The Innovation & Exploration (IE) STEM evidence-based curriculum includes developmentally appropriate lessons that spark young children’s interest, foster creativity, and encourage play. The curriculum is aligned with the PA Standards for Early Childhood Education and also with the Scientific and Engineering Practices to help young children aged 2 ½ to 5 years, experience their fullest potential and develop a strong foundation in the STEM field. At IE, our lessons are created to connect and allow young children to explore science, technology, engineering, math, outdoor garden, and literacy as a thematic unit.
IE approach through implementing a STEM curriculum.
- Curiosity and Initiative: Children explore the environment with an increased focus on ways to learn about people, things, materials, and events.
- Observation and Investigation: Children observe and investigate objects (living and nonliving things) and events in the environment as they develop new knowledge and spark new interest. Children also use their five senses to observe the world and describe what they experienced.
- Making prediction and Risk-taking: Children are encouraged to make predictions at the beginning of STEM activities on what they think might happen, as well as learning that it is ok to make mistakes and learn from them.
- Experimenting and Task Analysis: Children are provided with opportunities to formulate ideas, test them, and coming up with conclusions.
- Engagement and Attention: Children’s interests are sparked by our interactive activities even if they are challenging or difficult.
- Creativity: Creativity is self-expression and children will engage in creative play and express themselves in different ways without judgment. Creativity fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, and new ways of thinking and problem-solving.
- Exploration and Play: Children will engage in meaningful play and learn from each other. They will explore their environment using their senses. As children get the opportunity to explore, they also build a strong foundation for learning how to read and write.
- Invention: Children formulate and explore ideas and develop creativity.
- Making Connection: Children will connect with the world through exploration, self-discovery, and nature.
- Problem-Solving: Children construct knowledge by making mistakes and coming up with ways to solve problems.
- Literacy: Children are exposed to a variety of STEM books to develop literacy skills and acquire new knowledge in the STEM field.