Toys, Toilet Rolls and Tadpoles — Oh, My!

WRITTEN BY DOY CAVE

Growing up, I lived next to a massive drainage ditch. My friends and I would spend hours along its filthy banks, fascinated by a world teeming with bullfrogs, water moccasins, pollywogs and crawdads.

However, if my mother knew about the neardeath experiences I had there, she’d have had a heart attack. Luckily, the stuff she knew about only brought her close to a stroke.

Imminent dangers aside, that drainage ditch was a place filled with life and wonder — a perfect environment to be introduced to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Kania Greer, Ed.D., director of the Center for STEM Education at Georgia Southern, says STEM isn’t merely about lab coats, chemicals and explosions. It’s about unlocking creativity, fostering problem-solving skills and transforming kids into critical thinkers.

“The influx of STEM-related jobs is huge and it’s constantly growing,” said Greer. “And that’s part of the importance of learning it. But the bigger importance or the bigger benefit of STEM is critical thinking.”

And best of all, it’s something you can do with your kids at home.

Play Your Way Into Stem

“One of the key things I think parents need to know is STEM doesn’t have to be electronics and robots and gadgets, and it doesn’t have to cost anything,” said Greer.

Instead of purchasing STEM kits or fancy robotics, Greer suggests saving toilet paper rolls, drink bottles, restaurant straws and popsicle sticks, add some tape or glue and let your children build a car or a spaceship or a gadget — no instructions, just their creative brains at work.

“And then, the best part about it is once they build it, you can ask them questions about it,” said Greer. “How does it go? Where does it go? What are you thinking you would use for fuel? And get them to articulate the critical thinking behind what they’ve built. And again, it doesn’t have to work. It doesn’t have to be perfect. The idea is more to engage that part of their brain, the creative part that builds in the art part of it, but also get them thinking about how things are designed.”

Everyday Tasks As Stem

Greer says if you don’t have a collection of toilet paper rolls yet, you can make everyday tasks a creative way to learn STEM.

“If you have a garden, let them go outside and garden with you,” she said. “Give them a plot of dirt where it doesn’t matter what happens in that dirt. But that is their garden where they can plant their seeds.

“Maybe you’re trying to teach them practical mathematics. This can take place in the grocery store even with older kids who are learning. Here’s the grocery list. Here’s our budget. This is what we normally spend. Go figure out what we can buy.”

Want your kid to learn chemistry? Let them cook with you. Want them to learn biology? Take them for a walk in the backyard — more bugs and plants and critters than you would ever need.

Getting Help With Stem

Supporting STEM learning at home doesn’t mean parents have to go it alone. Georgia Southern’s Center for STEM Education is a valuable re- source for teachers in the area. Through their lending warehouse program, teachers have access to materials and supplies that enhance STEM education in the classroom.

“We want to ensure that teachers have the necessary resources without having to spend their own money,” said Greer. “From paper rocket launchers to base ten blocks, we provide a range of tools that can make STEM learning engaging and hands-on.”

The Center also works closely with local schools, offering STEM field experiences for students. By bringing students to Georgia Southern’s campus and immersing them in hands-on activities conducted by faculty members, they get a taste of the exciting possibilities of STEM education.

By the time you read this column, summer will be winding down, but there is still plenty of time to get some learning time with your kids. I’m sure these ideas will be a great start.

However, if you want your kids to get an adrenaline-filled, hair-raising, marginally lifeand-death experience, there’s a big drainage ditch on San Anton Drive in Savannah I’ll be happy to show you. S