STEAM Education at Liberty International School in Phnom Penh

At Liberty International School (LIS), we believe children learn best when they are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas, create, experiment, and discover how the world works.

Our STEAM approach brings together Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

From preschool through primary school, STEAM helps students connect classroom knowledge with real-world experiences while developing curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

STEAM is not simply an additional subject. It is an approach to learning that encourages children to investigate, make connections between different subjects, and actively participate in discovering new ideas.

What Is STEAM Education?

STEAM stands for five interconnected learning areas:

• Science: Exploring the natural world through observation, questioning, experiments, and discovery.
• Technology: Understanding tools and learning how technology can help people communicate, create, and solve problems.
• Engineering: Designing, constructing, testing, and improving solutions using everyday materials.
• Arts: Encouraging imagination, design, creativity, communication, and self-expression.
• Mathematics: Developing understanding of numbers, shapes, measurement, patterns, relationships, and logical reasoning.

By connecting these subjects, STEAM encourages children to apply what they learn rather than simply memorize information.

STEAM and the Liberty Education International Preschool Curriculum

One of the important features of Liberty International School's early childhood program is the integration of STEAM activities within the Liberty Education International Preschool Curriculum.

The curriculum provides a structured progression of learning objectives across Nursery, Preschool, and Kindergarten, supported by Mathematics and Phonics student books and detailed online Teacher Guides.

STEAM activities are incorporated into classroom learning to help children explore concepts through practical experiences.

For example, when students learn about shapes, numbers, colors, patterns, or the natural world, teachers can extend those lessons through construction activities, observation, sorting, measurement, art, and guided experiments.

This approach connects academic foundations with creativity, investigation, and active learning.

Explore the Liberty Education International Preschool Curriculum

How STEAM Learning Works in Our Classrooms

Young children are naturally curious. They ask questions, examine objects, build structures, notice patterns, and experiment with the materials around them.

STEAM learning builds on this curiosity by giving children opportunities to investigate and discover with teacher guidance.

Our curriculum supports activities involving:

• Building and construction with blocks and everyday materials.
• Observing plants, water, weather, and natural objects.
• Counting, sorting, classifying, and comparing objects.
• Exploring shapes, sizes, measurement, and spatial relationships.
• Creating artwork and imaginative designs.
• Investigating cause and effect through simple experiments.
• Working collaboratively and explaining ideas.
• Testing solutions and trying different approaches.

Teachers select activities that are appropriate to children's ages, abilities, interests, and developmental needs.

Examples of STEAM Activities for Preschool Children

STEAM does not require expensive equipment or advanced technology. Many valuable learning experiences begin with simple classroom materials and familiar objects.

The following examples illustrate the kinds of activities that can support STEAM learning within our early childhood curriculum.

1. Building Bridges with Blocks

Children use wooden blocks or other construction materials to build a bridge between two points.

Teachers encourage them to explore questions such as:

• How can we make the bridge stronger?
• What happens if we add more blocks?
• Which shapes help support the structure?
• Can the bridge hold a small toy?

Learning connections: Engineering, mathematics, measurement, balance, cooperation, and problem-solving.

2. Exploring Which Objects Float or Sink

Children observe different classroom objects placed in water and predict whether they will float or sink.

They compare their predictions with what happens and discuss possible explanations with the teacher.

Learning connections: Science, observation, comparison, classification, prediction, and early scientific vocabulary.

3. Creating Patterns with Colors and Shapes

Children use colored blocks, counters, or other manipulatives to create and continue patterns.

Teachers introduce questions about what comes next, how patterns repeat, and how objects can be grouped.

Learning connections: Mathematics, logical reasoning, classification, creativity, and fine motor development.

4. Growing Seeds and Observing Plants

Children explore how plants grow by observing seeds, roots, leaves, sunlight, and water.

Teachers can encourage children to record changes through drawings, compare growth, and discuss what plants need.

Learning connections: Science, observation, measurement, environmental awareness, art, and communication.

5. Designing and Building a Model House

Children use blocks, paper, cardboard, and other materials to create simple model houses.

They explore shapes, plan where objects should go, test their designs, and make improvements.

Learning connections: Engineering, geometry, spatial reasoning, creativity, and collaboration.

These are examples of developmentally appropriate STEAM activities, rather than a fixed list of lessons delivered in every classroom.

STEAM Learning Across Nursery, Preschool, and Kindergarten

The Liberty Education curriculum provides a developmental progression that allows learning activities to become more advanced as children grow.

Nursery: Discovering Through the Senses

In Nursery, children begin exploring the world through their senses, movement, observation, and hands-on play.

Age-appropriate STEAM experiences may involve:

• Exploring colors, shapes, and textures.
• Sorting familiar objects.
• Building with simple blocks.
• Playing with water and sand.
• Observing plants and natural materials.
• Recognizing simple patterns.

These experiences support curiosity, language development, coordination, and early thinking skills.

Preschool: Asking Questions and Making Connections

As children develop, they begin making more complex observations and connections.

Preschool STEAM experiences can include:

• Comparing objects by size, shape, and weight.
• Building increasingly complex structures.
• Exploring basic measurement.
• Investigating simple cause-and-effect relationships.
• Creating art using patterns and geometric shapes.
• Participating in guided science activities.

Teachers encourage children to describe their observations, explain their ideas, and work with classmates.

