Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
The first several years of school sets the tone for the rest of students’ academic future, and in STEM, that means starting with skills that will serve students in every challenge ahead. Before diving into complex content, it’s important to focus on building relationships, fostering teamwork, and strengthening communication. These core skills not only help students thrive in group projects but also create a school culture where collaboration is the norm.
Simple, hands-on challenges are perfect for this phase; activities like building towers from paper, creating aqueducts from paper towel tubes, or encouraging students to brainstorm together, delegate roles, and problem-solve as a team. The emphasis is on learning that it is not only OK to make mistakes, but that mistakes are a vital part of learning.