STEAM: Play and Learn

The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. At the preschool level, this doesn’t mean trying to teach your kids robotics and engineering, but rather presenting them with open-ended projects that allow them to problem-solve, make mistakes, get creative, and most of all, have fun. While most preschool-age children are not yet reading, STEAM Play & Learn is meant to be child-driven. The images, illustrations, and projects are meant to appeal to kids of their age and abilities. Let them be the guide as you explore the projects in this book. Topics include symmetry and how light bounces to create reflections with mirror mandalas, diffusion and capillary action with tie dye towels, structural framing and bracing with marshmallow structures, and electrical currents with salty circuits. The projects in this book fall into three difficulty levels.

• Pages: 80 pages
• Reading Ages: 2-5 years
• Projects include: Color Mixing Lab,Frozen Goop,Sound Tubes,Citrus Volcanoes,Paper Bag Blocks,Egg Carton Geo-boards,Pool Noodle,Marble Run,Potions Lab,Balance Scale,Spin,Art Tops,Marble Mazes,Tinkering Set,Pattern Projectors,Newton’s Cradle,Art Machine,Lime Light
• Easy projects: Require parents and teachers to do nothing more than set out the materials and offer a challenge to children. A few of the easy projects will need parents to assemble components in advance of presenting them to kids.
• Medium projects: Will require some adult assistance while the project is underway. Children should be able to complete some of the tasks while stopping periodically for an adult to assist in a step.
• Difficult projects: Are meant to be adult-led. This is an opportunity for parents to encourage their child to offer problem-solving ideas along the way, giving children a chance to help and make suggestions.