How Benjamin Preparatory School Creates Lifelong Learners

By: Dr. Verna Benjamin Lambert

STEAM for preschoolers is hands on learning that mixes science, technology, engineering, arts and math into play, like building towers, mixing colors, sorting objects and asking "what happens if?" It doesn't mean worksheets or screens for 3 year olds. It means giving curious kids real things to touch, test and talk about, which is how lifelong learners get their start.

Young children already think like scientists. They drop a spoon off the high chair 20 times to see what happens. STEAM simply gives that curiosity some direction.

What is STEAM education?

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math. It grew out of STEM, which covers the same subjects without the arts. Adding the A recognizes that drawing, music, building and design use the same problem solving muscles as science and math.

For older students, STEAM can mean coding or robotics. For preschoolers, it's much simpler and much more physical. Pouring water, stacking blocks, counting snacks, painting and singing all count.

STEM vs STEAM for young children

STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. STEAM adds the arts, which gives young kids more ways in. A child who isn't interested in counting blocks might happily count beats in a song or shapes in a painting. Honestly, at this age the line between "art" and "science" is pretty blurry anyway, and that's a good thing.

Why does STEAM matter in preschool?

Early STEAM matters because the habits kids build at 3 and 4, like asking questions, testing ideas and sticking with a problem, carry into every subject later. There's research behind the math piece in particular. A study published in 2007 in the journal Developmental Psychology analyzed six studies covering close to 36,000 preschoolers and found that early math skills were strong predictors of later math achievement, according to the American Psychological Association's summary of the research.

Play is the delivery method. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that babies explore the properties of objects through play and that preschoolers begin using objects symbolically, which is early scientific and creative thinking. The AAP also links play to stronger language, math and social skills. You can read more in the AAP's guide to the power of play.

Here's what that means in plain terms. Kids who get to explore, make mistakes and try again learn that not knowing something yet is normal. That mindset is what makes a lifelong learner.

What are good STEAM activities for preschoolers?

The best STEAM activities for preschoolers are short, hands on and use everyday materials. These are general examples of what STEAM can look like at home or in a classroom.

STEAM letter	Simple preschool activity	Skill it builds
Science	Sink or float with bath toys, leaves and spoons	Predicting, observing, cause and effect
Science	Mixing baking soda and vinegar	Asking questions, describing changes
Technology	Using a magnifying glass or a simple timer	Using tools to learn more
Technology	Age appropriate learning games with an adult nearby	Following steps, early problem solving
Engineering	Building a block bridge for a toy car	Planning, testing, trying again
Arts	Mixing two paint colors to make a new one	Creativity, early color science
Arts	Clapping and stomping to a beat	Patterns, listening, coordination
Math	Sorting snacks or buttons by color and size	Counting, sorting, comparing
Math	Measuring flour with cups while cooking	Measurement, fractions in real life

Notice how many of these overlap. Cooking alone touches science, math and art. That's normal, and it's kind of the point.

Simple STEAM ideas to try at home

You don't need a kit. A few low effort ideas:

Let your child help measure and stir when you bake.
Fill a bin with water and see what sinks or floats.
Build a ramp with a board and race toy cars down it, then change the height.
Go on a nature walk and sort what you find by size or color.

Ask questions instead of giving answers. "What do you think will happen?" does more than any explanation.

What does a whole child approach to STEAM look like?

A whole child approach means teaching the mind alongside the body, heart and character. STEAM fits well here because hands on projects ask kids to share materials, take turns, talk about ideas and handle frustration when a tower falls.

One honest limitation: STEAM isn't a magic formula, and a preschool that labels everything "STEAM" isn't automatically better. What matters is whether children are actually touching, testing and talking every day, with teachers who ask good questions. When you tour schools, look for that.

How does STEAM+ work at Benjamin Preparatory School?

At Benjamin Prep, we call our approach STEAM+. It covers science, technology, engineering, arts and math, and the plus means we examine those subjects through the lens of scripture. Children learn how the world works and who made it.

Here's how STEAM+ shows up in our school:

Creation Station: Students experiment with science and cooking for a school run weekly cooking show. It's measuring, mixing, observing and performing, all in one.
Computer lab: Children use learning games in our computer lab, a guided introduction to technology.
World's Stage Desk: Kids learn about the music, food, arts and customs of other cultures, which builds curiosity about the wider world.
Daily arts: Our curriculum includes daily exposure to arts, academics, athletics and a bilingual program, so the A in STEAM gets real time every day.

STEAM+ is one part of our broader academics program, which the school describes as Christ centered and research driven. It also connects to our Seven Stages of Wellness, the framework we use to raise children who are well rounded, well versed, well spoken and well grounded, along with well mannered, well nourished and well loved.

If you'd like to see Creation Station or our classrooms in person, book a tour of our Vinings campus.

How do STEAM and play work together?

They work together naturally. Most good STEAM for preschoolers looks exactly like play, because it is play with a question attached. Building, pretending, pouring and painting are where early science and math live. Our post on play based preschool and learning through play explains the research on why that works, and our article on how early childhood education affects later school success looks at the bigger picture.

Frequently asked questions

What does STEAM stand for in preschool?

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math. In preschool, it means hands on activities like building, sorting, mixing and painting that build curiosity and problem solving. It's mostly play with a purpose, not formal lessons.

What age should children start STEAM activities?

Children can start simple STEAM play as toddlers, with stacking, pouring and sorting. By 3 to 5 years, they're ready for activities like sink or float, measuring while cooking and building bridges. Keep activities short and follow your child's interest.

Is STEAM better than STEM for preschoolers?

For young children, STEAM is usually a better fit because the arts give more entry points. Music, drawing and movement use patterns, shapes and problem solving too. Both approaches can work well when they're hands on.

Does STEAM in preschool mean screen time?

No. Most preschool STEAM uses blocks, water, paint and everyday objects. Technology for this age often means simple tools like magnifying glasses, timers or guided learning games with an adult nearby.

What is STEAM+ at Benjamin Prep?

STEAM+ is Benjamin Prep's version of STEAM. It covers science, technology, engineering, arts and math, examined through the lens of scripture, and includes programs like Creation Station, World's Stage Desk and a computer lab with learning games.

Is Benjamin Preparatory School the right fit for your family?

If you want a preschool where curious kids cook, build, perform and explore God's world every day, our STEAM+ approach was designed with your child in mind.

Benjamin Preparatory School is a Christian preschool and daycare in the Vinings area of Atlanta at 2445 Church Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, serving children from 6 weeks old through 2nd grade. Each school day blends faith, STEAM+ academics and daily performing arts like tap, ballet, music and drama, and a whole foods menu is included. Families in Vinings, Smyrna, Cumberland, Mableton and northwest Atlanta choose Benjamin Prep so their children can grow in faith, learning and confidence in one place. Families driving in from Marietta or Kennesaw are welcome too, and a tour is the easiest way to see whether the commute and the fit work for you.

Schedule a tour of our Vinings campus, get directions, see our programs by age, or call (770) 436-5200 to talk with our team.

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