STEAM fields are the areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.^[1] STEAM is designed to integrate STEM subjects with arts subjects into various relevant education disciplines.^[2] These programs aim to teach students innovation, to think critically, and to use engineering or technology in imaginative designs or creative approaches to real-world problems while building on students' mathematics and science base. STEAM programs add arts to STEM curriculum by drawing on reasoning and design principles, and encouraging creative solutions.^[3][4][5]

STEAM in children's media

• Sesame Street's 43rd season continues to focus on STEM but finds ways to integrate art. They state: "This helps make learning STEM concepts relevant and enticing to young children by highlighting how artists use STEM knowledge to enhance their art or solve problems. It also provides context for the importance of STEM knowledge in careers in the arts (e.g. musician, painter, sculptor, and dancer)."^[6]
• MGA Entertainment created a S.T.E.A.M. based franchise Project Mc2.^[7]

Other uses of the STEAM acronym

• Other meanings of the "A" that have been promoted include agriculture, architecture, and applied mathematics.^[8][9]
• The Rhode Island School of Design has a STEM to STEAM program and at one point maintained an interactive map that showed global STEAM initiatives.^[10] Relevant organizations were able to add themselves to the map, though it is no longer available at the location stated in press releases.^[11] John Maeda, (2008 to 2013 president of Rhode Island School of Design) has been a champion in bringing the initiative to the political forums of educational policy.
• Some programs offer STEAM from a base focus like mathematics and science.^[2]
• SteamHead is a non-profit organization that promotes innovation and accessibility in education, focusing on STEAM fields.
• As part of a $1.5 million Department of Education grant, Wolf Trap's Institute of Education trains and places teaching artists in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. The artists collaborate with the teachers to integrate math and science into the arts.^[12]
• American Lisa La Bonte, CEO of the Arab Youth Venture Foundation based in the United Arab Emirates, uses the STEAM acronym, but her work does not include arts integration.^[13] Starting in 2007, La Bonte created and ran high-profile free public STEAM programs^[14] having added an A for "inspired STEM", with the A standing for Aeronautics, Aviation, Astronomy, Aerospace, Ad Astra! and using all things "air and space" as a hook for youth to embark on greater experimentation, studies, and careers in the region's burgeoning space-related industries.^[15] One of AYVF's best-known programs,^[13] "STEAM@TheMall", served over 200,000 in its first two years at the most popular shopping malls^[13] and provided free weekend activity stations such as Mars robotics, science experiments, SkyLab portable planetarium, art/design, and creative writing.^[13] In 2008, Sharjah Sheikha Maisa kicked off the "Design booth for youth for Al Ain Summer S.T.E.A.M. funded by the Foundation created by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi".^{[failed verification][16]} In 2010, the American Association of Arts & Sciences (AAAS) included a chapter on AYVF's most popular STEAM program in its book, Building Mathematical and Scientific Talent in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Region.^[17]