Erector Set is a brand of metal toy construction sets, originally patented by Alfred Carlton Gilbert and first sold by his company, the Mysto Manufacturing Company of New Haven, Connecticut in 1913. In 1916, the company was reorganized as the A.C. Gilbert Company.

Exploring STEM
From birth, children, teenagers, and young adults explore with STEM by doing the following:
*Asking questions
*Making sense of what they observe
*Building a coherent understanding of the world around them

Science: A crucial component of the science inquiry process
Technology: Requires tools and technology
Engineering: Necessary to share an engineering solution
Mathematics: Provides opportunities for mathematical reasoning

Scientific Inquiry
*Critical thinking
*Creativity
*Innovative problem solving
*Open-mindedness
*Motivation to learn

Engineering with Children
What is it?
Engineering is a process for solving problems. Engineering is a way of thinking that enables children to notice a problem, and then choose to create, build or transform materials into a solution.
When will it occur?
Engineering opportunities arise frequently in children’s play. For example, building experiences, art experiences, and cooking experiences often lead to engineering.
What do teachers/parents need to provide?
Time: Children need time to tinker, explore, and play with problems.
Materials: Children need access to materials that children can manipulate, transform and wonder about.
Tools: Children need practice with tools to tinker and explore materials, as well as use for a specific purpose to solve a problem.
Materials to Support Engineering
*Materials to manipulate: loose parts, different sizes of the same material (different size blocks, seashells, bottle caps, sticks/twigs)
*Materials to create linkages: tape, pipe cleaners, wire, Velcro, string, rubber bands
*Materials that flex: fabric, felt, paper, play dough
*Tools: tweezers, tongs, screw driver, hammer, measuring cup, shovel, pencils, eye dropper, level, scale, goggles, toothpicks, rubber bands

Engineering
*Think
*Create/Build
*Try
*Revise
*Share
*Think

Engineering Continuum
1. Tinkering: is using stuff
2. Making: is using stuff to make stuff (that sometimes does stuff, but sometimes is just cool)
3. Engineering: is using stuff to make stuff that does stuff

Mathematics
*Number Sense
*Geometry
*Measurements
*Algebra and Thinking
*Mathematical Reasoning

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