Well, it's Christmas, that time of year, full of cheer and hope. I have been wondering recently about how Christmas could encourage STEM for children.
Despite there being a plethora of resources via services like Pintrest, colouring sheets and basic building exercises are what's available. Can we encourage giving at Christmas employing the vast choices that STEM has to offer?
I recently Tweeted a message hoping that more would be up for purchasing STEM kits this Christmas. Buying Lego or Meccano could still be a staple present. Like times gone by, we would relish in the thought of getting a set to build. Early Meccano kits were prized gifts, an expensive luxury that could spark an interest in engineering. We might say that the World Wars were fought by the skills that began in one of these boxes. I like to think that we could still achieve this, children are still into Lego in a big way, so why can't we address this?
There are a lot of different ways that STEM can be given this year. Stores, such as Maplin in the UK, sell boxes of components that make toys, trucks and even mini-computers. These encompass rich ideas involving mathematics though geometry and programming, engineering through building and construction, and technological sciences in the form of circuits and digital manipulation. The skill-set that a child can attain from these products is vast. Many have seen the benefit of a career in these fields, though this is more notable when a challenge is present. In a similar vein, STEM clubs in schools are there to provide this kind of inspiration. Imagine if schools were pushing STEM just as home values moved there gifts the same way?
What are the key options then? Along with these kits, we can look at maths based learning when baking for the big day. What about creating Christmas videos, uploading them for all to see? Maybe children could review their gifts? This offering can help youngsters understand planning and production values in the media. Aside from the filming, you could look at engineering sets or props. There are so many ways that we can develop children's perspective of STEM. I believe it is time that we thought about the value of gifts and how they can help our children to find a passion for growth.
What about your thoughts? Were you a member of the Christmas Builders? I remember loving the thought of a new Lego set under the tree. I, for one, wont be giving up on the idea that children can make a future from even the simplest of sets.
Merry Christmas!
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