STEAM It Up!
Inspiring a love of reading through hands-on discovery
STEAM It Up! combines the joy of choosing a new book with the excitement of hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) learning. Designed for elementary schools, the program helps students discover that reading is the gateway to the world around them.
Each participating student:
* Chooses a brand-new STEAM-themed book to keep.
* Completes a fun hands-on STEAM activity or engineering challenge.
* Takes home both the book and activity materials to continue learning with their family.
By connecting literacy with curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving, STEAM It Up! builds confidence, sparks imagination, and inspires children to become lifelong readers.
Program Impact
Since 2023, STEAM It Up! has reached over 10,000 students at more than 20 RIF NOVA-supported Title I schools, providing free books and engaging STEAM experiences that inspire a love of reading through discovery and exploration.
2025-26 Program
Students explored age-appropriate STEAM concepts through engaging, hands-on activities. Students in grades 3-5 at Braddock, Marumsco Hills, Kilby, Innovation, Yorkshire, and Vaughan elementary schools learned about cryptography by building and using a Caesar cipher to decode secret messages, while younger students discovered the science of static electricity by creating butterflies with wings that “flew” using the charge from a balloon. Every student also selected a brand-new STEAM-themed book to take home.
2024-25 Program
STEAM It Up! expanded both in reach and the range of activities. Younger students in grades K–2 used simple materials to build mazes or harmonicas, exploring basic principles of design, sound, and motion. Older students in grades 3-5 designed and built working flashlights or bridges, applying engineering concepts such as circuits, structure, and stability. Some students took the project even further by testing their bridges with pairs of scissors to see how much weight their bridges could hold.
2023-24 Program
STEAM It Up! launched by introducing hands-on engineering challenges that connected literacy with problem-solving and design thinking. As part of this RIF NOVA pilot, students at Cora Kelly, Drew, Groveton, and Marumsco Hills elementary schools built mazes and simple structures, using creativity and teamwork to test ideas, improve designs, and solve challenges. Each student also selected a new STEAM-themed book to take home, reinforcing the connection between reading and discovery.
