(STEM) stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, these are education principles integrated into the school curriculum to enhance an individual’s understanding of the world. These principles help kids to develop skills like problem-solving and critical thinking that aid in a deeper understanding of the world.
However, STEM principles extend beyond the classroom and can also be applied in our everyday lives. When children can apply these concepts practically, they can understand their real-world context which motivates them to learn further!
How Can We Apply STEM Principles in Our Everyday Life?
This blog is going to guide you on how STEM principles can be applied in everyday life activities. This is important to understand as parents can give kids real-life examples to enhance their understanding and broaden their knowledge. Let’s look at some day-to-day activities that showcase the application of STEM principles.
Science in Baking or Cooking
You’ll be able to notice STEM principles in the daily activity of cooking or baking. This is because cooking is like an experiment, and there is science behind it that should be understood to improve our culinary skills.
An example would be chemical reactions. Baking involves chemical reactions that occur when baking soda interacts with acidic ingredients, it releases carbon dioxide which causes the dough to rise. These reactions can be understood to achieve the right texture and flavor.
We also have nutritional science in cooking and baking that guides us about our food choices. Nutritional science includes understanding the nutrients in our food that can help us prepare balanced meals. This is another example of the science principle in STEM that guides us in our daily life.
Technology for Daily Efficiency
Technology is one of the vital components of STEM including coding for kids. It has changed the game for individuals by improving efficiency and increasing accessibility.
There is an extensive range of mobile applications that are now available that can help a person with anything in their daily life such as grocery, taking notes or time management. These apps help individuals organize their daily tasks and prioritize them accordingly.
Another example of technology is how we have multiple devices that are used in homes to make them safer as well as energy efficient. These devices can be your automation system such as security cameras, lighting as well as thermostats which use computer science and engineering principles to operate for us.
Engineering Principles at Home
Transportation is a daily activity for everyone, whether to go to work or to school. Engineering principles help in enhancing our daily transportation by making it safer as well as more efficient.
Vehicle maintenance helps you understand mechanical engineering basics, which helps to improve our vehicles’ performance. By understanding how engines work and the importance of regularly changing your oil can help to keep your vehicle running smoothly as well as extend its lifespan.
Moreover, engineering principles are also evident in home improvement projects. When you’re building or repairing furniture, structural engineering plays a role in ensuring that your furniture is both functional and durable.
Mathematics in Budgeting & Finance
Mathematics is necessary in managing your finances. Mathematic principles help in making financial decisions such as managing your budget or investing in assets or opportunities. This is a key to achieving financial stability for an individual.
When we look at this closer, in budgeting we often make use of mathematical principles by tracking our expenses to ensure we are not overspending and are within our budget. Individuals may also track how much of a percentage of their income they have kept aside for their future or emergencies in the form of savings.
Furthermore, in investment individuals adopt strategies to conduct a statistical analysis and probability when making decisions. They will do this in order to figure out which investment opportunity might be the most suitable for them to pursue.
Conclusion
This blog was a source of guidance to us in understanding how STEM principles are applicable in our everyday tasks. These principles can transform simple tasks into opportunities for learning and innovation.
Moreover, when we have a deeper understanding of STEM principles and its applications, we can improve our problem-solving and critical thinking abilities which enable us to make better decisions.
As discussed, this could be through simple yet everyday tasks such as cooking, transportation, or budgeting. By knowing how STEM principles shape our lives daily, we enhance them and can contribute to a more innovative society.