Six Resources to Pick Up the STEAM in After School | Extended Notes

Picking up STEAM in Afterschool Programs

Many education leaders, including John Maeda, the leader of the STEM to STEAM movement, believe art and design are important catalysts to innovation in new technologies, discoveries and advancements. The integration of the arts in STEM fosters creativity and turns students into makers. Here are six resources to learn more about STEAM and how to integrate art education into your after school program.

When you think of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), does creativity come to mind? Many education leaders, including John Maeda, the leader of the STEM to STEAM movement, believe art and design are important catalysts to innovation in new technologies, discoveries and advancements. The integration of the arts in STEM fosters creativity and turns students into makers.

How can we integrate the arts in after school?

Similar to the implementation of STEM, after school programs offer great opportunities for students to explore the connection between art and STEM education. The informal learning setting allows students to participate in student-centered enrichment activities that increase engagement and deepen learning.

Here are six resources to learn more about STEAM and how to integrate art education into your after school program:

• Prime Time PBC’s STEAM Initiative explains the “A” in STEAM, the importance of STEAM education and how after school leaders can provide STEAM activities in their programs.
• STEAMPOWER After School Program provides links to lesson plans, products, online classes, instructional documents and other resources to go from STEM to STEAM in after school.
• PBS Kids Design Squad Nation provides activities, animations, video profiles and episodes to incorporate innovation and design into the classroom.
• Edutopia compiled a list of lesson plans and resources to integrate the arts into other curricula.
• Going from STEM to STEAM is a prezi that describes how creativity and self-expression give life to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
• Find more STEAM activities and resources on our STEM and STEAM Pinterest board.