STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is an approach to learning that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In Scoil Iosagáin, the children start to engage naturally in these areas in Infants through play-based learning (Aistear). The children are active, co-operating and exploring, and discovering new ways of doing things while being guided by the teacher.
To further support STEM development in our school,we have recently invested in Lego, Cogs & Wheels, Magna Tiles, Foam Bricks, a Mud Kitchen and Numicon, an Early Primary School Maths Programme which is considered a highly effective teaching tool, used by educators all around the world to support children’s maths and numeracy development.
We are also in the process of creating an Outdoor Classroom, Outdoor Classrooms have been proven to develop academic, physiological, mental, ecological, and emotional benefits to students, teachers, and the environment.
Spending more time in nature encourages students to pursue more moderate-vigorous activity schedules outside of school. With this increase in activity, students have improved motor skills, bone development, fitness, and brain development. Instilling a pattern of activity young also encourages regimented schedules of activity later in adulthood. It provides benefits to students through improvements in focus, memory, attention, and concentration. Nature lends itself to the development of white and grey matter in the brain, increasing cognitive function.
Outdoor Classrooms further support the enhanced development of the students’ social-emotional well-being. Synergetic to the space where they are learning, students use Outdoor Classrooms to grow interpersonal and team-building skills. Between the hands-on nature of the space and the problem solving involved with outdoor lessons, Outdoor Classrooms support independent learning and creativity.
Teachers may also find it useful that students have been found to enjoy learning more when it happens outside, and retention is higher when information comes from an outdoor lesson.
As children continue through our school, they are presented with fun and challenging experiences that will encourage them to use their scientific skills of questioning, observing, predicting, investigating and experimenting, estimating and measuring, and analysing. They are engaged in activities that involve Designing and Making, where children explore, plan, make and evaluate, e.g., design and make a boat/bridge/ traffic lights, etc. These explorations foster the children’s curiosity and problem-solving skills
