4 Ways Humanities Teachers Can Strengthen STEM Learning

In the buzzing world of STEM education, there’s always something new and exciting to explore with students. From remarkable discoveries to tech advancements, STEM education is a driving force behind the next generation of great thinkers and innovators. So, how can humanities teachers get involved?

With the importance of making cross-curricular connections in STEM, humanities teachers can enhance project-based learning experiences while gaining new teaching strategies along the way. Led by qualified local educators, Camp Invention^® programs bring hands-on STEM and invention education experiences to K-6 students across the country to spark curiosity and creativity. Now, more than ever, such interdisciplinary approaches to STEM need educators from all backgrounds.

Through experiences combining STEM and humanities, educators can bridge the gap between technical skills and critical thinking about societal challenges. From helping students explore the history of inventions to explaining how scientific discoveries propel humanity forward, humanities teachers often add value to STEM programs – even without STEM teaching experience! Read on to learn how humanities teachers can help STEM programs thrive.

1. Supporting Critical Thinking

With critical thinking skills, anything is possible! Humanities teachers bring an analytical perspective to STEM experiences by directing student attention to the how and why.  Humanities teachers can help broaden the way students view a challenge and interpret the different outcomes of a solution before the creative problem solving begins.

2. Boosting Literacy Skills

Supporting achievement in reading and writing can make a world of difference for a student excelling in math and science. ​From phonetics to reading comprehension, humanities teachers can help guide students to build literacy skills as they dive into STEM. In fact, many STEM programs can help children to expand their vocabulary as they tackle new terminology, adding context to their STEM discoveries.

3. Encouraging Creativity and Design

Innovation involves great design. Teachers in humanities and the arts are great at encouraging student creativity. As students sketch prototypes and personalize their custom creations, art teachers can identify useful skills for STEAM.

4. Emphasizing Humanism

It has been said that science teaches us how to build, but humanities teach us why we build. By prompting students to reflect on how innovation can transform the world around us, humanities teachers can create authentic learning experiences that drive student investment in community.

Striving for Innovative Education Experiences

For educators looking for professional development opportunities, teaching students how to improve their adaptability, sharpen their critical thinking skills and envision themselves as innovators is a great way to help expand your teaching strategies – and Camp Invention puts each of these goals within reach. Enabling dedicated educators to bring fresh new experiences to students every summer, Camp Invention takes a holistic approach to STEM education by facilitating hands-on experiences that guide children to develop an innovative mindset.

With a turnkey, easy-to-implement curriculum, this program is designed to ignite curiosity, making summers exciting and engaging for both teachers and students​. With real-world challenges inspired by National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees, Camp Invention makes it easy for educators to use the power of storytelling to inspire the next generation of changemakers.

Find More Pathways to STEM

Every child’s STEM learning can be enhanced by the humanities and passionate teachers of all backgrounds. Keep exploring our blog for more key insights in education.