S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Programs Made Easy

• S.T.E.M. in Preschool Programs• Simple Passive Program Ideas

Objectives

• Be able to identify age-appropriate STEM concepts for Preschool Storytime

• Recognize when you are already using STEM in Storytime

• Be able to list at least two simple ways you can reinforce existing STEM content and add more

• Have at least 1 passive program idea you could use in your branch

Why we don’t do more S.T.E.M. programming (or think we don’t)

• It’s hard enough meeting all of the ECRR 2 requirements. I don’t have time or energy to try to add S.T.E.M. too.

• I don’t know enough about science or math. • Cost

Preschool S.T.E.M. Concepts

Counting Nutrition

Animals

Enriching The S.T.E.M. Content In Your Storytime

• Fingerplays – both Math and Science. Repeat the rhyme, even if you have the words available. (ECRR tie-in: Writing, Vocabulary)

• Use Non-fiction books or Concept books (ECRR tie-in: Vocabulary, Talking, Reading, Picture book walk)

• Choose a science-oriented activity. For example: Can you hop like a rabbit? game; shaking egg by color; matching game

Enriching The S.T.E.M. Content In Your Storytime (cont.)

• Ask question and write down answers – make a graph (ECRR – writing) Sample questions: Favorite color; type of pet; color shirt; eye color; hair color; number of siblings

• Incorporate a demonstration. Example: Read little blue and little yellow by Leo Lionni and demonstrate color mixing

Passive S.T.E.M. ProgramsFor Preschool – Grade 5

• Interactive chart or graph – children come in and put a sticker in the appropriate column

• Seedling in a bag• Simple sorting activities – by color or size• Copy a pattern• Measuring – tape a line on the floor and measure with

different units like kid feet, elephant feet, dog feet, hands. Introduces concept of different units.

Same idea as DIY S.T.E.M. during summer, but much simpler and easier!

Passive S.T.E.M. ProgramsFor Preschool – Grade 5

• Interactive chart or graph – children come in and put a sticker in the appropriate column

• Seedling in a bag• Simple sorting activities – by color or size• Copy a pattern• Measuring – tape a line on the floor and measure

with different units like kid feet, elephant feet, dog feet, hands. Introduces concept of different units.

 

Same idea as DIY S.T.E.M. during summer, but much simpler and easier!

Resources and Inspiration

• Angela Young’s (course instructor) Pinterest Board: http://pinterest.com/younglibr/stem/

• Kim Englert’s Boards: http://pinterest.com/kaenglert/cya-stem/ http://pinterest.com/kaenglert/cya-science-fun/

• Bookish Ways in Math and Science blog: http://bookishways.blogspot.com

• Scholastic freebies: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/teacher-freebies

• ALSC blog posts tagged STEM: http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/tag/stem/

• VA Geek Mom’s list of websites: http://vageekmom.com/ParentReference/2012/05/websites-with-great-stem-activities-for-kids/