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STEM Education (grades 3-6)

Alexandra Stevens

EED 409

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Table of Contents

  1. Title
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Objective
  4. What is STEM Education
  5. Why is STEM so Important: video
  6. Integrating STEM into the Classroom
  7. Integrating STEM in the Elementary Classroom: video
  8. STEM Examples

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9. Classroom Ideas

10. Common Questions

11. Early STEM Ideas Every Teacher Should Know

12. STEM Fields

13. Research article

14. Research article

15. Citations

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Objective

  • At the end of this presentation the learner will take away...
    • What STEM is.
    • How to integrate STEM into the classroom.
    • Ideas of STEM instruction and application.
    • What research has said about STEM instruction.

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What is STEM education

  • Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    • These four topics are blended together to teach students 21st-century skills they will use in the future.
  • STEM was introduced under the idea that students need to be able to compete with other students around the world for jobs. Students need to be…
    • Problem solvers
    • Find and use evidence
    • Collaborate on projects
    • Think critically

Learn more...

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Why is STEM edu. so important?

View this TED Talk from Rob Stephenson, the National Teacher of the Year finalist.

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Integrating STEM in the classroom...

  • Teach STEM in the early ages
    • Students will have a better grasp of using STEM concepts later in their academic career the earlier they are introduced.
    • It is easy to integrate STEM into the classroom.
      • Common Core State Standards (CCSS) offer easy access to research based instruction that teachers can implement in their classroom.
  • How to integrate STEM
    • “STEM-proficient students are logical thinkers and are able to answer complex questions and develop solutions for problems”. (Janelle Cox)
    • Don’t change the way you’re teaching for STEM.
      • ASK MORE QUESTIONS!!!
      • Introduce STEM vocabulary
      • Introduce students to STEM technology (iPads, computers, and tablets)

Scan me!

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Integrating STEM into the Elementary Classroom

Watch this video on why it is important to implement STEM education at a young age and how you can do it!

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STEM examples

  1. Magnetic slime
  2. Homemade catapults
  3. Lego addition
  4. Jelly bean building
  5. Stop-motion video

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Classroom ideas

  • Create stations in your classroom.
    • You can create easy stations for STEM with rules for your students to follow.
    • Not all STEM time has to be a class lesson!
      • While you are working with small groups in reading have students rotate reading centers, but incorporate one STEM center.
      • Students will have time to have fun while learning with the STEM station.
  • Get your students engaged in what they are doing!
    • At any time of the year you have the opportunity to get to know who your students are what what interests they have. USE THAT!!!
      • Learn what peaks the interest of your class.
    • Give your students a sense of purpose.
      • Create portfolios for your students and compile them throughout the year for them to showcase!
      • Have students present their STEM projects to the class.

21 quick STEM ideas

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Common questions

  • “Won’t independent STEM stations be too much for young students”?
    • Absolutely not, as long as the stations are age appropriate for the students.
      • You can find appropriate STEM ideas in the CCSS.
      • Ideas can be as simple as creating a multi level ramp with blocks or just playing with legos.
    • Independent STEM activities help students become…
      • Problem Solvers
      • Critical thinkers
      • Investigators
  • “But aren’t STEM lessons long”?
    • There are so many resources out there online that are quick and easy STEM activities!
    • STEM could be as easy as introducing new vocabulary or asking your students questions.
      • Your class is full of minds ready to be molded. Make those minds problem solvers!

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Easy STEM Ideas Every Teacher Should Know

  • Here are some ideas I found on pinterest that teachers should take a look at.
    • https://www.pinterest.com/bellayoda7676/stem-3-6/
      • This board was made more geared toward upper elementary grades, but showcase how easy and inexpensive STEM can be!
      • Some of the pins include…
        • Structures
        • More hands on learning with math
        • STEM station ideas
  • There is no excuse to not introduce STEM to young students. Students need these skills to compete in world wide job fields...

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STEM Fields

  • There are plenty of job fields out there that encourage early STEM learning in the classroom.
    • Take a look at some of the professions…
      1. Statistician.
      2. Software developer.
      3. Physician assistant.
      4. Dentist.
      5. Cartographer.
      6. Actuary.
      7. Civil Engineer.
      8. Psychologist

Explore all the job fields that need STEM skills and their salary

U.S Department of Education statistics

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Research Journal: STEM in Early Child. Edu.

  • The President’s Council of on Science in Technology issued a report in 2012:
    • There is a growing need for STEM education in early childhood years to produce more graduates that are going into STEM related fields.
      • More students in Middle school and High school are being introduced to STEM education so they can later enter these fields successfully
  • “In late 2009, President Obama launched his "Educate to Innovate" campaign that strove to stimulate higher math and science achievement in our country over the next decade, as well as produce 100,000 effective STEM educators” (Obama, 2013).
  • New focus in engineering in the early childhood years has shed a light on how much teachers need to introduce STEM in the classroom early.
  • Young children between the ages of five and eight, are at a prime age for learning STEM content (Moomaw, 2012).
    • Young children love to explore and learn new skills! As teachers it is our job to take that enthusiasm and channel it into a skill they can use like STEM.

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Research: Teachers Perspective of STEM Integration and Education

  • Teachers are a role model for students and their background education and prior experiences educate what they teach and how they teach.
  • “For every person that is unemployed with a STEM degree, there are 2.4 million unfilled jobs” (National Science Board 2012).
    • For the stake of students, it should be emphasized that schools streamline STEM education to see it’s full potential. Schools will then see…
      1. Successful students going into STEM related job fields.
  • STEM Edu. and talent development:
    • “Gagné’s (2011) differentiated model of giftedness and talent explains how a person’s natural abilities, or gifts, can be developed through learning and practice into talents”.
  • Conclusion:
    • It is best for teachers to practice STEM education through in-service hours. Teachers should be collaborating with other peers throughout this process to reach expected results.

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Non-scholarly sources

  • WeAreTeachers Staff on March 16, 2018 .contest-social .share-links svg. “What Do We Mean When We Talk About STEM?” WeAreTeachers, 7 June 2018, www.weareteachers.com/what-is-stem/.
  • Cox, Janelle. “STEM Education in the Elementary Classroom.” TeachHUB, www.teachhub.com/stem-education-elementary-classroom.
  • Priddy, Brenda. “21 Quick STEM Activities for When You're In a Rush.” STEM Activities for Kids- STEAMsational, 12 Apr. 2019, www.schoolingamonkey.com/quick-stem-activities/.
  • Snider, Susannah, and Rebecca Koenig. “Explore Top STEM Careers.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, money.usnews.com/careers/slideshows/explore-top-stem-careers?slide=2.
  • “Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: Education for Global Leadership.” Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: Education for Global Leadership | U.S. Department of Education, www.ed.gov/stem.

Scholarly sources