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Looking for posts that support my value proposition
Looking for posts that support my value proposition
Story based STEM
Integrated Curriculum
Coding as the main subject
Critical thinking
Confident STEM learners
STEM Books recommendations
I was asked to teach some summer STEAM academies to teachers. I want to base it around literacy and STEAM. My district said that we can purchase the picture books for all teachers that attend the academies. Any recommendations on books and amazing lessons/activities that go with them? TIA
How To Catch a Leprechaun and How to Catch an Elf written by Adam Wallace. Great read before designing traps. Have students include at least 2 simple machines on their trap. You can also include area and perimeter with the trap design requirements. The ending of How to Catch a Leprechaun is a great motivator. 1/2 of my students are designing and building traps. The other 1/2 are designing and building “get away vehicles” to rescue the trapped leprechauns. They are loving it.
Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers and Pulleys written by David Adler.
Sounds like a great academy for teachers!
Have you considered using the Picture Perfect series? They have a STEM set that is a great resource. https://www.nsta.org/book-series/picture-perfect-science
NSTA.ORG
Picture-Perfect Science | NSTA
Larry Epstein thank you for sharing! This does look like a great resource.
Larry Epstein these are great
These were the books I was going to mention! It pairs a fiction and non fiction book and moves kids through the 5E framework with amazing projects!
I just ordered the STEM 3-5 book to preview! Thank you!
We have a free catalog with STEM read alouds listed by month: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/.../FREE-STEM-and...
TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM
FREE STEM and STEAM Activities and Challenges Resource Catalog
Check out the Carly and Adam FB group. I also agree with the Picture Perfect STEM series - great resource!
And many of the books on Carly and Adam's list are available on ebook through your local library and can be projected on a screen for all of the kids to see!
One more option (We created these resources after the catalog was made.) is our SEL STEM bundle. This is the Mega Bundle, but they are available in smaller sets and individually. These would be perfect: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Socia… See more
TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM
Social Emotional Learning Read Aloud STEM Challenges and Activities MEGA Bundle
The “If I Built A…” series
Woosh
Margaret and the Moon
Ada Twist, Scientist
I could give you a list a mile long! There are so many great ones!
I need recommendations for chapter books where STEM activities are easily integrated!! I read The Wild Robot with my kids and they love it.
Preferably for 5th graders! Thank you!
What about the young readers’ editions of Hidden Figures of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind?
NOVELENGINEERING.ORG
Classroom Books – Novel Engineering
3not necessarily a chapter book, but i thought this was an awesome read w/ cool engineering/real world problem-solving connections! https://www.amazon.com/All-Thirteen.../dp/B085FS1XRL
AMAZON.COM
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team (Newbery Honor Book)
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team (Newbery Honor Book)
I read Horton's Miraculous Mechanisms and Horton's Incredible Illusions this summer and they were so cute. Idk how to integrate the engineering but I think you could come up with some cool design challenges for it!
The boy who harnessed the wind—windmills.
Dear Mr. Henshaw—backpack alarm.
City of Ember
Love the city of Ember and the Boy who harnessed the wind for these.
Born just right
Ingas amazing ideas.
Hubert Invents the Wheel
Thank you all so much. I’ve taken ALL your suggestions and hope to use them throughout the year!!! Have a safe school year!
Example of a promotion
Example of a promotion
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#python #programming #iwd #breakthebias #ebook #freeebook #googlecolab #workshop4me
Takeaway
Takeaway
Teachers buy STEM Books. Preferably even series.
Libraries will like the idea of a workshop to turn stories into code
2. Integrated Curriculum
2. Integrated Curriculum
STEM in most schools is called Specials. Which means its not integrated into the school's mainstream subject and taught once a week for about 45 minutes. The STEM SPECIALS teachers group is 37K strong on FB. They mostly form Maker Spaces in schools.
