6 Ways to Energize STEM Classrooms
STEM is everywhere. Whether students are watching local weather patterns, mixing oil and vinegar together, or using their favorite apps, STEM is a part of it all. Yet, despite STEM's relevance to everyday life, student interest and achievement in these subjects indicate there is still room for improvement.
Recent data shows that math and science scores are lower than pre-pandemic levels. Students say they are frequently bored during math lessons and want more real-world problems. In science, fewer students are participating in inquiry-related activities, even though inquiry is correlated with higher science scores.
How can schools make STEM exciting and relevant in preK-12 classrooms, without overwhelming teachers? Here are a few suggestions.
1) Support teachers with high-quality professional learning and resources.
As schools ramp up their STEM education efforts, teachers need strong support to integrate STEM across all grade levels and content areas. Instead of one-size-fits-all programs, professional development (PD) should focus on teachers' personal application of learning. Flexible online options — such as STEM certification programs, micro certificates, and on-demand courses — can meet teachers where they are in their teaching careers and STEM education journeys.
Beyond PD, teachers need access to engaging, standards-aligned curricula that promote inquiry-based learning. Most teachers say there's not enough time in the workday to accomplish all their tasks, so they shouldn't be expected to scour the internet for STEM resources for their students or themselves. In addition to digital and print resources, curricula should include ready-made exploration kits and comprehensive educator resources — such as lesson plans, how-to guides, and videos — so teachers have everything they need to deliver STEM instruction confidently and effectively.
2) Bring learning to life with hands-on activities and real-world connections.
When students ask, "Why are we learning this?" or "When will I ever use this outside of school?" they're asking for relevance. Demonstrating how STEM connects to the world around them is a powerful way to spark their curiosity and interest.
The 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) provides a helpful framework for implementing real-world problems and hands-on activities — and it can be applied in any STEM subject. As students move through the five phases, they connect concepts with prior knowledge and apply their learning to new contexts. They engage their senses and experience STEM firsthand, leading to deeper understanding.
In addition, physical and virtual manipulatives and interactive simulations offer students hands-on ways to experiment, visualize concepts, and construct their own understanding. These experiences not only make abstract concepts more concrete, but they also make learning more fun.
3) Embrace playful learning.
Play is a powerful tool as well. Learning through play engages the senses and promotes exploration for students of all ages.
Digital games, board games, card games, and whole-group activities such as math bingo, science scavenger hunts, and trivia contests help students reinforce skills, build fact fluency, and explore topics in an exciting way. Games also offer multiple entry points to STEM content, which can reduce stress and anxiety.
Another way to make learning feel more game-like is to implement a system that motivates student effort and growth. Award points or virtual rewards (e.g., badges) as students complete tasks, hit milestones, or show improvement based on their goals.
When the classroom atmosphere shifts from pressure to play, students are more willing to take risks, persevere, and view challenges as opportunities to grow.
4) Foster collaboration.
STEM thrives on collaboration and discourse. When students work together, they become better problem-solvers and develop valuable life skills like communication, adaptability, and teamwork.
Group projects — such as science experiments, coding challenges, engineering design tasks, and math puzzles — give students opportunities to brainstorm, explain their thinking, listen to others' approaches, compare problem-solving methods, and build on each other's thinking. This exchange of ideas deepens learning and boosts students' confidence as they teach and learn from each other. Peer tutoring and small-group study sessions are also effective ways to strengthen comprehension and provide targeted support.
Teachers benefit from collaboration, too. Setting aside regular time for teachers to plan, share strategies, and reflect together fosters ongoing professional growth and increases enthusiasm and job satisfaction.
5) Use phenomena to fuel student interest.
Phenomena — such as chemical reactions or interactions in local ecosystems — ignite students' curiosity. These real-life events and processes inspire students to ask questions and make connections to the world around them, which makes STEM more meaningful.
News stories, photographs, and videos also provide authentic ways to introduce phenomena. From there, a hands-on experiment or activity can give students the opportunity to explore the phenomenon firsthand. Answering open-ended questions helps them connect their observations to key concepts and ideas. Finally, sharing their findings encourages reflection and discussion.
6) Tell a story.
Storytelling is another way to teach STEM concepts and contextualize learning. Instead of presenting isolated facts, formulas, or definitions, stories bring ideas to life through relatable characters and real-world problems. Narratives draw students in, helping them connect emotionally to the content. Framing a STEM concept as a mystery, adventure, or mission — for example, helping a character save their coastal town from rising sea levels — builds a sense of purpose. As students analyze the problem and test possible solutions to the character's situation, they enhance their cognitive engagement and long-term memory retention.
The Path Forward
Hands-on, real-world learning taps into students' natural inquisitiveness, turning questions into exploration and exploration into understanding. When students see how STEM connects to their lives, they want to dive deeper. Making STEM more accessible and exciting doesn't just improve achievement outcomes; it cultivates lifelong learners who see STEM as a way to understand and change the world.