STEAM Play & Learn: 20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, art, and math!
The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. At the preschool level, this doesn’t mean trying to teach your kids robotics and engineering, but rather presenting them with open-ended projects that allow them to problem-solve, make mistakes, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
While most preschool-age children are not yet reading, STEAM Play & Learn is meant to be child-driven. The images, illustrations, and projects are meant to appeal to kids of their age and abilities. Let them be the guide as you explore the projects in this book. Topics include symmetry and how light bounces to create reflections with mirror mandalas, diffusion and capillary action with tie dye towels, structural framing and bracing with marshmallow structures, and electrical currents with salty circuits. Other projects include: Color Mixing Lab Frozen Goop Sound Tubes Citrus Volcanoes Paper Bag Blocks Egg Carton Geoboards Pool Noodle Marble Run Potions Lab Balance Scale Spin Art Tops Marble Mazes Tinkering Set Pattern Projectors Newton’s Cradle Art Machine Lime Light The projects in this book fall into three difficulty levels: Easy projects require parents and teachers to do nothing more than set out the materials and offer a challenge to children. A few of the easy projects will need parents to assemble components in advance of presenting them to kids. Medium projects will require some adult assistance while the project is underway. Children should be able to complete some of the tasks while stopping periodically for an adult to assist in a step. Difficult projects are meant to be adult-led. This is an opportunity for parents to encourage their child to offer problem-solving ideas along the way, giving children a chance to help and make suggestions.
The cross-subject approach to learning in STEAM Play & Learn will prepare young children for the subjects they will soon learn in elementary school and beyond. These 20 projects will provide hours of fun education for both kids and parents!
From the Publisher
What Is STEAM?
The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM learning is project-based and cross-disciplinary, with an emphasis on problem-solving and teamwork. Not only is STEAM a model for education, but it’s also a way of approaching life.
At the preschool level, this doesn’t mean trying to teach your kids robotics and engineering, but rather presenting them with open-ended projects that allow them to problem solve, make mistakes, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
How to Use This BookWhile most preschool children are not yet reading, this book is meant to be child driven. The images, illustrations, and projects are meant to appeal to kids of their age and abilities. Let them be the guide as you explore the projects in this book.
SafetySafety concerns are called out per project. Please read them in advance of working on a project. You know your child best. If they are prone to putting things in their mouth, skip the projects with marbles. Some project steps, like hot gluing or cutting cardboard, should always be done by an adult.
Difficulty Levels Easy projects require parents and teachers to do nothing more than set out the materials and offer a challenge to children. A few of the easy projects will need parents to assemble components in advance of presenting them to kids Medium projects will require some adult assistance while the project is underway. Children should be able to complete some of the tasks while stopping periodically for an adult to assist in a step Difficult projects are meant to be adult-led. This is an opportunity for parents to encourage their child to offer problem-solving ideas along the way, giving children a chance to help and make suggestions
Science & Art: Citrus Volcanoes (Easy)
Be careful! Lemon juice is a mild skin irritant.Make volcanoes using citrus fruits! Add baking soda and dish soap to a juicy fruit and watch a mini fizzing volcano erupt. Put a few drops of food coloring and the foam becomes an abstract mixture of color.
Parent PrepCut a large hole in the top of the fruit. If the fruit won’t sit flat on the tray, then slice the bottom to make it flat.
Materials Citrus fruits: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine Knife (for adult use only) Craft stick Dish soap Lemon or lime juice (squeeze a few lemons or buy a bottle) Baking soda Food coloring Spoon TrayCan you tell which citrus fruits contain the most citric acid?
Place the fruit in the center of a tray. Squish the insides of the fruit with a craft stick to bring out the juice. Lemons and limes work best. Can you figure out why?
Squeeze some dish soap into the juice. Drop in a different color of food coloring to create colorful foam. The Art: When you add food coloring to this chemical reaction, you get wonderfully colored foam that looks like a piece of abstract art. Abstract art doesn’t show a subject. It is made of shapes and colors.
Add a few drops of food coloring and a spoonful of baking soda. Add lemon juice and more baking soda to make the volcano erupt again.
Stir the center with the craft stick. More: How can you preserve this art? Can you take a picture? Can you draw a sketch of it? Can you make a print by dipping a piece of paper on the top?