"My school is working on becoming a fully STEM integrated school. This means STEM isn't just for specials, it has to be in every classroom every day. It's a 5 year plan.
I'm working with a colleague to put together K-4 STEM lessons for the teachers to use each quarter based on the science standards covered each quarter. What are your favorite STEM lessons using NGSS?"
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"Hello everyone! I am in charge of creating the STEAM program at my school for Elementary 1st - 6th grades and I am a little puzzled about how to organize curriculum/schedule/content. Science, technology, and Maker must be taught/integrated in this program. 90 minutes per week for each class. I will have a Maker Space for these classes. A technology teacher will co teach with me and I will have a classroom aide as well. Does anybody have a similar scenario and would be willing to share practices?"
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"My district does not have a specific STEM class or special. It is integrated into the curriculum by the gen ed teacher. I'm just wondering how many people are considered true STEM teachers in that is all that you do and what state are you in?"
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"Hello STEM Friends, I am technically a computer literacy teacher for K-5 however with students having their own devices nowadays my students aren’t having any fun anymore. Before pandemic I saw 3-5 2 days a week and I was able to get a lot more accomplished! So I decided to bring back our makerspace lab that I was running pre-pandemic. The kids are loving it. However now all 10 principals in our other elementary schools want on board and are coming to visit our STEM lab. We just integrated 10 desktops into the space and want to combine the computer class and stem lab. (Which just happened) They are coming for my 2nd grade on Two’s Day. Anyone have any ideas for me to intergrate the computers with a STEM based center rotation? I have a 43 min period. I’m just looking for ideas or suggestions. I am a huge believer in this type of education and love hearing laughter and seeing smiles! Students need the fun to be brought back into there worlds! Thank you for any help or ideas you may have! Happy Friday!
Students could create an animal on switchzoo.com, print it, and then make a habitat for it in the STEM lab. Or the kids who start in the lab make a habitat and then create the animal to live there.
SWITCHZOO.COM
Switch Zoo
Dalene Normand Thank you so much"
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Takeaways
Takeaways
STEAM/Makerspace Family night is very popular in schools. This could be an offering to schools that don't have STEM Specials?
Teachers receive funding/grants to purchase STEAM resources and look for recommendations
Teachers share a lot of Blog posts for free resources. They also share TeacherspayTeachers links.
I can use these topics to create blog posts.
I can use these relevant blog posts for linking.
My content should promote integrated lessons on social media.
Can I offer a "how to teach STEM in K-5" webinar for teachers? Even though I don't teach at a school? How will I send them to my landing page? This will be considered promotional on the FB Group. Probably connect in other SM places where they might hang out? Like Pinterest, IG? I can organize my content around the standards and give them a DONE solution.
Different Standards
NGSS - Next Gen Science
Common Core
ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education
Schools have curriculum and standards. Homeschoolers buy curriculum
CS Is Elementary
E.g " I make a lot of my own lesson plans. I incorporate NGSS standards as well as State Standards for Digital Literacy and Computer Science, Science, and Math. I do use KidSpark RokBlock curriculum and Code.org Foundational Fluencies. I use EiE, FOSS, and Carolina Biological curriculum as well. (It is provided by AMSTI- our state science initiative). Common Sense Education has great lessons for Digital Citizenship. "
"Some examples are Project Lead The Way (PLTW), Engineering is Elementary (EiE), DELTA FOSS, and teachengineering..org, and EngineeringbyDesign. Most of those have a cost since they have a scope and sequence, but the teachengineering is free."
"Pltw curriculum for 4k-5 is relatively inexpensive. Check out the Launch curriculum, for sure!"
3. Coding as a main focus
3. Coding as a main focus
Scratch JR Review by STEM Teachers
I don’t know if this the right place to ask this. I’m trying to incorporate coding for our elementary students starting in 1st grade.
I don’t know if this the right place to ask this. I’m trying to incorporate coding for our elementary students starting in 1st grade.
