Make it STEM
STEM engineering for kids programme runs every Friday at Oak Hill Academy for students between six and ten years old.
As we move towards a more digital society, introducing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to young children is crucial to prepare them to meet the technological requirements in the future. The little ones at Oak Hill Academy in Radiokop began STEM activity two years ago and continue to flourish as they explore and comprehend how the world around them works. Early introductions of STEM not only promote academic success but the subject encourages the development of other concepts such as problem solving, and encouraging new ways of thinking and curiosity.
Debbie Brandsma, who develops the STEM lessons at Oak Hill said the students do American-themed activities. The STEM Engineering for Kids programme includes students between the ages of six and ten years old. She said the children learn about matter, the water cycle and working with 3D shapes, just to name a few. “We do a lot of activities with them. For instance we will have them build an Eiffel Tower and they have to balance something on top of it. If the tower breaks then they have to start again and figure out what to use or how to build it so that it is stronger.”
The programme was initially created for just the Grade Rs and 1s, but Debbie said the Grade 3s were also eager to join and they opened it up to include them. She added that the students learn from each other. “The activities are all age-appropriate. The younger ones learn from the older ones and vice versa. They do the most amazing things.” She added that the activities are not just focused on science. “They use ingenuity and coding, and sun-dial lessons. Sometimes there is maths where they work out distance or mass, for instance, how many drops of water can a R5 coin hold.”
The lessons extend to building bridges, powering water boats, making magnetic slime, how to make crystals and how they work. Science and technology are components of STEM but puzzles, block play and craft-making are all examples of STEM and can be achieved with very little resources. STEM activities exists in everyday hobbies.
