Getting "Fun and Playful" With STEAM

Where do YOU fit into the math, science or computer-science community?

Count Play Explore is making these topics accessible to everyone. And their content is fun, easy and free--for children ages birth to eight, their teachers and their families.

An initiative led by the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Early Care and Education Department, Count Play Explore offers playful math, science and computer science lessons.

And they start with storytelling or other fun activities.

Count Play Explore's website features more than 150 guides to children's books. These include lessons on money, problem solving, spatial thinking, geometry, life science and growth science.

In addition, there are videos, approximately two minutes each, of various everyday activities which can incorporate STEAM lessons.

"We want people to recognize that these things are fun to do, and you're doing them all the time," explains Fresno County Office of Education Director of STEM Education and Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Early Math Jonathan Dueck.

The goal, Jon says, is for all participants--students, parents and teachers--to see themselves as belonging in the areas of math, computer science and science.

"We want...people to have a good attitude about (these subjects) and not say things like, 'I'm not a math person,' or 'I'm just no good at science'," Jon says.

"Because we are. We are good at it; we just don't recognize how often we're taking advantage of the knowledge people see as 'everyday'."

On their website, Count Play Explore offers a tab with resources specifically for families, as well as one geared to educators. They also have a newsletter, to which everyone is welcome to subscribe.

In addition, they host training events, throughout the year, for educators--and in fact. for anyone who interacts with children. Many of these are free! One upcoming virtual event, "Early STEAM Fall Forum", is happening October 20th.

Jon shared the story of Count Play Explore, offered a closer look at some of their content and discussed what's coming next.