How is primary Science, Technology and Engineering Education organised?

The Science, Technology and Engineering Education Specification (2025), part of the STEM Education Specification has 6 strands: Nature of STEM, Living things, Materials, Energy and forces, Technology, Engineering. Learning outcomes are written for the end of each stage.

Science, Technology and Engineering Education planning for primary

The new STEM Education specification is being introduced from September 2026, one area at a time. If your school hasn't started this area yet, you're still teaching the 1999 curriculum. Tell Heapso which one you're using and it plans to that.

Strands

Nature of STEM
IE-P-STE.NOS
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating
Living things
IE-P-STE.LT
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating
Materials
IE-P-STE.MAT
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating
Energy and forces
IE-P-STE.EF
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating
Technology
IE-P-STE.TECH
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating
Engineering
IE-P-STE.ENG
Exploring and understanding, Creative and critical thinking, Applying and problem-solving, Evaluating and communicating

Read the official specification on curriculumonline.ie The 1999 Science curriculum

Other primary subjects

Questions teachers ask

How is primary Science, Technology and Engineering Education organised?: The Science, Technology and Engineering Education Specification (2025), part of the STEM Education Specification has 6 strands: Nature of STEM, Living things, Materials, Energy and forces, Technology, Engineering. Learning outcomes are written for the end of each stage.
Should I plan to the new Science, Technology and Engineering Education specification or the 1999 curriculum?: Schools start the new specifications one curriculum area at a time from September 2026. If your school hasn't started this area yet, you're still teaching the 1999 curriculum. Tell Heapso which one you're using in Settings and it plans to that.

Plan your next Science, Technology and Engineering Education unit

Heapso opens a unit plan set to the right stage. Add the learning outcomes you're teaching and Pip cites only those.

Plan this unit free