This month, we’re celebrating primary STEM across the STEM Community and taking time to really shine a light on why it matters.
Children are born curious. From their earliest years, they explore, question and make sense of the world around them. Toddlers are already testing ideas, noticing patterns and asking “why?”. Primary school should build on this. It’s where that natural curiosity is nurtured, where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas and begin to make sense of how things work and why they matter.
STEM has a crucial role to play in this. It helps children connect their learning to real life, see the relevance of what they are learning and start to imagine what they might go on to do in the future. It is about helping children make sense of the world they live in and see how STEM is part of their everyday lives. Done well, primary STEM is not about getting everything right. It is about creating opportunities for thinking, talking, exploring and making connections.
We also know the reality for many teachers. Primary teachers are incredible generalists, but many do not come from a specialist STEM background. Research suggests that only around 5% hold specialist science degrees and teaching qualifications. That matters because confidence with the subject often shapes what happens in the classroom, this is where high quality STEM specific professional learning and strong classroom resources make a real difference.
At STEM Learning, we’re here to support you to build that confidence. Our STEM CPD is developed and delivered by experienced educators who understand the demands of the primary classroom. We know your time is limited, so it needs to count. Our professional learning is designed to be practical, relevant and to make a real difference to your teaching and your pupils’ learning.
We are also the organisation behind the DfE funded National Centre for Computing Education. The NCCE provides training, resources and guidance to help you teach computing with confidence, whatever your starting point.
Alongside our professional development offer, our resource collection includes over 14,000 freely available, quality assured STEM resources designed to help teachers inspire and engage pupils. These resources are practical, easy to use and rooted in the realities of the classroom.
And of course, we are the home of Explorify. Explorify is our award winning, completely free resource that supports pupils to think like scientists. It offers simple activities that are quick to use and designed to get children talking, thinking and questioning, regardless of teacher confidence with science.
We also recognise how powerful enrichment can be. Giving children opportunities to experience STEM in different ways helps deepen understanding, build enjoyment and make those all important real world connections.
There are lots of ways to get involved:
Over the next few weeks, I will be focusing on some of these areas in more detail. I would really love you to join in the conversation on the STEM Community, share your experiences, and ask any questions you have.
This week, we are starting with Explorify, with a focus on the support available for teachers. There is a lot available that can help you get even more out of your sessions and further develop pupils’ thinking.
If you are not already part of the STEM Community, this is a great time to get involved. Let’s keep celebrating primary STEM and supporting every child to stay curious, ask questions and make sense of the world around them.