How to Engage All Learning Styles in STEM with the VARK Model
STEM classrooms are full of different types of learners in the classroom, each with their own strengths and needs.
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You know the moment: a student’s eyes light up when the science experiment fizzes or the math puzzle helps them understand the concept because they physically engaged with it. That’s the “aha” moment.
It’s this type of moment teachers live for.
If you’ve ever watched a student discover something for themselves, you already know why hands-on learning is important.
The old phrase “learn by doing” captures the essence of hands-on learning. Historically, elementary lessons were once much more about lecturing and explaining. But hands-on learning is how today’s students master application of the material, helping them go beyond simply memorizing and instead experiencing the concepts first hand.
To put it plainly: research shows that when kids build, touch, and experiment, they don’t just memorize facts. They truly understand them.
For elementary students, these hands-on experiences help turn curiosity into comprehension. It’s where big ideas in science, math and engineering start to make sense through touch, movement, and exploration.
Let’s explore why hands on learning is important for young learners and how it builds the foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong curiosity.
At its core, hands-on learning means students are building, creating, discussing, and problem-solving rather than merely listening or reading.
Hands-on learning is more than making lessons fun, although it does do that. It also aligns with how our brains naturally work. Learning by doing leads to real world understanding and improved critical thinking.
When we interact with our environment, we form stronger memories and better understand concepts.
"The more ways we learn something, the more chances our brain has to remember it."
Think about when you learned to ride a bike. Watching someone else ride a bike wouldn’t get you very far. You had to hop on, figure out how to balance and maneuver, and learn from each wobble and fall.
Hands-on learning allows students to experience what they're learning.
The rise in the popularity of hands-on learning isn’t out of the blue.
Students have always enjoyed hands-on learning because it gives them opportunities to interact with the subject, lesson, or activity in a meaningful way.
This experience allows students to learn more and take ownership of that learning.
Hands-on learning stands out as one of the most effective learning strategies, especially for complex subjects in STEM.
More teachers and experts recognize the need to adapt to various learning styles since not all students succeed in a traditional classroom setting.
Some students thrive when they're moving, touching, and doing.
For these active learners, hands-on methods can make the difference between dreading school and loving it.
Using Hands-on learning in the classroom allows students to develop the tools, skills, and experiences that create passion in lifelong learners.
The benefits of hands on learning are hard to debate. As we’ll see later, science has proven that hands-on learning is the best way for younger students to learn.
We find that this is especially the case for STEM education and STEM activities for elementary students.
Here are just some of the benefits of hands on learning:
Now, let’s take a look at how hands-on learning actually works.
Imagine you're learning to bake a cake. Would you rather read about it or actually mix the ingredients and bake it yourself?
Most of us would choose to bake. It's not just because baking is fun but because our brains actually prefer it.
When we dive in and experience things firsthand, our brains light up in ways they don't when we're just passively taking in information. But why is that?
"When we interact with our environment, we form stronger memories and better understand concepts."
Just like cities have roads to help people get around, our brains have something similar called neural pathways.
These pathways help our thoughts and memories move around. When we learn something new, we build new pathways. And the more we practice or repeat that thing, the stronger and faster these pathways become.
Think of hands-on learning as the fast track to building these roads. When we actually do something, instead of just hearing or reading about it, our brain builds stronger and more numerous pathways.
Our brain makes strong memories by trying things out, making mistakes, and figuring out how to fix them.
It's about more than just getting the right answer but understanding why it's the right answer.
And that deep understanding helps us use what we've learned in real life.
When we engage in hands-on learning, we're not just touching or doing.
We're also seeing, hearing, and sometimes even tasting or smelling!
The more ways we learn something, the more chances our brain has to remember it.
That's another reason why doing and experiencing things for ourselves is such a powerful way to learn. We're giving our brains more tools to hold onto information.
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We know this: everyone, regardless of their preferred learning style, can benefit from hands-on experiences. And this is especially the case at early ages.
For elementary students, it’s clear that having tactile experiences while learning leads to better outcomes as they progress through their education lives.
Some students like looking at pictures or reading (visual learners). Some prefer listening to explanations or songs (auditory learners). Others learn best when moving around or touching things (kinesthetic learners).
The best part? Hands-on learning works for all of them. Hands-on learning doesn't just make school fun; it also helps students understand better.
When students can learn in a way that works best for them, they are more likely to feel invested in the lesson. This makes challenging subjects both easier and more exciting.
Engaging directly in scientific activities allows students to grasp abstract concepts and foster a genuine interest in the mysteries of the world.
Science isn’t just about memorizing facts from a textbook; it’s about experiencing, questioning, and understanding the phenomena surrounding us.
Conducting experiments and making observations are fundamental in science.
When students mix chemicals in a test tube or observe the stars at night, they gather information firsthand.
This isn’t just memorizing facts from a book; it’s real, active learning. Observing and experimenting help students see patterns, ask questions, and understand the world more profoundly.
Not every scientific concept can be directly observed.
We can't visit the center of the Earth or travel to distant galaxies (not yet, at least!). That's where models and simulations come into play.
