New in 2020!“Integrating STEM Teaching and Learning Into the K–2 Classroom is a critically important contribution toward advancing STEM teaching and learning. It blazes a trail for early elementary classroom practitioners to reflect the latest thinking in STEM education, and it provides a means by which early elementary educators can meaningfully contribute to America’s STEM education movement.”
—Jeff Weld, former senior policy advisor on STEM education, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Here’s proof that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) isn’t just for the big kids! This book’s 10 chapters are a mini-course on blending authentic, phenomena-driven, integrated STEM teaching and learning into busy K–2 classrooms. Based in both research and real-world experience,
Integrating STEM Teaching and Learning Into the K–2 Classroom provides professional learning experiences that help you make connections between STEM topics and the everyday activities you’re already doing with your students.
The book answers the following questions:
• How is K–2 STEM education different from what you’re already doing, and how can you do it without squeezing more into your already-full schedule?
• What are the key elements in an integrated STEM classroom, and how do they work together?
• How do you use STEM in concert with your core reading block?
To show you how it all works in real life, the book provides descriptions of four completed projects from actual classrooms—projects with names like “Baby Bear’s Chair” and “A Pond Habitat.” An easy-to-follow template shows you the process for developing your own STEM experiences. The final chapter describes how one district created a culture of STEM teaching and learning when education partners committed to working together toward a common goal.
Researchers agree that STEM education is important in early childhood.
Integrating STEM Teaching and Learning gives you the background and strategies to engage your young students in STEM without overloading your day—or overwhelming yourself.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Foreword
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Creating a Blueprint for Building Your K?2 STEM House
Chapter 2: Pioneering Into STEM Integration
Chapter 3: Unpacking the Integrated STEM Classroom
Chapter 4: Tackling the Core Instructional Time
Chapter 5: Using the W.H.E.R.E. Model Template
Chapter 6: Developing a STEM Unit With Math as the Driver—Straw Bridges
Chapter 7: Developing a STEM Unit With Engineering as the Driver—Baby Bear’s Chair
Chapter 8: Developing a STEM Unit With Science as the Driver—A Pond Habitat
Chapter 9: Moving Students From Inquiry to Application—Shade Structure
Chapter 10: Transforming to a Successful STEM School
Bibliography
Index