When Lj Henderson started creating science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, activities for children during the COVID-19 pandemic, she noticed a gap in early childhood education.
With 25 years of experience in education and pediatric speech therapy, she believed young children needed more opportunities to explore problem-solving and communication skills before entering kindergarten.
That idea became Little STEM Academy, a private school in Pearland that opened in 2020, where Henderson serves as the school’s Dean of Instruction.
“We need to start them early,” she said. “We need to make sure they have those skills so that when they see math and science later, they are not afraid of it.”
What they offer
Little STEM Academy serves students ages 3 through first grade and follows the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, standards while incorporating STEM concepts across subjects.
“We have them during the most critical period of brain development,” she said. “We want to make certain that we are giving them as many opportunities to think critically.”
The school year runs from August through the first week of June, ending with the annual white coat ceremony. Throughout the year, students learn through themed units with hands-on activities.
In September, students begin the school year with an “All About Me” unit focused on anatomy, including the brain, nervous system and circulatory system, with activities including brain dissections and STEM vocabulary lessons.
“We start with what’s developmentally appropriate,” Henderson said. “If we see that a student is grasping a concept more quickly than their peers, then we’re going to challenge them and give them more.”
Students also learn from professionals in the community, including a civil engineer who demonstrated fiber optics and a sound engineer who taught students about vibrations and microphones.
Staying local
Outside of the regular school year, Little STEM Academy offers summer programming from June to August that provides students additional opportunities for themed field experiences and activities.
During Master Chef Week, students visited Texas Roadhouse, where they toured the kitchen, learned about food preparation, made their own rolls, completed a scavenger hunt and ate lunch with their families.
The mission
The school became accredited through Cognia, allowing it to expand through first grade for the 2026-27 school year and accept Texas Education Freedom Account, or TEFA, funds for eligible families.
Henderson said the goal remains the same: providing early exposure to STEM, communication and problem-solving skills during the years when children are building foundational learning habits.
“A lot of people think this is too much for children at this age and that they have the rest of their lives to learn it,” Henderson said. “But our kids need exposure early. We need to be intentional about what we’re teaching them, and we shouldn’t put limits on what they’re capable of learning.”