My question is: Do I really need to hire a coding programmer/teacher that is virtual doing a program like scratchJR? Or can I just let the students do it themselves (with my help)? In other words if scratchjr is user friendly for kids, what is the need for a third party company?
My question is: Do I really need to hire a coding programmer/teacher that is virtual doing a program like scratchJR? Or can I just let the students do it themselves (with my help)? In other words if scratchjr is user friendly for kids, what is the need for a third party company?
Thank you!
Thank you!
For 1st grade Scratch Jr is perfect. Just plain Scratch may be a little hard to start with because it has so many choices and menu options.
Audra Shontz thank you. But do you feel the need to hire a third party company?
Melissa Casillas there is no need!! There are Scratch Jr lessons everywhere that are freely accessed. You should be able to teach them no problem.
Melissa Casillas Definitely don’t hire anyone. There are a lot of resources free online and YouTube even has great videos.
I’m using a combination of the the free version of Kodable and the courses in Code.org. The kids work their way through the programs at their own pace and I help as necessary. The upper grades get through them faster and next year I anticipate they wil… See more
Fox Demaray yes thank you. I started looking into this yesterday. I signed up for a workshop next week for training. Hopefully it will help!
You definitely don't need to hire a third party to teach coding to the kids. Scratch can be challenging without background knowledge. I would start them on Kodable or Tynker before Scratch. If you have iPads Scratc Jr is a good start too.
I’m using kodable with first graders and it’s been great. Also free
No need to hire anyone! Scratch jr is pretty straightforward. There are lesson plans from scratch that can be used if that helps you.
Codes park is a great coding resource too. Very accessible and it's a game so students learn are able to progress at their own pace. Apple also has a free ebook with coding lessons that are pretty much grab and go.
Don't need a person to teach scratch Jr. Buy the scratchjr cards. If you have the resources, one pack per student. They are perfect for the kids to start. When they
are confident, there are some cool games they can create.
I am answering at the risk of ruffling feathers, but only because the question was directly asked. I wouldn't say it to anyone without specifically being asked this question... The answer depends on your goals. Do you want to check off the "buzzword" coding by letting them learn gimmicky stuff like making sprites dance? OR... Do you want them to learn authentic coding skills. Coding is an element of Computer Science. It is a real science with real foundational skills. I shake my head a lot about the lessons I see passed off as "teaching coding" that show no understanding of or skill advancement in the foundations of computer programming. Coding is a language that has foundational grammar and structure and elaborate ways of creating "works" that accomplish specific tasks. Would you hire a professional to teach Reading in a systematic and research based curriculum, or just toss some videos on and give kids a stack of books to teach themselves? It's my opinion that curriculum matters. Coding is a 21st century skill that will be essential for this generation to master to navigate life. It should not be treated as a gimmick. It deserves the same thoughtful planning and curriculum as all science does.
Shauna Beasley Shaw but at the same time 1st graders aren’t ready for what you are saying. They need to understand that each movement is a step and putting it in a fun interactive way is developmentally appropriate
Shauna Beasley Shaw what do you use?
Amy Sekula Brandau I wrote my own because I couldn't find what I was looking for. I approached it by looking at how I teach reading and I teach it as if it's a language... vocab, grammar, applying it to cross disciplinary subjects we are learning in the classroom.
Shauna Beasley Shaw so you wrote your own coding program?
Amy Sekula Brandau No. I wrote my own curriculum to teach coding skills.
Shauna Beasley Shaw that is a thoughtful comment. How do you teach coding k-5?
Julie Faucett I approach it the same way I approach reading instruction. I teach proper vocabulary and foundational structures and I apply it to real world situations that are connected to our learning goals in science, math, and social studies.
Shauna Beasley Shaw thank you! Any certain curriculum or program you use?
Julie Faucett I write my own curriculum to connect with interdisciplinary classroom learning goals. I am partial to the LEGO coding languages. because they have a continuum of languages developmentally appropriate for ages 4-18.
