Learning about equal forces at East Meadow's Parkway Elementary

Kindergartners in Gabriella Banker’s class at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow learned about the basics of equal forces through a STEM activity on Feb. 2.

In this hands-on activity, students split up into groups of four and five as they each pulled on a string to put a rubber band around a cup to move and stack the cups. For the rubber band to open correctly, students had to work together as a team to equally pull the strings.

STEM activities — even in kindergarten — have become increasingly more important and popular, as they set a foundation for the future.

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, encourages students to approach problems and projects from a multidisciplinary perspective. By integrating concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, students are better equipped to solve real-world problems that often require a combination of skills from these domains.

Kindergarten STEM activities often involve hands-on exploration and experimentation. Children engage in activities such as building with blocks, exploring sensory materials, conducting simple science experiments, and using age-appropriate technology tools like educational apps or interactive learning games.

Leaning often involves collaboration and communication among children. Children work together in small groups to solve problems, build structures, conduct experiments, and share their findings with others. This promotes social skills, teamwork, and effective communication, which are essential skills in STEM fields.

The cup-stacking challenge was a great activity for kindergartners to facilitate teamwork.