INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

Introduction and Importance

There is a proposal of integrated curriculum on Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) and Social Studies (STREAM) in early childhood learning. The method assists the children in problem solving creatively and collaboratively as well as in developing critical thinking. Children are able to bridge the subject areas so that they have an improved understanding of the world and the opportunity to use their learning. Having arts and social studies incorporated in STEM helps children prepare to solve problems in real-life and prepare themselves with abilities that they would require on achieving successes in the future.

Creativity Theories and Perspectives

The combination of STEM, STREAM, STEAM and STEMIE in the area of Early Childhood Education fosters creativity by giving the children an opportunity of experimenting and learning through experiences. Lev Vygotsky insists on utilization of socialization to promote cognitive and creative advancements both in children and grownups. They teach children to think outside the box as well as solve challenging issues when children collaborate in performing a task. (McLeod, 2024). Since the integrated curricula are dynamic and practical, they inculcate experimentation among children and allow them to be innovative.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences developed by Howard Gardner promotes the mixture of STEM and the arts. Integrated learning Gardner explains that all the intelligences could also be enhanced, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic. The combination of art with science, technology, mathematics provides children with the possibility to reflect their creativity within the frames of the multiple intelligences .https://pin.it/4sCFI1LT7  

Resources, Materials and Digital Technology

  • Resources:
  • Building materials that include blocks, Magnets, nature kits, etc. will enable children to examine engineering and science.
  • Provides art materials (e.g. paint, clay) in order to allow creativity during STEM activity.
  • Books whose content is a mixture of science and artistic thought.
  • Materials:
  • LEGO, KNEX construction kits to make engineers projects.
  • Math related activities: Measurement tools (rulers, measuring cups).
  • The artistic materials such as scissors and glue that entail incorporation of creativity in STEM projects.
  • Environmental learning (use of nature-based: leaves, rocks).
  • Digital Technologies:
  • There are apps that enable children to build and code in the virtual world such as Toca Builders and Codable.
  • The science and math learning apps and internet sites where you can learn math and science by playing games such as Khan Academy Kids and ABC mouse.
  • Immersive virtual reality instruments that can be used in learning science and geography.
  • Robotics kits such as Bee-Bot and Botley to show young learners how to code.
  • Learning Experiences 
  • 0-2 years: Discover the early physics and senses with the help of cause-and-effect toys.
  •  2-3 years: to learn engineering and spatial reasoning skills through building toys.
  • 3-5 years: Do art- science projects (volcanoes) to make the link between your imaginative thinking to understand scientific inquiry.
  • Imaginative Learning Chances
  • Children (0-2 years) Block Building, Stacking or constructing Block building activities, these are good to start on the concepts of Engineering.
  • Collect leaves and rocks to make your art & science projects. 2-3 years of exploration of nature.
  • Children at the age of three to five years should aim at creation and adornment of items.
  • Digital Evidence

Critical Reflection and Evaluation

Reflection of my teaching experiences would be that I can promote exploration and creativity among the students by incorporating it. I would like to create an atmosphere in which children would be able to draw correlation between subjects, collaborate and create solutions. Through this combined method, children have their cognitive and imaginative abilities enhanced since they can think of all things as interrelated. In my opinion, creative education using STEM will improve the overall development of children and equip them to face academic and practical situations.