STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) can be a very effective way to bring excitement of maths to young students and it also helps elaborate the complicated lesson in a very practical way leading to better performance of students.
To contribute to effective teaching and learning mathematic in education, MoEYS’ national maths taskforce, with the support of VVOB, recorded five video clips showing how to embed STEM activities in teaching primary mathematics. These activities are extremely useful for (future) primary school teachers to inspire pupils in a fun and playful way to learn maths. Integrating STEM activities in their lessons will lead to increased creativity and innovation in maths lessons. Primary age students might not even notice they are learning fundamental skills through fun and playful activities.
Check out this video clip on making a water rocket to explore volume of water and air. Mr. Heng Seiha, maths teacher trainer of the Regional Teacher Training Center in Kampong Cham, led his student teachers to make a water rocket with easy-to-find materials, such as a water bottle, colored paper, glue, etc. Student teachers use their maths knowledge acquired during the previous lessons on volume, to build the most stable and powerful water rocket.
Making Water Rocket
The student teachers express their strong interest and excitement since the activity allowed them to utilize a lot of their knowledge, creativity, and skills to be able to make the water rocket. Student teachers claim that they will apply it with their pupils to let them practise what they have learned including their skills to estimate volume, weight, and height through fun teamwork activities. They believe that pupils will be able to apply the theory into practice to gain essential skills related to the lesson's objective. The competition element in this activity is a stimulating and motivating factor for Primary school students, making the learning more fun as well as making sure the knowledge is imbedded in their memory for future reference.
Balance Scale
The use of a balance scale is an activity that students learn in lessons on weight at primary schools. It is a tool that we use to measure objects to determine which one is lighter or heavier.
According to the lesson in this video, delivered by Mr. Chea Panhha, maths Teacher Trainer at the Provincial Teacher Training College in Kampong Cham, student teachers were able to estimate weight of different objects and to create simple tools from easy-to find materials available around them to compare their weight. Moreover, this STEM activity is linked to mathematics lessons such as estimation and comparison of objects’ weight. This activity can be applied from grades 1 to 3. Through this activity, pupils are able to gain estimation skills on weight of different objects and use scales to confirm their estimation.
Both videos are part of a series illustrating how teacher educators facilitate STEM activities during their math lessons to prepare future primary school teachers. Let’s explore more video clips of STEM activities on VVOB’s YouTube channel.
The Strengthening Math Results and Teaching (SMART) programme focusses on math teaching methodology integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) activities. By promoting innovative and self-exploring STEM activities, students are encouraged to explore new ways of learning mathematics, embedding meaningful real-life activities and problems. More information on the SMART programme can be find here.
