3 Free STEAM Educational Resources to Encourage Students' Curiosity

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According to the National Mathematics and Science InitiativeSTEM education helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fosters communication, and reinforces teamwork. In my 25 years of teaching, I have learned that finding and incorporating the arts into STEM areas takes learning even further. I am always looking for STEAM-based resources and tools that will engage and inspire my students. In my experience, I have found that using creative and dynamic tools significantly improves student learning outcomes, but you need to know where to look.

In my current position as a STEAM Specialist, where I teach students from preschool through sixth grade.^He Grade, it is important to use resources that can be adapted to your educational level and your lesson plans. Having access to STEAM education not only improves outcomes in the classroom, but also better prepares students for the future. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the total number of STEM careers will grow at twice the rate (and pay more on average) than non-STEM jobs over the next seven years.

Engaging with STEAM content in the classroom is the first step to inspiring students to explore those career possibilities in the future.

Finding good STEAM tools can be overwhelming, so here are some of my favorite resources:

STEM Career Coalition

He STEM Career Coalition Discovery Education is an alliance of industries and nonprofits that provides access to STEM resources and connects students with industry professionals. The free resources are intuitive, easy to use, and designed to be ready to use right out of the box. Search features and filters make it quick to find professional profiles and videos. There are suggested grade levels for each video and activity, linked questions, and suggested additional resources to follow along with the lesson.

Videos and questions can be embedded into Google Classroom or other learning platforms. This means you can curate content, activities, and lessons for students to complete without having to jump between platforms or tabs. A great way integrate conversations about future careers into current STEAM lesson plans, and my students are always excited to connect what they learn in class to a real-life career and STEM professional.

Whether you’re encouraging space-obsessed students or inspiring the next generation of engineers, STEM Careers Coalition offers educational materials designed to reflect the diversity of the students they observe. Not only is STEM Careers Coalition easy to use, but its commitment to making STEM education equitable and engaging has earned this resource a spot on this list.

Verizon Innovative Learning Center

Verizon Innovative Learning Center STEAM offers engaging, cutting-edge resources to support educators and students around the world. This completely free resource gives you access to over 350 lessons and activities for primary and secondary students across all subjects. From stop-motion animation to augmented reality modeled orbits to in-depth analysis of cells and other organisms, there are hundreds of STEAM-focused lessons to choose from.

The search function is very effective and allows teachers to filter by grade level, subjects, standards, technologies involved, and more. It is easy to find a lesson tailored specifically to the age and interests of students. The augmented reality and virtual reality apps offered immerse students in the content, making each lesson accessible and engaging. The augmented reality and virtual reality resources continue to be student favorites in my classroom.

This database offers a wealth of innovative and robust materials that complement more traditional classroom resources. The emphasis on downloadable apps and creative approaches to standards-based lessons offers new ways to teach STEAM concepts.

Another reason I love Verizon Innovative Learning HQ is because it offers a wide range of professional development modules. These customized professional development resources helped me hone my STEAM teaching skills and help educators develop new skills in an ever-changing educational landscape.

STEAM Lesson Plans for LEGO Education Solutions

With over 400 lessons spanning from preschool to 12.^He degree, these LEGO-based STEAM lesson plans LEGOs are another versatile classroom tool. By combining coding and LEGOs into interactive stories, students can investigate a wide variety of STEAM concepts from their desks while following along with demonstrations.

Each lesson plan includes student worksheets and assessment materials, reports on relevant STEAM phenomena, and clearly stated educational standards. Content can be easily filtered by subject, grade level, and products needed to complete the lesson. Subjects include a wide range of STEAM topics, such as computer science, social-emotional development, math, creative exploration, and more.

Lesson plans and building guides are freely accessible. The LEGO products referenced are numerous and can be used for more than one lesson; the SPIKE Essential Kit, for example, is used in almost 70 different lessons in a variety of ways.

This tool will engage your students in a new and dynamic way, helping them understand complex topics and concepts through multi-step developments, discussions, and reflections.

If you're looking for comprehensive digital resources, this list is a great place to start. These three suggested resources and activities offer ready-to-use, standards-aligned curriculum that's fun and engaging for teachers and students alike. As I prepare for the upcoming school year in the Allegheny Valley School District, I know I can visit any of these amazing tools and find materials that will get my students excited about learning.