Shauna Beasley Shaw thank you so much! I am a new STEM teacher this year and coding is not my strength. I do have set of Lego 2.0’s. What other Lego resources do you use?
Julie Faucett The retired LEGO WeDo 1.0 is good. So is WeDo 2.0. I also use Mindstorms NXT, EV3, and the new SPIKE Prime and Robot Inventor.
Shauna Beasley Shaw thanks so much! I really appreciate all your thought into this.
Julie Faucett Good luck to you!! Play with the set. It's pretty easy for an adult to pick it up.
No harm done having students use scratch jr and discover how to use it through play.
I agree with learning through play, but I also believe there needs to be intentional learning goals and instruction, not just "free play". Kids get enough of that with their "tablet baby sitters" in the car and at restaurants, etc. when they are home with their families.
Shauna Beasley Shaw thank you very much for ur honest input!
You've got this!! They apps people have listed are very user friendly!
Zero need. Just take a Saturday to play around in Scratch Jr. yourself and you will be fine. Come back to this forum with follow up questions. There are plenty of great websites and YouTubes out there that will help you. I’ve been doing a two month Scratch Jr unit with my 2nd grades and they’re amazing at it.
Also, I would just focus on one platform - Scratch Jr - and build your and their skills in that. Don’t mess around with Tynker etc. learn one platform. That way your students who aren’t strong readers yet will be just as set up to succeed.
Cora Carey Agreed. I don’t find Tynker super user friendly as a beginner coding site.
Don’t hire. There are so many good programs out there. The curriculum I use (PLTW) scaffolds programming from K-2 through scratch jr and there are so many fun things I teach my students.
Angela Ernstes when using PLTW do students use iPads or Chromebooks to complete the ScratchJr lessons?
Techie Case scratch Jr is an app available on the iPad. For scratch with 3-5 it’s web based and any device works.
Use code.org, free lesson plans, Teacher training and some free stuff
CODE.ORG
Learn computer science. Change the world.
Don’t hire. My students in grades jr Kindergarten through 5th grade code so much that the majority have realized before I say anything lessons we learn are in fact coding. Coding isn’t just writing code or placing blocks together. Code.org is a great … See more
CODE.ORG
Learn computer science. Change the world.
Learn computer science. Change the world.
The older my students get the more coding they do. Each grade levels spends at least a quarter each year coding. They come to me once weekly for 45 minutes. If I added it up it’s probably at least 15-20 classes.
I started my Kinders and 1sts on coding this year by teaching some Coding basics: that it’s a language like English, or Spanish, etc etc, coding follows a sequence - beginning, middle, end, coding requires planning and working in groups, and some basic coding vocab. We used hopscotch coding from Tpt for a while and read books about robots while we learned and reinforced this language. We then moved on to Beebots for some hands on coding, before moving to Kodable. While I don’t think you need a third party to teach it, you definitely need someone who is comfortable and loves teaching it, because it can be a challenge at times.
Carin Beshoar some good food for thought here. Reminded me of our “intentional” discussion yesterday.
Kodable is great and free. I set up K-2 accounts for my classes and the students love it. Check it out.
JodyRoxie Lopez I love the Kodable videos and their unplugged activities but it seemed like it was only an iPad app. Am I wrong? I love free resources
I use code.org there are definitely coding fundamentals that need to be taught for students to actually understand what they are doing.
All my students k-4th grade can tell you what an algorithm and a program are. Next in the unit is loops then event… See more
Code.org is so easy to use!!
CODE.ORG
Learn computer science. Change the world.
We start with hands on coding, and then use code.org it lets the students move through lessons at their own pace. We start our first graders on the K level and they fly through it but it builds so much confidence!
CODE.ORG
Learn computer science. Change the world.
You might want to start with code.org. It’s leveled and free.
CODE.ORG
Learn computer science. Change the world.