Kindergarten: Investigating and Solving Problems

Kindergarten students are increasingly ready to plan, predict, test, and explain their thinking.

STEAM activities may involve:

• Simple engineering and construction challenges.
• More advanced measurement and comparison.
• Recording observations through drawing or counting.
• Exploring natural processes and the environment.
• Investigating patterns and mathematical relationships.
• Working together on creative projects.

These experiences help students strengthen reasoning, communication, independence, and readiness for primary education.

Explore Our International Preschool and Kindergarten Program

STEAM in Primary School: Grades 1–6

As students progress into primary education, STEAM continues to support inquiry, practical problem-solving, creativity, and connections between subjects.

Primary students develop more advanced knowledge in Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts, Digital Literacy, and other academic areas.

STEAM-related learning opportunities encourage students to apply these skills through investigation, design, communication, and collaborative problem-solving.

For example, mathematical reasoning can support measurement and construction, while scientific investigation encourages students to ask questions and draw conclusions from evidence.

Digital Literacy introduces additional opportunities for creating presentations, developing computer-based projects, learning coding concepts, and exploring emerging technologies.

Explore International Primary Grades 1–6

Learn About Digital Literacy, Coding and AI Education

STEAM, Early Literacy, and Mathematics Work Together

STEAM education is closely connected to foundational academic learning.

During a construction activity, for example, children may count blocks, compare sizes, identify shapes, follow instructions, discuss ideas, and describe their completed work.

A single activity can therefore reinforce several developmental and academic skills.

These connections are particularly important in early childhood education.

The Liberty Education International Preschool Curriculum provides structured Mathematics and Phonics learning objectives, while Teacher Guides offer flexible classroom activities that can include creative and STEAM-based experiences.

Student Books provide the learning progression. Teacher Guides help teachers turn learning objectives into practical activities.

Explore the Liberty Education Scope and Sequence

Learn About Liberty Education Teacher Guides

The Teacher's Role in STEAM Education

Good STEAM learning depends on thoughtful teaching, not simply providing materials and allowing children to play without direction.

Teachers help students investigate concepts by asking questions, introducing vocabulary, guiding observations, encouraging discussion, and supporting problem-solving.

At Liberty International School, our educational approach combines structured learning objectives with opportunities for discovery and active participation.

Teachers can adapt STEAM experiences to children's developmental needs while maintaining the intended learning objectives.

This approach recognizes that children learn in different ways and benefit from varied opportunities to explore and demonstrate their understanding.

Why STEAM Education Matters for Young Learners

STEAM provides opportunities for children to develop important abilities that support learning across many subjects.

• Curiosity: Asking questions and exploring how things work.
• Critical Thinking: Comparing information and considering different explanations.
• Problem-Solving: Identifying challenges and testing possible solutions.
• Creativity: Generating new ideas and expressing them in different ways.
• Communication: Describing observations, explaining ideas, and listening to others.
• Collaboration: Learning to share materials, work together, and respect different perspectives.
• Persistence: Trying again when an idea does not work as expected.

We believe that children should learn not only facts and procedures, but also how to think, question, create, and develop confidence in their abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions About STEAM Education

What does STEAM stand for?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics. It is an approach that connects these subjects through hands-on exploration, creative activities, investigation, and problem-solving.

Does Liberty International School teach STEAM?

Yes. Liberty International School incorporates STEAM learning experiences into its educational approach, including activities connected to the Liberty Education International Preschool Curriculum and primary academic programs.

Is STEAM suitable for children ages 3–6?

Yes. STEAM activities can be adapted for young children using familiar materials, guided exploration, construction, sorting, counting, creative arts, and simple scientific observations.

Do children need computers to learn STEAM?

No. Many STEAM activities use everyday objects, building blocks, natural materials, art supplies, and classroom manipulatives. Technology is only one of the five STEAM learning areas.

How does STEAM help children learn mathematics?

STEAM activities provide opportunities to apply mathematical concepts through counting, comparing, measuring, recognizing patterns, using shapes, and solving practical problems.

Is STEAM separate from the preschool curriculum?

At Liberty International School, STEAM is integrated into the wider educational approach. The Liberty Education curriculum provides structured learning objectives and Teacher Guides that support selected STEAM and hands-on learning experiences.

How can parents learn more about STEAM at Liberty International School?

Parents are welcome to contact the school, explore our curriculum pages, and arrange a campus visit to discuss classroom activities and educational programs.

Explore Our Curriculum and Educational Resources

• International Preschool and Kindergarten
• Nursery Education and Daycare
• International Primary School Grades 1–6
• Digital Literacy and IT Skills
• STEAM in Preschool – Liberty Education
• Liberty Education Curriculum Scope and Sequence
• Liberty Education Teacher Guides
• International Preschool Curriculum Brochure (PDF)
• Admissions and Enrollment

Visit Liberty International School in Phnom Penh

At Liberty International School, our goal is to create a learning environment where children feel confident asking questions, exploring ideas, and discovering what they can achieve.

We invite parents to visit our school, learn more about the Liberty Education curriculum, and discuss how STEAM and hands-on learning contribute to their child's educational development.

Liberty International School
#168, Street 156
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phone / Telegram: 095 712 165

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Google Maps: Find Our School in Phnom Penh

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Helping children think, explore, create, and grow — one discovery at a time.