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Hello Elementary Science teachers!

I'm in the process of trying to learn more about what elementary students are capable of in STEM. In your experience, could your students conduct and experiment? Could it be one they developed? How do you tie in real-world problems? Do you let your students ask their own questions and then help them find the answers? Or solve their own problems through engineering design? All of my work has been done with middle and high school students so I'd like to know what elementary students are capable of in STEM. Give me your thoughts. What's too much? And what's not enough? Because sometimes I think we underestimate. But you work with these kids every day, do what can they do?

Thanks!

-Matt

Hi, Matthew, 

I am in a first grade class and you would be suprised at how much those little ones are capable of! They love hands on activities and experimenting. They do need much more stucture and guidance but they are very capable. They was in which I would approach STEM is by letting students know of trail and errors. I would let them experiment a freely as possible. 

Matt, 

Kids are natural scientist and engineers! The ideas and creativity they possess will surprise you in the best way! I think you can give students some freedom when conducting experiments and approach science with a constructivist approach! Give them some guiding questions and ideas to get them started and help keep their ideas in the activity parameters. I have done many things with allowing students to have freedom and more choice in their learning when it comes to science. For younger students, limit materials and resources they can use to make sure it stays on-task and safe, but as they show thier ability or move through grade levels you can slowly give them more and more opportunities to show you what they know and can come up with! 

Emma Moss

Pre-Service Teacher

Hello Matt,

I am currently taking a STEAM course now where Art is also integrated in the cross curricular content. I am enjoying the course. I am seeking a master's in early childhood education, and after reading your post, I realized that some of the ideas posted here could be adapted to a kindergarten level.  I watched a 4K student build tunnels and roads in the sand one day. I believe the natural curiosity is there even in the early years. The challenge is to present the content on their level, like you said. If any of you have any suggestions, I would appreciate you sharing.

Thank you,

Sarah Thompson

As a former first-grade and fourth-grade teacher, my students loved doing experiments. We were an IB school, and many of our Science lessons were inquiry-based. We would begin a study by showing students a visual to get them to think about what they were looking at. That started the engagement with students. Depending on the direction of the conversation we would ask probing questions to get students thinking about our topic. I was amazed at some of the insight that students provided. We talked about the laws of motion, and students began to think of ways to demonstrate the concept. Although we were working on it at school, some students continued their learning at home. As a teacher, you love to hear the transition of what is being taught in class, continuing at home. 

Hi Matt,

As a pre-service teacher I've seen multiple schools and grade levels where students are successfully able to praticipate in, and create their own experiments. While working in a kindergarten classroom my students were able to help construct experiments, create their own hypothesis, and analyze the results. Most of the time the students had no idea they were naturally being scientifically curious. My students built a bridge out of tables, used UV beads to make UV detector bracelets, and many more fun experiments. We even had 'Wizards' that would come from the WPAFB to teach lessons to the students that were interactive.

-Sarah Lung