Each year since 2015, November 8th marks STEAM Day. Celebrating the integral roles that science, technology, engineering, art, and math play in a child’s education, STEAM Day is an opportunity to encourage the minds of the next generation to explore the facets of these subjects and see how they relate to real-world experiences.
Founded by MGA Entertainment, the world’s largest private toy company, STEAM Day is a great opportunity to get children and students involved in activities centered around STEAM, or to encourage them to pursue their STEAM-based interests.
What is STEAM Day?
STEAM Day is a special day dedicated to the integration of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics as an integrated curriculum, and is intended to inspire kids to become future scientists and innovators.
What date is STEAM Day?
Since 2015, STEAM Day has been celebrated every November 8 starting in the United States. It is a part of the effort of educational institutions and the government to uplift the interest of students in sciences and the arts. It is aimed to increase the standards of education on the international level by integrating the STEAM subjects in the basic education curriculum.
How do you celebrate STEAM Day?
Academic institutions and families can participate in the celebration through different activities. Here are just a few ideas:
- Science fair
- Art exhibits
- Tours or field trips
- Public lectures
- Quiz bee contests
- Film showing
- Sports
Around the world, STEM jobs continue to grow at a rate much faster than other areas of employment, which is why it’s essential for the next generation to explore the many career avenues available. Now that the term also encompasses the arts, the scope is even larger than before.
That’s why we’ve rounded up five great ways to celebrate STEAM day.
1. Treat them to a STEAM-related toy or book
Perhaps the most obvious way to celebrate STEAM Day is to get hands-on with an experiment or two! Whether you’re a parent, teacher or older sibling, giving the gift of a STEAM toy - or finding ways to help children create their own - is a fantastic way to celebrate. From YouTube videos to blogs and TikToks, there are tons of resources for DIY experiments available.
For one simple solution that offers many different possibilities, the Arduino Student Kit contains everything you need to get started with the basics of coding, programming, and electronics. It also comes with access to our online resources and the Arduino community, giving middle school-aged children an abundance of material to explore.
2. Reach out to someone in a STEAM career for a class talk
Some of the best influences in our lives have been people, whether that be a teacher, a boss, a friend, or someone we look up to. What better way to inspire and engage students than reaching out to an industry professional and asking them to give your class a talk about what they do and how they got there.
Not only will this provide students with a great opportunity to ask relevant questions in real time, but it will also give them that connection to how their STEAM education relates to the real world.
If you’re not able to bring someone into class, you could alternatively look for a video interview or a podcast with an influential STEAM figure. In fact, we have our own series of STEAM podcasts with a large variety of people in the STEAM fields.
3. Explore the most unexpected STEAM careers
From volcanologists to beer brewers and toy designers, STEAM careers aren’t confined to a spaceship or laboratory. A great way to get your students thinking about their futures, as well as exposing them to different areas of STEAM, is to explore the most unexpected and unusual STEAM professions.
4. Watch a STEAM-related movie
With easy streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime making movies accessible, you could treat your students to a STEAM movie to celebrate the day.
Some of our favorites include the 2015 drama Spare Parts that documents the inspiring true story of four hispanic high school students who defy the odds and beat the nation’s top universities in a robot building contest. There’s also Hidden Figures, which focuses on the women at NASA who helped make the launch of astronaut John Glenn possible.
Find out what other STEAM movies make a great watch.
5. Challenge students/kids to find their STEAM idol
Strengthening their research skills and allowing them to explore what jobs are possible, you could challenge your students to find their own STEAM idol. Before tasking them with such a challenge, you might want to explore some of your own and encourage students to think outside the box.
You could also select your own STEAM icons and separate your class into groups, asking students to go away and prepare a group presentation on that person and their career.
Are you an educator looking for STEAM resources for middle school, high school or university? Take a look at Arduino Education kits and how they can support your hands-on STEAM lessons.