How do you inspire curiosity in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM)? Getting more young people into STEM is discussed all the time at the moment. Our world desperately needs the skillsets that come from STEM topics. But the ‘how’ is the critical thing we need to think more about. And the answer goes beyond textbooks and tests. For educators, the challenge is creating an environment where students don’t just learn STEM but love it. Here are some ideas.
STEM skills are in high demand, but getting kids excited about these subjects can feel like a battle. Thankfully, there are creative, engaging, and genuinely fun ways to make STEM accessible — even for students who think science isn’t “their thing.”
The importance of STEM education is clear. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in STEM fields are projected to grow 10.8% between 2021 and 2031. On top of that, STEM-related roles typically come with higher salaries and more opportunities for innovation.
But beyond careers, STEM teaches kids vital problem-solving skills and out-of-the-box thinking. These subjects address real-world challenges, from climate change to medical breakthroughs. Helping students connect learning with real life is one of your most powerful tools as an educator. Here are some ideas you may not have thought of.
1. Bring Science into Their Hands with DIY Experiments
Hands-on learning is an unbeatable way to get students engaged. Think beyond the standard baking soda volcano experiment (not that there’s anything wrong with a fizzing mountain!).
Ideas:
- Create a “STEM Maker Station” in your classroom where students can design simple circuits, build bridges with spaghetti, or launch tiny rockets powered by vinegar and baking soda.
- Want to blow their minds? Try the classic “egg-drop challenge,” encouraging kids to design contraptions to keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped from a height.
These tactile projects give students a sense of agency and accomplishment, teaching them essential skills like testing hypotheses, analyzing outcomes, and working in teams.
2. Explore STEM through Smartphone Apps
You’ve probably noticed that your students are glued to their phones, or their parents’ phones if they don’t have one yet. What if those same devices could ignite a love for STEM? There’s a world of apps designed to make science and math interactive and fun.
Recommended Apps for STEM Education:
- Tynker (Ages 5+): Teach students coding and problem-solving through approachable games and challenges.
- SkyView Lite (Ages 10+): Turn a smartphone into a portable planetarium! Students can point their cameras to the night sky and learn about stars, constellations, and satellites.
Tensiometer (All ages): The Droplet Lab Tensiometer is an innovative surface measurement tool designed to measure contact angle and surface tension. Perfect for learners of all ages, it offers a hands-on way to explore the practical applications of science through cutting-edge measurement technology. - Photomath (All ages): This app scans math problems and shows step-by-step solutions, helping students grasp tricky equations.
- Seek by iNaturalist (All ages): Perfect for curious students who love the outdoors. Seek identifies plants, animals, and insects, blending biology with exploration.
Each of these apps transforms a smartphone into a gateway to STEM discovery, blending technology with education .
3. Incorporate STEM Into Everyday Problems
One way to show students that STEM is more than abstract equations is to connect lessons to everyday life. The key? Make it relevant.
For example:
- Use engineering principles to construct a structure that can withstand an earthquake (using toothpicks and marshmallows).
- Solve math puzzles related to real-life budgeting or spending (how would they plan a school field trip with a $200 budget?).
- Relate biology concepts to their everyday nutrition, examining how the nutrients in their lunches fuel their bodies.
When students see how STEM applies to the world around them, it no longer feels like just “schoolwork.”
4. Gamify the Classroom
If there’s one thing kids universally love, it’s games. By gamifying STEM, you tap into their competitive spirit while fostering collaboration.
Try implementing classroom challenges with rewards. For instance:
- Math Problem Races: Divide the class into teams, creating a “relay-style” competition to solve equations.
- STEM Escape Rooms: Create puzzles and clues. For example, chemistry riddles could unlock the next clue in your periodic table-themed “escape room.”
Interactive activities like these make students see STEM as a source of fun and achievement rather than dread.
5. Bring Role Models into the Conversation
Representation matters. For young students, meeting a real-life scientist, engineer, or data analyst who shares their background can be life-changing.
Invite local STEM professionals to speak to your class. Hearing firsthand stories about designing skyscrapers, working with wildlife, or coding video games can inspire students to imagine their futures in STEM fields.
If you can’t host in person, consider virtual visits via Zoom or videos showcasing diverse professionals working in STEM-related careers.
6. Encourage Students to Tinker and Create
Sometimes, the best lessons happen when students are allowed free reign to tinker and experiment.
- Set open-ended challenges, like building a functional contraption from LEGO blocks or crafting a bridge out of popsicle sticks.
- If resources are limited, allow for virtual creation. Platforms like Minecraft Education Edition offer incredible opportunities for coding and building complex systems in a virtual STEM sandbox.
The focus should be on fostering curiosity. When experimentation is encouraged, students develop problem-solving mindsets that carry them through academic and personal challenges.
7. Host STEM-themed Field Days or Clubs
Take STEM learning beyond the classroom. After all, there’s something magical about stepping into a science museum, exploring a tech-startup workshop, or joining an after-school robotics club.
Plan a group visit to a local STEM center or engineering firm.
Organize a once-monthly “Tech Tuesday” club, where students can design and 3D print objects, build app prototypes, or experiment with simple robotics.
Field trips and clubs show students the real-life possibilities STEM holds. Plus, they build camaraderie and excitement over shared discovery.
As educators, you have the unique power to turn young minds onto life-changing subjects. It’s not about making every single student fall in love with STEM. It’s about giving them the opportunity to discover what’s possible. And who knows? You might just inspire the next great scientist, engineer, or mathematician in your classroom.