Brought To You by the Letters S, T, E & M

When Sesame Street’s creative team began planning the show's 42nd season, four letters were on their mind - S, T, E, and M - for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These so-called "STEM" skills will be front-and-center on the show this season, as well-known characters connect math and science-based skills and concepts to "real-life" learning opportunities. For example, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and friends will build bridges, launch rockets and think through problems that require trial and error, observation and data.

Sesame Street has long been dedicated to helping children get ready, both academically and socially, for school, and this focus on STEM is well aligned with that goal. With U.S. students continually lagging in their science and mathematics skills, on both national and international comparisons, and employers in the global economy increasingly demanding and rewarding strong STEM skills, laying the foundation for technology, design and problem solving early is a very smart step for both personal and U.S. competitiveness.

Young children are "natural scientists," says Rosemarie Truglio, vice president for education and research at Sesame Workshop, which produces the show. "They're exploring the world around them and trying to figure out how the world works." 

With initiatives underway such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the newly launched Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Sesame Street’s interactive lessons and hands-on activities will hopefully help students, of all ages, better connect with math and science once their start their K-12 education.

Just as Truglio notes, STEM is "just what a pre-schooler does. It's their world of asking questions, investigating, creating hypothesis, so STEM actually starts off as a pre-school curriculum."

Learn more about the Next Generation Sciences Standards, click here.