STEAM Education in kindergarten - a step toward to the future

This project is the result of the analysis of the needs and willingness of teachers from six kindergartens to improve their pedagogical and digital competencies for the application of the STEAM ap...

The aim of the current project proposal was to improve the educational environment and make learning more interesting, useful, accessible and stimulating for children by improving the pedagogical competencies of teachers to implement STEAM learning in kindergarten. We analyzed the needs of the participants and set the following specific goals for the partnership: to develop children's natural curiosity about the world around them; to form children's skills for active learning through observation, research and experimentation; to build positive attitudes towards science, technology, art and mathematics; to form attitudes for participation in teamwork to stimulate activity and independence; to motivate teachers to expand the methodological approaches used to achieve the goals of the project; to encourage school authorities to maintain capacity and develop European traditions in school education; to make parents part of the idea of ​​the project; attracting representatives of public institutions to implement the project activities and popularize the results.

All project activities were directed towards achieving the goals of the partnership. For better operational efficiency, the project is divided into three-month modules. This gives enough time to organize and carry out a few activities. It allows each participant to implement different initiatives on the topic. By sharing them with others, we achieve one of the goals of the project to exchange good educational practices and ideas. Project management: 11.2021 - We launched the project. A management team was selected in each partner institution; We have created an eTwinning project with the same name https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/etwinning/projects/steam-kindergarten-0/twinspace/pages/about-us, project site https://www.canva.com/ design/DAFbqKY6fKk/IH1IKawKzpUJ0O8rOb17qg/edit? utm_content=DAFbqKY6fKk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2 &utm_source=sharebutton , Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068379879692. Each partner featured the project on their institution's website. 12. 2021 – first online meeting, after approval for project financing; 01. 2022 - The Spanish partners prepared a survey on the knowledge and attitudes of teachers on the implementation of STEAM learning in kindergartens; 04.2022 – second online meeting; 05.2022 - LTT Bulgaria ' STEAM Kindergarten Training - Nature, Principles and Methods of Implementation ' 06.2022– LTT NMacedonia ' Involving parents for effective STEAM training“ 09. 2022 – first management meeting Bulgaria 09. 2022 - conducting a survey among teachers about the benefits of working in the Science module, data analysis 10. 2022 – LTT Italy 'Comparative analysis of curricula and educational content in Science, Technology, Design, Arts and Mathematics in partner countries' 12. 2022 - presentation of an interim report on the project 03. 2023 - 'Role of sites of public importance for the promotion of STEAM education in kindergarten' 06. 2023 'Project-based education in kindergarten - STEM technologies, strategies and applications” 07. 2023 - second interim report 10. 2023 – “Impact of STEAM training on children” 10. 2023, the Final scientific-practical conference 'STEAM training - a step forward to the future ' was held; 12. 2023 – second transnational meeting; Project activities: 02- 05.2022 – Science module; 06-08.2022 - work with parents; 09- 11.2022- module 'Technologies'; 12.2022- 02.2023 - 'Construction' module; 04 - 06.2023 - module 'Arts'; 09 - 11.2022 - module 'Mathematics'; We launched a survey to select a logo for the project; We created an information corners; Project banner; Information board in each institution; Based on the idea of ​​the Italian partners, we created a book 'The Story of Mama Europe'; 21.03. 2023 International Day of People with Down Syndrome in all partner organizations; 22.03.2022, 2023 World Water Day in all partner organizations; Online meeting with partners from Poland - 'Children teaching children'; A closed ecosystem was created in all partner organizations - sowing, tracking growth, using the products, composting....; Presentation of the activities of the project at a seminar organized jointly with kindergarten 'Zornitsa', Karlovo; Work with parents - STEAM school for parents - thematic parent meeting with lecturer Phd. Aksenia Tileva from Thrace University - Faculty of Pedagogy - St. Zagora; Fourth online meeting with partners; 10. 2022. STEAM days of the open doors in kindergarten 'Pchelitsa ' - Kazanlak; 04.11.2022 A working meeting was held with students from the PF of the TU - Stara Zagora to disseminate the results of the project activities; 23.11.2022 all partner organizations shared through videos or presentations how each of them celebrated World Science Day; 12. 2022 'Give a smile' charity campaign was held in all partner organizations - Bulgaria - Italy - Spain - N Macedonia - Poland - Romania 26.09.2022, 2023 - European Day of Foreign Languages; Erasmus Days 2022,2023, organizing various events. 12.04 2023 Aviation and Cosmonautics Day; Italy, NMacedonia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Bulgaria, International Lego Day, 15.04.2023 - World Art Day, Art Forest created, The life and activities of famous people from the cities of the partner countries were presented. 27.03. 2023 Day of European authors Massive open online courses /MOOC/: - 10 – 11.2022 'STEAM education in kindergarten - a step forward to the future' In which more than 54 teachers from all partner countries participated; - 02. 2023 'Kindergarten without toys - prevention of children's addiction to objects'. Participants in this course were over 35 teachers from all partner institutions; In July and August activities aimed at families and parents - Night Explorers - Traveling Exhibition 2022-2023, Toys from waste materials Exhibition; Surveys with teachers, children, principals and parents to evaluate the project; Presentation of final reports by the partners; preparation of a final project report.