Publisher : Walter Foster Jr.; Illustrated edition (June 5, 2018)
Language : English
Paperback : 80 pages
ISBN-10 : 1633225267
ISBN-13 : 978-1633225268
Reading age : 2 - 4 years, from customers
Lexile measure : NC830L
Grade level : Preschool - Kindergarten
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 8.7 x 0.4 x 11.05 inches
Price: $15.95
(as of Feb 21, 2025 14:06:15 UTC – Details)
With the simple instructions and large, full-color photos in STEAM Play & Learn, preschoolers will love tackling the 20 fun, easy-to-follow step-by-step projects as they learn about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. At the preschool level, this doesn’t mean trying to teach your kids robotics and engineering, but rather presenting them with open-ended projects that allow them to problem-solve, make mistakes, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
While most preschool-age children are not yet reading, STEAM Play & Learn is meant to be child-driven. The images, illustrations, and projects are meant to appeal to kids of their age and abilities. Let them be the guide as you explore the projects in this book. Topics include symmetry and how light bounces to create reflections with mirror mandalas, diffusion and capillary action with tie dye towels, structural framing and bracing with marshmallow structures, and electrical currents with salty circuits. Other projects include:
Color Mixing Lab
Frozen Goop
Sound Tubes
Citrus Volcanoes
Paper Bag Blocks
Egg Carton Geoboards
Pool Noodle Marble Run
Potions Lab
Balance Scale
Spin Art Tops
Marble Mazes
Tinkering Set
Pattern Projectors
Newton’s Cradle
Art Machine
Lime Light
The projects in this book fall into three difficulty levels: Easy projects require parents and teachers to do nothing more than set out the materials and offer a challenge to children. A few of the easy projects will need parents to assemble components in advance of presenting them to kids. Medium projects will require some adult assistance while the project is underway. Children should be able to complete some of the tasks while stopping periodically for an adult to assist in a step. Difficult projects are meant to be adult-led. This is an opportunity for parents to encourage their child to offer problem-solving ideas along the way, giving children a chance to help and make suggestions.
The cross-subject approach to learning in STEAM Play & Learn will prepare young children for the subjects they will soon learn in elementary school and beyond. These 20 projects will provide hours of fun education for both kids and parents!
From the Publisher
What Is STEAM?
The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM learning is project-based and cross-disciplinary, with an emphasis on problem-solving and teamwork. Not only is STEAM a model for education, but it’s also a way of approaching life.
At the preschool level, this doesn’t mean trying to teach your kids robotics and engineering, but rather presenting them with open-ended projects that allow them to problem solve, make mistakes, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
How to Use This Book
While most preschool children are not yet reading, this book is meant to be child driven. The images, illustrations, and projects are meant to appeal to kids of their age and abilities. Let them be the guide as you explore the projects in this book.
Safety
Safety concerns are called out per project. Please read them in advance of working on a project. You know your child best. If they are prone to putting things in their mouth, skip the projects with marbles. Some project steps, like hot gluing or cutting cardboard, should always be done by an adult.
Difficulty Levels
Easy projects require parents and teachers to do nothing more than set out the materials and offer a challenge to children. A few of the easy projects will need parents to assemble components in advance of presenting them to kids
Medium projects will require some adult assistance while the project is underway. Children should be able to complete some of the tasks while stopping periodically for an adult to assist in a step
Difficult projects are meant to be adult-led. This is an opportunity for parents to encourage their child to offer problem-solving ideas along the way, giving children a chance to help and make suggestions
Science & Art: Citrus Volcanoes (Easy)
Be careful! Lemon juice is a mild skin irritant.
Make volcanoes using citrus fruits! Add baking soda and dish soap to a juicy fruit and watch a mini fizzing volcano erupt. Put a few drops of food coloring and the foam becomes an abstract mixture of color.
Parent Prep
Cut a large hole in the top of the fruit. If the fruit won’t sit flat on the tray, then slice the bottom to make it flat.
Materials
Citrus fruits: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine
Knife (for adult use only)
Craft stick
Dish soap
Lemon or lime juice (squeeze a few lemons or buy a bottle)
Baking soda
Food coloring
Spoon
Tray
Can you tell which citrus fruits contain the most citric acid?
1
Place the fruit in the center of a tray. Squish the insides of the fruit with a craft stick to bring out the juice. Lemons and limes work best. Can you figure out why?
2
Squeeze some dish soap into the juice. Drop in a different color of food coloring to create colorful foam. The Art: When you add food coloring to this chemical reaction, you get wonderfully colored foam that looks like a piece of abstract art. Abstract art doesn’t show a subject. It is made of shapes and colors.
3
Add a few drops of food coloring and a spoonful of baking soda. Add lemon juice and more baking soda to make the volcano erupt again.
4
Stir the center with the craft stick. More: How can you preserve this art? Can you take a picture? Can you draw a sketch of it? Can you make a print by dipping a piece of paper on the top?
Publisher : Walter Foster Jr.; Illustrated edition (June 5, 2018)
Language : English
Paperback : 80 pages
ISBN-10 : 1633225267
ISBN-13 : 978-1633225268
Reading age : 2 – 4 years, from customers
Lexile measure : NC830L
Grade level : Preschool – Kindergarten
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 8.7 x 0.4 x 11.05 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book easy to follow and engaging. They appreciate the simple science experiments and fun activities that kids love. The photos are colorful, clear, and bright.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
