Korean J Community Nutr.  2022 Oct;27(5):361-372. 10.5720/kjcn.2022.27.5.361.

Development and Effectiveness Evaluation of the STEAM Education Program on Food Groups for Kindergarteners

• Ahn J
• Kim S
• Kim D
• Lee J

• KMID: 2534861
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2022.27.5.361

Abstract

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education program on the use of specific food groups in improving nutrition-related knowledge and attitude, dietary behavior, creative problem solving, and STEAM attitude.
Methods
We selected two classes at a kindergarten in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. A total of 44 kindergarteners from the two classrooms participated in this study. The experimental group and the control group were formed with 22 students each. The experimental group attended 11 STEAM classes on the use of the grain, fruit, and milk food groups. First, we performed the paired t-test to examine changes from pre-to-post classes for both groups. Then, we used ANCOVA to compare post-test scores between the experimental and control groups with the adjustment of pre-test scores.
Results
The results demonstrate that the STEAM education program on the use of the food groups significantly improved (1) nutrition-related knowledge and attitude, and dietary behavior (P < 0.001), (2) creative problem solving (P < 0.001), and (3) STEAM attitude (P < 0.001) in the intervention group when compared with the control group.
Conclusions
The STEAM education program on the use of food groups is effective in enhancing nutrition knowledge and attitude, dietary behavior, creative problem solving, and STEAM attitudes among kindergarten students.

Keyword

food groups; STEAM education; nutrition education; problem-solving; STEAM attitude