STEM in preschool education: Nurturing creative thinking for children - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

- "STEM" is aneducational model based on an interdisciplinary approach including: science, technology, engineering, mathematics. Instead of studying each subject separately and separately, STEM integrates knowledge from many different fields, combining theory and practice, and training multidimensional thinking. Currently, many schools from primary to high school in the province have applied it in their curriculum. For preschool education, the 2024-2025 school year is the first year that the education sector has integrated it into the curriculum at preschools in the city.

Coming to Hoa Huong Duong Kindergarten, Lang Son city in early May 2025, we were surprised by the lively and exciting learning atmosphere of the children. Instead of traditional lessons, the children explored the world around them through colorful STEM activities. Coming to class 5 years old B, the teacher and students were conducting a small but extremely magical experiment: creating optical illusions. With funny drawings, straws and lights, under the enthusiastic guidance of the teacher, the children shouted with delight when the static images suddenly came to life, spinning as if by magic. The crisp laughter mixed with curious and exploratory eyes created a vivid picture of the STEM education method that is gradually nurturing creative thinking for the future young children at this school.

Ms. Dam Thi Ngoc Tu, Vice Principal of Hoa Huong Duong Kindergarten, Lang Son city said: After receiving instructions from the Department of Education and Training of the city, we asked teachers to proactively develop a plan to integrate STEM into each subject of the school year, with at least one STEM application lesson per month. Although this is the first year of implementation, teachers have had STEM lessons that have been highly appreciated by superiors such as: optical illusion lessons, orange squeezing practice, letter games, etc. From there, contributing to creating novelty in the curriculum, helping children know how to apply their knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences into each practical activity.

Students of 17/10 Kindergarten (Lang Son city) practice experiencing STEM products at the STEM Festival for preschool children in the 2024-2025 school year.

Accordingly, in the city, 100% of preschools have proactively integrated STEM into the teaching and learning program. Not only in the city area, Van Quan district is also a bright spot in applying STEM. For example, in April 2025, Van Quan Department of Education and Training successfully organized the district-level STEM Preschool Festival for the 2024-2025 school year, attracting the participation of more than 200 students, teachers and parents. At the festival, children had the opportunity to unleash their creativity and design unique STEM products from familiar materials such as cardboard, colored paper, plastic waste, etc., thereby demonstrating their ingenuity, rich aesthetic thinking and the ability to coordinate effective teamwork.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Van Quan district, said: In the 2024-2025 school year, Van Quan district has 20 kindergartens with nearly 4,000 students. To effectively apply STEM in teaching, 100% of teachers of kindergartens in the district are professionally trained, learn from STEM application experience; develop STEM topics into the education plans of subjects; 100% of teachers teaching subjects in the STEM field implement at least 2 STEM topics/school year right from the beginning of the school year; schools and school clusters proactively develop integration plans to suit the actual conditions of the unit...

The province currently has 231 kindergartens with more than 47,000 students. The STEM education method has been implemented synchronously in 100% of kindergartens in the province since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Accordingly, based on 9 main educational topics prescribed in the school year, including: kindergarten, family, profession, self... each teacher proactively researches and develops a plan to integrate STEM elements into the lesson content in a creative way, suitable for the psychological characteristics and cognitive abilities of each age group. Not only focusing on the main school hours, the application of STEM is also expanded to the play and learning space outside the classroom. Ms. Hoang Thi Ha, whose child is in the 5-year-old class at Na Sam Town Kindergarten, Van Lang district, said: I am very happy to see my child at school being taught by teachers applying STEM. Compared to traditional lessons, applying STEM helps children practice about 70% of each lesson. I noticed that after a period of doing STEM activities, children can remember lessons faster and have more skills than with old activities.

Currently, each kindergarten in the province is equipped with a separate STEM corner, the result of close coordination between the school and parents in investing in funds and facilities. These STEM corners are arranged by teachers in an open way, displaying a variety of toys, learning tools and rich materials, arranged in a neat, scientific and aesthetic manner, creating optimal conditions for children to both learn and play naturally and effectively. Vu Huyen Anh, 5-year-old class A, 19/5 Kindergarten, Lang Son city, confided: At school, my friends and I were taught by the teacher how to assemble animals; make bridges and houses with sticks and paper; do experiments with water and colors. I feel very happy to learn, play and discover many new things.

Students experience creating STEM products at the District-level Preschool STEM Festival for the 2024-2025 school year organized by the Department of Education and Training of Van Quan district.

The approach to STEM education is not only a change in form, but has really impacted the thinking and actions of the team of managers and preschool teachers in the province. We clearly see more initiative, creativity and flexibility in the way they design and organize educational activities. STEM has strongly stimulated the potential for discovery and thinking in children right from the first years of life, bringing practical results. Ms. Nguyen Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Department of Preschool - Primary Education, Department of Education and Training of the province said: STEM education brings not only the products and models that children create, but more importantly, the method contributes to the comprehensive development of important soft skills such as teamwork, problem solving, logical thinking and communication skills. This is a solid foundation, preparing the best luggage for children to confidently enter the next levels of education, while at the same time sustainably improving the quality of preschool education in the province.

The benefits that STEM brings to preschool children have truly helped children play smart, learn happily and grow up. Thereby, contributing to helping preschools complete the necessary foundations for children to develop comprehensively.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/stem-o-bac-hoc-mam-non-nuoi-duong-tu-duy-sang-tao-cho-tre-5047249.html