School is over! The summer holidays are finally here and the children are looking forward to time for rest and fun! Your child thinks summer is a break from education and while summer can be a break from the classroom, you know it shouldn’t be a break from learning. There is a vast number of different summer camp activities to choose from and we encourage parents to research engaging and meaningful programs to register their children for.
At STEM METS, our summer camps provide one example of active learning opportunities, where hands-on model building allows for math and engineering practice. Over the last 5 years, we have successfully run over 50-holiday workshops and engaged over 7,000 learners across our various S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) programs. Active learning puts the child in an activity that deeply engages the brain on many levels. Hands-on activities, practice by doing and critical discussion fall into this category -these projects don’t necessarily feel like learning. That means children are more likely to want to do them again and again. Translation: no more complaining or fighting with mum and dad!
By offering a variety of interesting camp themes and programs to your children, boys and girls come ready to play and they leave with valuable experience practising some aspects of STEM. We run the popular Bricks4kidz program, suitable for children ages 3-10 and recently our advanced robotics and coding program, The Little Engineers provides robust content for 11-16-year-olds.
STEM skills can greatly diminish during the summer months, but we offer a unique approach to building STEM knowledge. Summer camps focus on unique and fun projects that use LEGO® Bricks, amongst other hands-on activities and the results are incredible. Not only do kids have tons of fun, but they also combat summer learning loss by gaining real-life skills related to STEM, which they can apply when they get back in the classroom.
Hands-on learning engages a child’s brain and brings difficult STEM concepts to life. Investing in your child’s sports teams or music hobbies is another fantastic investment that will pay dividends throughout his or her life. STEM skills will be retained in a child’s long-term memory so they are ready to head back to the classroom after the holidays — and beyond.
In addition to our summer camps, you can do some active-learning activities at home with a little creativity and ingenuity. Cooking, for example, is a great hands-on learning activity. Select a recipe with your child and then tackle it together. Practice measurements and fractions to demonstrate applied mathematics. Explain how ingredients react to show chemistry in real life. Calculate temperatures and cooking times, and then enjoy the tasty results!
Jadesola Adedeji is the CEO of STEM METS Resources, an educational service provider that provides 21st-century skills training to children and youths in Nigeria using Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) based programs to educate, equip and empower them for the future workplace. www.stem-mets.com.
References from Leap Ahead Learning.
