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For many in early chilhood education, STEAM is a new term. It began in this decade as STEM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These curriculum areas have become a major focus in education because of the concern that the United States is falling behind in scientific innovation. The pressure is on educators to start early and provide learning experiences in these areas for young children. STEM is a buzzword even referring to preschool (Ashbrook 2010; Moomaw& Davis 2010).
Today, from what many of us see and hear, the term STEM is not even familiar to many people who work with young children. I also wonder if many early childhood educators feel uncomfortable and unprepared to address concepts in these science-related fields. With a new and familiar addition to the acronym, A (for the Arts), STEAM integrates and uses the arts in the STEM curriculum to help children express STEM concepts (NCES 2009; Piro 2010; Tarnoff 2010). Since the arts are a natural part of early childhood education, adding this element may help more teachers find ways to work STEM concepts into the curriculum. This new term STEAM can help early childhood educators to build the foundation of science-related knowledge, using the arts to encourage children to express their ideas in a wide variety of creative ways.
A model and an approach to consider
Having worked closely with Fred Rogers for decades, I see how naturally and creatively he offered STEAM concepts, writing and hosting his highly acclaimed PBS program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. How much we can learn from his approach!
Most people think of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as primarily about social-emotional skills. But the program addressed much more than that. Each program was a tapestry of learning experiences, often connecting the arts and sciences. Fred Rogers, whose background included graduate studies in child development at the University of Pittsburgh, often described his work as helping children understand more about themselves, about others, and about the world around us. Some of the more familiar ways he nurtured an interest in the world were through the factory tour videos and field trips.
The everyday language of STEAM
I like to think of "understanding the world around us" as Fred's way of helping educators feel...