The Muppet Grover Teaches STEM on ‘Sesame Street’ #MakerEducation
The Atlantic has a great story on the creative and strategic decisions that went into transforming Grover into Sesame Street’s resident STEM champion. As a lifelong Grover fan living in an Elmo world, I found this piece especially exciting!
“He’s got great heart, he really tries his best effort, but he often fails, right? And I said, ‘Oh my goodness, how am I going to be successful in teaching children about these skills when he’s failing all the time?’” the Sesame Workshop Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content Rosemarie Truglio recounted at a STEM conference in October.
Soon, though, the team’s science advisers pointed out that what made Grover seem like the worst candidate for teaching STEM actually made him the logical choice. Because of his propensity for mistakes and his relentless determination, Grover was the perfect relatable, engaging, hilarious, fluffy science teacher for early learners.
Young children needed a good science teacher who learned the way they did: through trial and error. In conversation, Truglio often refers to early learners as “natural STEM-ists” because of their unquenchable curiosity about the world.
Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!
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Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!