STEAM/STEM - EYFS/Early Years activities, displays and ideas

On this page you will find:

What is STE(A)M? Why is it important in Early Years settings?
STE(A)M Activity ideas
Support materials for STE(A)M activities
STE(A)M Displays/Posters
Resources on the following pages:
Related topics

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FREE SAMPLE RESOURCEs!

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STEM - WINTER Challenge Cards (Free Sample)

CONSTRUCTION - Challenge Cards (A5) (Free Sample)

2D SHAPES IN THE ENVIRONMENT - POSTERS (Free Sample)

CONSTRUCTION - CHRISTMAS Building Block Pattern/Colour Challenge Cards (Free Sample)

AUTUMN - Float or Sink - Posters/Prompts (Free Sample)

HOUSES AND HOMES - Playdough Mat Challenge (Free Sample)

SCIENCE - Activity Pack - MINIBEAST HUNT (Free Sample)

CONSTRUCTION - 'Construction' and 'Building' Banners (Free Sample)

PLANTS - 'Plants make their own food' Poster (Free Sample)

WOODLAND WILDLIFE - Mindfulness Scavenger Hunt Prompt Cards (Free Sample)

WOODLAND TREES - Fact Cards - A5 (Free Sample)

'WHAT DOES A HOUSEPLANT NEED?' POSTER - COLOURING (Free Sample)

TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC BASKET - Drawing/Art & Craft/Playdough Mat (Free Sample)

TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC PLAYDOUGH MATS - Number Challenge (Free Sample)

OUTDOOR MATHS - Shape Challenge Cards (Free Sample)

SOLAR SYSTEM 4-PIECE PUZZLES (Free Sample)

MINIBEAST SEARCH CHECKLIST (Free Sample)

INVENTIONS 2-PIECE PUZZLES (Free Sample)

'HELPING WILDLIFE IN WINTER' POSTER (Free Sample)

WONDERFUL WATER! WE NEED WATER TO - COLOURING (Free Sample)

DINO DIG - Find and Size Order (Free Sample)

DINO DIG - Find Fossil Shapes (Free Sample)

WATER PLAY - Capacity Challenge A5 Cards (Free Sample)

Please note that both Editable (docx file) and non-editable (pdf file) versions are available for our ‘STEM’ resources. (Editable files require Microsoft Word to work at optimum level and Non-Editable files require a pdf viewer.)

What is STE(A)M? Why is it important in Early Years settings?

STEM or STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, (Arts) and Mathematics.

Children are naturally curious; born predisposed to learning about their immediate surroundings. As babies we begin to sense and explore the world around us. We embark on scientific enquiry by noticing cause and effect, repeating experiences to confirm what we have found out and exploring when something different happens to what we expect. As we develop language we ask a multitude of ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ questions to make further sense of the world around us.

Early Years settings are the perfect environment for STE(A)M development because children naturally want to play in their immediate surroundings to investigate and learn more. As early years professionals and parents it is our job to nurture this natural desire and enthusiasm and provide children with an environment which enables exploration and scientific discovery. When children interact with materials in their surroundings it becomes meaningful to them. Children become even further engaged when it is something which interests them personally.

In addition to the knowledge and experience gained through STE(A)M learning, the development of key skills required for life are of great importance. Skills that can be nurtured further through later childhood and become incredibly valuable as an adult. Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication, initiative, inquiry and problem solving are all interwoven into STE(A)M learning.