Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEM/STEAM) education doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door. In fact, some of the most powerful learning happens when students are moving, experimenting, and discovering through play.

With thoughtful design, a playground can become an outdoor learning environment, one that reinforces STEM and STEAM concepts while keeping play at the center. Whether you’re upgrading an existing space or planning a new school playground, here’s how to design a playground that aligns with your STEM/STEAM goals.

Why STEM & STEAM Belong on the Playground

STEM subjects often involve abstract ideas that can be difficult for students to grasp through traditional instruction alone. Playgrounds offer something different: hands-on, real-world experiences that make learning tangible. Research shows that play-based learning acknowledges children's natural curiosity while keeping education at the forefront. 

When STEM and STEAM concepts are embedded into play,

In the mid-90s, coffee shops stopped trying to just sell coffee. They started to sell the idea of belonging.

One national coffee chain built their brand around a simple but powerful idea: every one of their shops should be a “third place”—that space between home and work where people could slow down, connect, and feel part of something larger.

And for a while, it worked. Who could resist the smell of espresso, the low hum of conversation, and the feeling of togetherness? Coffee shops became the default gathering place for a generation that was losing real community.

But there was a catch. You had to buy your seat.

That “third place” was always transactional. Your permission to linger came with a $6 coffee and a Wi-Fi code. It was connection…curated, commercialized, and contained within four branded walls.

Parks were the first third place. Long before baristas figured out how to monetize comfort, cities and towns built spaces where people could