150 LONDON PUPILS EXPERIENCE HANDS-ON, FUTURE-FOCUSED STEM CHALLENGES AT BIG BANG LONDON

New learning service will inspire tomorrow’s STEM professionalsA new STEM learning service to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers was showcased by Discovery Education at The Big Bang Fair in London last week.

STEM Connect will provide teachers with exciting resources and activities to bring STEM learning to life for primary and secondary pupils in Key Stages 1 to 3. Offering enquiry-based activities, hands-on challenges and dynamic video content, the new service will help pupils to make the link between STEM subjects and real-world issues.

Based around themes from the United Nations Sustainable Goals, STEM Connect inspires pupils to explore the future challenges faced by our planet. Practical investigations show children how they can make an impact in addressing issues such as climate change and plastic pollution while shedding light on future STEM careers.

Designed to be used flexibly within timetabled lessons or in after-school STEM clubs, STEM Connect helps pupils to build valuable problem-solving skills as they develop and apply solutions to important real-world challenges. Exploring key STEM themes, it also consolidates learning in science, technology and maths, giving children a head-start in these subjects and helping them to see the interconnectedness of knowledge.

STEM Connect was showcased at The Big Bang London, a regional fair organised by Big Bang UK, the United Kingdom’s largest celebration of STEM for young people. Held over two days at Westminster Kingsway and Newham College on 3rd and 4th July the event welcomed schoolchildren from across the capital, with many trying out the new STEM Connect resources for the first time. Pupils designed and built miniature wind turbines and learned about how wind energy is harnessed for electricity.

Year 5 pupil Pedro from Laurel Lane Primary School in West Drayton said:

“It was really fun. I enjoyed building my own wind turbine and learning about renewable energy.”

Susanna Goldschmidt, Head of Publishing at Discovery Education said:

“STEM education is about preparing children for what’s next. Our new STEM Connect resources will teach children about sustainability and some of the biggest challenges facing our planet, while boosting enjoyment in these subjects and sparking interest in STEM Careers. Today’s pupils are tomorrow’s scientists. We’re looking forward to working with primary schools to get them ready!”

STEM Connect is available to primary schools now at: discoveryeducation.co.uk/stemconnect.