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STEAM in Education

Power up STEAM with NASA and project-based learning.

A woman and a child work together on a creative science project with geometric structures made of sticks, marshmallows, and other craft materials at a table. Other children are visible in the background.

STEAM is an integrative approach that builds student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math as it develops a range of important skills. The multidisciplinary nature of STEAM addresses the ISTE Standards and reinvents learning by:

  • Promoting collaboration among educators across disciplines to develop projects or challenges.
  • Designing activities that use data to address real-world issues.
  • Helping students apply higher-order thinking skills to open-ended problems.
  • Allowing students to design and innovate.

The STEAM approach fosters innovation, values real-world application, builds content knowledge and provides hands-on learning opportunities for students. With STEAM, educators can capture the imagination and empower students to explore a universe of possibilities.

Your road map to STEAM projects

Discover creative ideas for blending arts with science, technology, engineering and math with project ideas and best practices in the book STEAM Power by Tim Needles.

A man in a red jacket shows a large rock to three children outdoors. The kids, wearing backpacks, look curious and engaged as they examine the rock together in a wooded area.

Deepen learning of space science

The NASA STEAM Innovation Lab brings together NASA scientists, engineers and educators to explore and develop ideas related to space science in a variety of learning environments.

Illustration with the text “Be a NASA scientist!” Three cartoon astronauts float in space; one uses tools, one rides a rover, and one collects samples. The NASA logo and planets are in the background.

Discover free NASA lessons and activities

Explore STEM videos, activities, experiments and data sets that allow your students to learn real-world science in the classroom or on their own.

A child with braided hair examines plants outdoors with a magnifying glass, holding a pencil and a notebook, engaged in nature exploration.

Engage students in citizen science

The best way to learn about science is to do science. Participate in STEM research with some citizen science projects to help scientists unravel the mysteries of the universe.

Learn More From These Articles, Videos and Websites

Video: ISTE Standards In Action: Innovative Designer

Students in Ashley Chassard’s science class at Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia, are involved in real-world research to discover if estrogen can prevent degradation of neurons in the brain that is associated with Parkinson’s disease.

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Article: The How’s And Why’s Of Going ‘Full STEAM Ahead’ In Your Classroom

Giving children the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing technology-based economy is the key to ensuring their future success.

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Article: For Teachers, A STEAM Workshop Where Arts Are Key

Crayola’s CreatED workshops get learners thinking about the concepts that power technology in a tactile, hands-on way, even when they’re not using any.

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Lesson Plans: Microsoft Education

Find free ready-made STEM lessons that allow students to explore the topics they are curious about — from sharks and circuits to life aboard the International Space Station.

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Get Peer Support for All Things STEAM

Connect brings together education change agents from around the world to share STEAM lessons and resources, get answers to questions and share best practices.

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STEM In Early Education - A Guide to Integrating Technology

Discover how cutting-edge educational technology—from digital cameras to AI—can transform early childhood STEM learning through immersive, hands-on experiences.

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Member Only Webinars

ISTE Webinars, offered as a member benefit, deliver the latest edtech ideas, strategies and support for STEM and STEAM in bite-sized pieces.
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