Examining the use of STEAM Education in Preschool Education

Abstract

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) initiatives are of current interest for both in-school and out-of-school contexts in North America. This is a new concept which is shifting educational paradigms towards art integration in STEM subjects. This article focuses on the need for STEAM education at the early childhood level and investigates the teaching and educational models of STEAM education in the kindergarten and in the first grades of primary school and how pre-school and primary school teachers see these models in the Greek context but also what students eventually learn from these models. The purpose of this chapter is to better understand the educational programs of STEAM education, which are offered by non-profit organizations and both public and private schools. Preschool children have a natural disposition toward science with their sense of curiosity and creativity. More research needs to be done in the area of STEAM implementation in the K-8 classrooms to incorporate engineering education.