During the last five years, the University of Aveiro, through Fábrica Science Centre and in collaboration with Aveiro Municipality, has been implementing a program dedicated to STEAM in primary education. This program was implemented in all primary schools in the Aveiro Region and involves the four levels of primary education. A framework based on STEAM theory, multidisciplinary and active methodologies, project-based learning and maker education was developed. The STEAM program in primary education has three main actions: the creation and installation of a Maker space in each school; the implementation of a teacher training program; and the development of an educational program.
The Maker spaces were developed taking into account the maker education model and use different technological equipment, robots, hardware, coding, multimedia, electrical components and classic tools. The teacher training program includes all the topics, subjects and contents that will be explored in the classroom with the students. It contributes to the training of teachers to work with all technology and all materials and also to increase their knowledge and skills in the STEAM subjects that will be explored in schools.

The educational program involves various topics related to the curricula and a set of STEAM activities, based on high and low technology materials, multimedia tools and digital software. To evaluate the impact on teachers and evaluate the educational results obtained, a research methodology was implemented, using questionnaires, real- time feedback and focus groups. This work will present in detail the Maker model, the educational program and its activities, the teacher training program, all equipment, materials and contents, discussing its potentialities or limitations. All the results obtained will also be presented and discussed and the impact of this STEAM initiative on Primary Education will be analyzed.

Keywords: STEM education, primary education, teacher training.