Takeaways
Takeaways
Teachers find free curriculum on Code.org and Scratch Jr website. I have checked it out Code.org and it is perfect for just teaching 1 week.
Scratch Jr recently launched a detailed curriculum. Which means there is a need. So my product can sell because STEAM Party is integrated with other subjects.
My next books in the series should use Scratch or other languages. Not Scratch Jr.(1 line code). Makes it hard to include it in the picture book itself.
FREE Coding lessons on my blog will attract this audience who might buy the book on KS
I have the problems spelled out. Now I need to list the benefits my course offers to solve those problems. E.g When you have this curriculum, your students will be super excited, it will be easy, you will feel confidant as a teacher. Giving kids real world skills like critical thinking, emotional regulation. Flip it. Take every problem and talk about how your course solves it. Are you a Gen Ed teacher who is now required to teach stem? Do your students struggle with critical thinking? Here is how you can do it in a way that if fun and meaningful and helpful.
Critical Thinking as a Skill
Critical Thinking as a Skill
Ok STEM world, I have hit a place with my students never ever thought I could be at.
Does anyone have a resource to teach thinking skills. My 6th graders just don't know how to start. First time I'm my career i just can't reach them. amazing kids, just never played in a creek...
Any particular thinking skills you are trying to cover?
I feel your pain.
The Ooda loop is a decision making method that can be taught.
EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
OODA loop - Wikipedia
They just don’t care
GIZMOS.EXPLORELEARNING.COM
ExploreLearning Gizmos: Math & Science Virtual Labs and Simulations
I've used following origami instructions with some success however that's more about following instructions than thinking
Also did a team building with different sections of pipe where they had to move a golf ball ( kokako egg) from one end of the tennis court to the other
Officially pipes not to touch but that was pretty hard
Thinking skills? Or problem solving skills?
Having the same issue! I teach 4K-5th STEM. We are doing the March Madness basketball tower made of newspaper. We took and entire class period (45 min) to imagine and plan. Plans looked ok…just ok… but today one of my 5th grade groups had planned to make squares out of the newspaper and stack them. Sounds great…no. They literally cut huge squares out of the center of the pieces of newspaper and began stacking the sheets of newspaper. Some days I truly question what I have taught them the last 3 years
My guess, in my case, I have to go back to basics!
Our kids have had such a messed up 2 years….sitting cross cross applesauce on the floor is a challenge!
I can’t get mad at them when the skills I would like, aren’t practices and nurtured!
Don’t loose faith!!
Same with my 4th. They spend the 30 minutes arguing and at the end no plan. Most of them suffer from ME/MY syndrome and working together is a huge obstacle
yep, kids just don't have the same creativity as they did in the past?
conundrums are great https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUH3x2Zu5QFzngQWvD6temw
I think spending LOTS of time making observations? Since that is the first step of any process….
I use breakout.edu to help with problem solving skills. The more they are exposed the better it'll be. Number one complaint from students is it's too hard. It's not really hard they just don't like to think.
Sarah Deak do you have specific ones that they've been successful with?
Not really. I do a lot of the team building ones and try for a lower grade level to get them started with the idea of how to solve.
Sarah Deak "good thing you can do hard things"
Sarah Deak any chance you have found a list of the “free” digital unlocked ones that are good? I used to use this all the time but many of the challenges I used to use are locked now. And I find it hard to search for free unlocked challenges
Chrissy Metz Chandler no sorry I paid for the subscription when I realized I was using it enough to justify the cost.
Sarah Deak I use breakout.edu also. It makes them think.