Achieved results are: Intangible: The children: - They received new knowledge and competences for personal realization and development, for active citizenship and social inclusion; permanent knowledge of the environment, nature and life of children from other European countries; A lasting interest in science, technology, construction, arts and mathematics is created; An attitude has been built for independent and team work, for solving complex problems; Acquired skills to search for possible solutions to problem situations; They have developed their creative talents and desire to explore and experiment. Children with disabilities have gained the confidence and self-esteem to participate in various STEAM activities, developed socially meaningful experiences and attitudes that will serve them throughout their lives. Teachers: Enriched their professional competences by exchanging experience and ideas with colleagues from other European countries; gained knowledge about educational systems, programs and innovative practices in the partner countries; learned useful techniques for organizing a supportive STEAM learning environment; improved their language and communication skills; have increased their professional self-esteem and will be motivated to continue working to raise the prestige of their school; increased their pedagogical and digital competences; acquired new knowledge about the essence and principles of organizing STEAM education in kindergarten; enriched their skills in creating developing STEAM situations; changed their attitudes to apply innovative approaches in their work. The schools and kindergartens participating in the project have established active relationships between their managements to support the implementation of project activities, as well as exchange of experience and good management decisions. By actively involving parents in project activities, they: increased their trust in educational institutions and education as a value; acquired knowledge and practical skills to build a STEAM environment at home and maintain children's interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Other teachers from the partner countries were informed about the nature of STEAM learning in kindergarten and the project activities through the various dissemination initiatives. The local community, businesses and associated partners were informed about the nature of STEAM training and European twinning opportunities. Material results are: - E-book 'STEAM training in kindergarten'; - Collection of reports from an international scientific and practical conference; Project site. The e-book we developed during the project contains two sections – the first is a methodical guide for teachers, with the necessary information for organizing educational and practical activities with children, sample interactive lessons, useful links for finding information. The section for children has educational games, tests, instructions for making various objects or toys from waste materials and experiments. All games are adapted for children with SEN, and can be used to improve children's language skills in both their native and foreign languages. The e-book is in the working language of the project and in the native language of each partner. It is available through the e-Twinning platform to all teachers who wish to use it. The following holidays were held in all partner institutions: Water day, Day of people with Down syndrome, Earth day, Europe Day, European Day of Foreign Languages ​, Erasmus Days, International Lego Day, Day of Aviation and Astronautics, World Art Day, Day of European Authors. Through video conference connections, we were able to experience the holidays together, thus strengthening the children's sense of European belonging. In the program of each LTT meeting, Short-term joint staff training events were organized with the participation of teachers from the partner kindergartens, as well as teachers, directors and representatives of the regional administrations of education in the host country. Events were organized to get acquainted with the life and culture of the partners. Each partner organization organized for the children a visit to socially significant sites with the aim of enriching STEAM knowledge and provoking their interest. With the cooperation of the parents, we organized exhibitions and charity campaigns. In October 2023, we organized an international scientific and practical conference in the city of Craiova, Romania, which was attended by teachers and principals from partner countries, representatives of educational institutions, university professors from Romania and Bulgaria, representatives of the Municipality of Craiova and the city of Struga, NMacedonia, as well as and local businesses and organizations that were indirect participants in the project. The collection of reports was issued on electronic media and on paper.