Due in part to testing pressures, for years the science subject has taken a back seat to reading and math. And though topics like volcanos and time travel have the potential to get kids' attention, science's status as a curricular stepchild typically translates into dull textbooks and little budget for experiments or supplies. The tide is beginning to turn. President Obama has made science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--the so-called STEM curriculum--a priority in his educational agenda. More states are including STEM objectives in their standards. And teachers are discovering that STEM offers students unique opportunities for cross-curricular learning and for developing skills they'll need for the workplace. What's more, according to educators and researchers, STEM--in particular, engineering and its related design process--is endemic to the way kids learn.