Connect ~ Engage ~ Inspire OUR VISION Our goal in FUSD is to provide quality programming that fosters each child’s social and cognitive development, communication, and physical health in a safe and supportive, nurturing environment. This is achieved through good care and instruction that incorporates materials and interactions that provide a variety of learning opportunities that are both developmentally and individually appropriate and help each child reach their full potential. STEAM STEAM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics and… STEAM is alive and well in early childhood! Through a play-based curriculum, intentional teachers support young children as they explore STEAM concepts in natural ways. Academic learning and intellectual learning do not have to be separated. In fact, they must work hand in hand in order to help all students become successful in the classroom and in the real world. Laying the foundation for the development of science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills at the early childhood level is critical to helping students become successful at higher classroom levels. In early childhood: Science is a way of thinking. Science activities include exploring water and sand, comparing and contrasting natural materials like rocks and soil, rolling balls across the room, and looking through a magnifying glass to count how many legs are on the bug that was caught during outdoor play. Technology is a way of doing. Technology activities include not only computers but also identifying simple machines like gears, wheels and pulleys. Engineering is a way of doing. It happens in the block area where children plan and design structures. The Arts are a way of expressing. The arts give children the opportunity to illustrate concepts in creative and imaginative ways and express ideas about the world through fine arts, music, and dramatic play. Math is a way of measuring. Math activities include counting and matching shapes and making patterns .