Engineering with Paper packets start with simple shapes that are easy entry point and then let kids figure out what to do with them. Lots of possible projects that inspire creative thinking https://www.dazzlingdiscoveries.com/engineeringwithpaper
DAZZLINGDISCOVERIES.COM
Engineering with Paper
I have asked this question of every teacher and administrator at my school and they just look at me blankly. All day long these kids are told what to do and exactly how to do it. They don't have to think for themselves until they come to STEM once a we… See more
Having the same problem... My kids are currently doing the Fluor Engineering Challenge and I had one group ask if they could just quit. Another group refused to prototype and just threw together a bunch of paper. They can't focus, can't plan ahead, a… See more
They’ve been glued to a damn tablet for 12 years. All of my k-5 are socially, emotionally, academically stunted because of technology
Julie Stancil yes!!! My theory is that thinking is not a requirement for most tasks these days.
Look up Spontaneous Problems for Odyssey of the Mind. It helps build thinking skills and kids enjoy them once they get started.
I spend a lot of time at the beginning teaching growth and fixed mindset. Then I start with lower level challenges and build up. I used to jump into complicated lessons that were steps beyond where they were in problem solving. They don’t get a lot of … See more
I had to do 10 different projects using the stem! I teach sixth graders and I gave them an ecological issue pollution! We had a class on the different types of pollution air water noise land and each team had to find a specific problem and a stem solut… See more
We are struggling with 4th - 6th at my school. These last couple years of being apart from each other really tanked any skills they previously had for working together, effort and follow through. It has been a slooow moving process. I use games like li… See more
ABCYA.COM
ABCya! • ABCya! • Learning Games and Apps for Kids
1Chrissy Metz Chandler Thank you for the tip! I hope division will be learned by my students easier now!
I had parents question why I challenge the kids to make skiers and bobsleds and work together and build. They don’t like the final product but I try to tell them it’s the process that is important.
Use SCAMPER for a lesson or two to see if it helps.
Claim Evidence Reasoning …
Start simple and concrete and then scaffold with progressively more open ended challenges. I do the tiny house challenge. First they design a house with specific volume and square foot parameters and then they need to come up with a space saving innovation like loft or roof space use etc. it’s easier cause they are starting with instructions and don’t even realize when the rules end and creativity begins.
I have a center called "Brain Games" that is full of Think Fun Games that I bought off of Amazon.
teach them through Inventive Education! https://inhub.thehenryford.org/
INHUB.THEHENRYFORD.ORG
inHub by The Henry Ford - Education, Innovation & Learning Programs
inHub by The Henry Ford - Education, Innovation & Learning Programs
Another great way to get kids inventing- through reading! https://inventionlit.org/
INVENTIONLIT.ORG
Creating Hands-On Invention Lessons through Children's Literature
Creating Hands-On Invention Lessons through Children's Literature
Another approach tt teaching engineering through literacy...https://www.novelengineering.org/
I spend a lot of time at the beginning teaching growth and fixed mindset. Then I start with lower level challenges and build up. I used to jump into complicated lessons that were steps beyond where they were in problem solving. They don’t get a lot of this in the typical classroom, so most I have to start basic level and build up. I often find I can start with the same skills in k as upper grades because of this at the beginning. They need to get their confidence up and realize they can mess up and it’s not the end of the world.
I had to do 10 different projects using the stem! I teach sixth graders and I gave them an ecological issue pollution! We had a class on the different types of pollution air water noise land and each team had to find a specific problem and a stem solution I had teams finding a pooper scooper and create machine that will make it into compost another decided to do bricks with plastic bottles and trash and the list goes on and it was amazing to see them thrive with just a little push!!
We are struggling with 4th - 6th at my school. These last couple years of being apart from each other really tanked any skills they previously had for working together, effort and follow through. It has been a slooow moving process. I use games like light on 2 and joe lost on abcya.com even with these older kids. It really forces them to slow down and read the directions and then they have to think and use logic/trial and error to figure out the solutions.
Takeaways
Takeaways
There is an opportunity to emphasize on critical thinking in my course offering and book.
I can say 6th grade teachers are reporting that kids coming to their class lack thinking skills. We need to introduce these concepts in grade 2,3,4 to get them ready for critical thinking and problem solving.
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