Teaching STEM Skills to Children and Learning With Forts
Posted June 14, 2018 by Fort Magic
STEM has become a popular buzzword in education. The acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. And it’s never to early to start teaching STEM skills to children. And building forts is one of the best ways to do it! While they have fun, they will also discover the wonder of science, technology, engineering, and math. The coolest creations start with these essential skills!
STEM Today and in the Future
Fort building introduces kids to STEM concepts. And they will recognize them when they go to school, take tests, and participate in laboratory experiments. In the years to come, their curiosity can lead them into productive and profitable STEM careers! The possibilities are unlimited.
How Old Should Children Be to Learn STEM Skills?
One of the biggest questions educators and parents ask if how old kids should be to start learning STEM skills. Children begin learning as young as three months. Holding objects, observing shapes, and putting things together all give kids STEM lessons. And by the time they are two, you can grab a Fort Magic kit and let their imaginations start to take over!
When STEM Started
It’s interesting to note when the term STEM started. In 2007, a Carnegie Foundation commission coined the acronym after deciding math and science learning was the foundation to thrive and innovate in the modern workforce. For over a decade, parents and teachers are finding ways to make STEM learning fun. And fort building is an excellent choice because it incorporates all the aspects of STEM without long and boring lessons!
The Top 7 STEM Skills
Educators agree on 7 essential STEM skills children should learn. These important skills include problem-solving, creativity, statistics, intellectual curiosity, argumentation, flexibility, and data-driven decision-making. It takes all these skills to successfully build a fort. Kids of all ages exercise their STEM skills by planning and putting together all types of forts.
Spatial Reasoning and STEM Careers
Kids who excel at spatial reasoning often show interest in STEM careers as they get older. Spatial reasoning activities focus on shapes, sizes, and location. Fort building is a perfect activity to teach kids about spatial reasoning. They need to determine the right shapes and sizes to create a castle, ship, or playhouse. The fort must be built in a stable location with enough room. And letting kids figure out problems and fix them independently helps them solve issues. Problem-solving is a crucial skill for any future career.
Fort building is the ultimate way to give kids hands-on experience with STEM skills. How do you use fort building to teach your children about STEM skills? Share your comments with us below!
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Kids Activities Blog: A tremendous resource on all things kids-activities based, you can explore hundreds of ideas for learning and playtime for children and families ages toddler – teens.
