Three copies of Chris Vine’s Peter’s Railway books have been sent out to all 24,000 primary schools in the UK in a STEM project funded by Nick Jarmany CEO of gaming machine company, Quixant plc. STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.
Nick says: “Our simple aim is to encourage a growing interest in STEM subjects, and through this early interest to encourage more girls and boys to pursue exciting technical careers.
“As a father of two young children, I came across a wonderful series of books that manage to combine traditional story telling with ‘how it works’ explanations. I was surprised how my son latched onto the technical aspects and wanted to learn more.”
Chris explains that the books were sent out last week “and we have also put lots of free classroom resources on our website Schools page.
“Let’s hope they have fun, engaging children with engineering and STEM. If you know any teachers (or children!) please could you ask them to look out for the books when they arrive...
“Please tell your friends about this wonderful initiative.”
Get involved
MEWS readers might be interested in helping with the STEM initiative.
STEM Ambassadors are volunteers who offer their time and enthusiasm to help bring STEM subjects to life and demonstrate their value in life and careers. STEM Ambassadors are an important resource for teachers and others engaging with young people in and outside of the classroom.
STEM Ambassadors include people from all disciplines and backgrounds including engineers, designers, architects, scientists and technicians. They help bring a new and inspiring perspective to STEM lessons and career opportunities. The aim is to ensure that teachers and schools, as well as community and youth groups and others engaging with young people, are able to access STEM Ambassador support to inspire and engage young people in STEM subjects.
What does being a STEM Ambassador involve?
As a STEM Ambassador, you can get involved in a wide variety of activities, all of which can have an impact on young people’s learning and enjoyment of STEM subjects, including:
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•supporting with lessons by bringing real-world problems for pupils to experience and solve
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•giving careers talks or helping at careers fairs
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•providing technical advice to teachers or practical support to STEM projects in and outside the classroom
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•helping schools make connections with employers and industry resources
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•working with governors to help improve the way STEM is delivered within a school.
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/ambassadors