Students can visualize and grasp complex ideas by building models, like a volcano out of clay or a DNA strand with candy.
Simulations, such as computer programs that show how planets move in space, help bring these far-off or hidden concepts to life. They make intangible ideas tangible, enhancing comprehension.
Ever played with slime? Or maybe built a tower with blocks?
These activities aren't just fun; they teach us about the properties of different materials.
By poking, prodding, stretching, and stacking, students learn how things work. This hands-on exploration lays the foundation for understanding more advanced science topics later.
Plus, using tools, whether a simple magnifying glass or a more complex microscope, empowers students to investigate the world on their own terms.
Tactile exploration is crucial for understanding many scientific principles and lays the groundwork for advanced topics in the future.
Math isn’t just about formulas and calculations.
It's about understanding the logic and reasoning behind every number and equation.
Bringing math into the physical world through hands-on learning can change how students perceive and interact with these concepts.
Consider teaching fractions. Students use fraction tiles, piecing together different parts to understand how they make a whole.
Then there's algebra. Algebra tiles, colored tiles representing different values, help students visualize and solve equations.
They can see what variables, constants, and coefficients look like!
When learning to solve simple word problems, elementary students benefit from using representative manipulatives in the early stages of their learning.
Tangible math becomes something students can touch, move, and truly understand.
The digital world offers a treasure trove of tools tailored for hands-on math learning.
Beyond flashy graphics or game-like interfaces, specific apps and software not only help illustrate math concepts in dynamic ways but also allow students to manipulate and better understand various kinds of data.
For instance, plotting software can let students see how changing one variable impacts a graph in real-time.
It's not about replacing traditional learning but enhancing it.
Interactive tech tools can simplify the complex, making the intricacies of math more accessible and relevant to our increasingly digital lives.
One of the benefits of hands on learning is that it’s easy to implement and teachers at all levels can begin incorporating more hands-on learning into their every day right away.
Keeping in mind why hands on learning is important, that’s all that’s needed.
What matters most is giving students opportunities to explore, investigate, and connect learning to the real world. When students take an active role in their learning, curiosity and understanding grow naturally.
Instead of telling students how something works, ask guiding questions and let them discover the answers for themselves. For example, rather than simply explaining how gravity works, challenge students to design and test a paper parachute. Inquiry-based lessons like these build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Teachers don’t need to get even more supplies. Hands-on learning doesn’t always mean lab equipment or high-tech gadgets. Simple materials like paper clips, rubber bands, water bottles, or blocks can be used to model scientific concepts or demonstrate math principles. Everyday objects help make abstract ideas tangible for young learners.
When students work together to test ideas, compare results, and reflect on what they’ve learned, they develop communication and teamwork skills alongside academic knowledge. Hands-on learning thrives when students talk through their thinking and learn from one another.
Digital simulations, interactive whiteboards, and virtual labs can expand what’s possible in the classroom. When paired with physical exploration, technology allows students to visualize concepts, collect data, and deepen understanding through both virtual and real-world experiences.
Relating hands-on activities to everyday problems helps students see the relevance of what they’re learning. For example, a unit on weather can include designing a simple rain gauge or tracking local weather patterns to discuss data and measurement.
By creating hands-on learning experiences, teachers transform their classrooms into spaces where students learn how the world works by engaging with it.
These experiences help build confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning that lasts well beyond the lesson.
Hands-on learning in early childhood is like planting a seed. It starts small, but it grows into something big and strong. When kids get to touch, play, and explore, they learn better and faster.
Every time a child touches or plays with something new, they build new neural pathways in their brain. These connections help them learn and remember.
Hands-on experiences are key because they make these connections stronger.
When a child stacks blocks or plays with sand, it’s not just a game; they're setting the stage for further learning. It's this type of hands-on learning that becomes a strong foundation for their future education.
Teachers know that the right materials can spark a child's interest.
It’s crucial to choose learning tools that can be used in many different ways and provide many opportunities for free exploration.
For example, blocks help children learn about shapes, colors, and sizes but can also be used to build a castle or a pirate ship.
Cardboard tubes can be used to explore rolling and can also be used to experiment with visual effects, not to mention that you can build a whole lot of stuff from them.
By using versatile materials, educators allow students to explore and discover on their own terms.
Using these materials effectively is key. It doesn't just involve giving children items and letting them play.
Instead, it's about providing direction and purpose.
Educators can guide children's exploration by asking questions related to the activity.
For example, teachers can ask: "How can you arrange these blocks?" or “What do you notice about which tubes roll and which don’t?”
By doing this, they enhance the learning experience, ensuring it's both educational and engaging.
Having a robust hands-on STEM curriculum is critical. But how do teachers and schools decide which hands-on lessons are best? Here are some things they think about:
Hands-on learning is more than a classroom trend. It's a proven way to engage all kinds of students.
By allowing kids to touch, build, and explore, they don't just memorize facts. Instead, they learn deeply and truly understand concepts. Hands-on methods are shaping the future of education from elementary school to high school.
With hands-on learning, students aren't just reading about the world - they are actively participating in it, making learning come to life.
STEM classrooms are full of different types of learners in the classroom, each with their own strengths and needs.
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