Other good character traits to explore include courage, diligence, and integrity.

2.    Be a great role model. Children model the behavior they see exhibited by the people they look up to and spend the most time with. As their teacher, you have the power to instill seeds of greatness in them. Take the time to consider the actions you take and the words that you speak. Everything you do carries considerable weight in how it shapes the character of your students.

3.    Make respect a priority. No matter how much people disagree, make it know that being respectful is the only acceptable way to do so. By emphasizing respect for one’s self, parents, classmates, teachers, and community officials, children see the direct correlation between respectful behavior and positive outcomes.

4.    Volunteer as a class. Offer to pitch in as a class. Organize a volunteer effort that involves your students. It could be something as easy as walking shelter dogs or picking up trash at the park. Whatever you decide to do so, make sure to thank your students for being part of the solution and making a difference.

You can encourage your students to be the very best they can be with the activities you choose for them to engage in during classroom hours. Keep the information listed above in mind when creating your curriculum. There are many ways to help students become good citizens. Your guidance has a lasting impression on them as they get older and are faced with different challenges in adulthood.