National STEM/STEAM Day, celebrated each year on Nov. 8, encourages students to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with STEAM adding the arts to encourage creativity alongside technical skills.
And what better way to make those connections than by rolling up your sleeves and diving right in?
At the St. Johns River Water Management District (District), the Blue School Grant Program gives students opportunities to do just that by supporting educational projects focused on Florida’s water resources.
Through Blue School Grants, students explore topics such as water quality, freshwater resources and water conservation while putting STEM and STEAM skills into action. Whether they’re collecting and analyzing data, using technology to investigate their environment, exploring solutions to water-related challenges or finding creative ways to share what they discover, students are applying skills across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in meaningful, hands-on ways.
The projects may look different from one classroom to the next, but they share a common goal: getting students engaged in learning while building a greater understanding of Florida’s water resources. Along the way, students are also developing skills in problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking and seeing how what they learn in the classroom can connect to real-world careers.
National STEM/STEAM Day is a chance to celebrate that curiosity and encourage students to keep exploring. Whether conducting an experiment, heading outside to investigate the natural world or finding a creative way to solve a problem, there are plenty of ways to put STEM and STEAM into action.
This Nov. 8, the District celebrates the teachers’ creating opportunities for students to learn by doing and the young scientists, engineers, artists and problem-solvers discovering how their skills can make a difference for Florida’s water.
