STEM, But Not Like the Plant
By: Emma Rayburn
What is STEM?
The influx of STEM classrooms is something that is hard for a future teacher to disagree with. This is especially apparent to me now that I am working in one for my student teaching this semester. For a little background, STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These classrooms are being brought into schools to better prepare students for future careers, especially because they foster skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and critical analysis.
I can see how some people may be skeptical about this new wave of classrooms. Especially, because currently, I am tapping trees for maple syrup, tinkering with motors and magnets, planting tomato seeds, keeping bees, growing a greenhouse, and so much more with groups of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. From the outside looking in it may seem like kids are just playing around and not learning much. This is incredibly apparent when comparing it to a traditional classroom. But, really my mentor teacher and I are taking concepts recommended by the student's teachers and weaving these into an environment, activities, and the mindset about education that make kids excited to learn, and helps them learn with a deeper understanding.
For example, the 5th graders are tapping trees and collecting sap to boil into maple syrup. When you first hear this many people may ask how that is connected to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Yet, to start this whole topic students were asked the question, "Are the trees healthy enough to tap?" So, the students were asked to measure tree branch growth, and collect a set of data. Then, as a class, we talked about average; what that is, and what it means in context. Next, they compared their average to the least amount of tree branch growth that makes maple trees healthy enough to tap. Finally, the students got to tap the trees, and start collecting sap, and the project does not stop there. Now, we are talking about and collecting data on the amount of sap collected, and what concentration and delusion are.
There are so many ways to incorporate stem, and its practices not only into a school setting in general but also into individual classrooms. These kinds of activities are both fun and interesting. They fuel a more hands-on, minds-on, and deeper understanding approach to teaching and learning. Here are some more examples of STEM lessons online and in person that can be incorporated into the classroom.
Distance Learning STEM Activities
I loved this blog post! There is so much to be said for play and exploration in schools. I think there are times where that can be lost and it is our job as teachers to bring it back. I think it is so cool that you are in a STEM classroom for your placement this semester. Would you ever consider teaching in a non traditional school setting that is based around nature so you could incorporate more of this type of teaching into the curriculum?
ReplyDeleteClever title! I am a big fan for STEM education... it my experience, it has been integrated in my classroom and not a separate class. I wonder what the pros and cons are for having it as a separate class? Would you prefer to be offered a classroom position that integrates STEM/STEAM, or a STEM/STEAM position?
ReplyDeleteI forget if it was in a class we shared, but I remember hearing about STEM and then adding the arts into it, becoming STEAM, and then another program that added something else and so on and so forth until it gets completely out of hand and you end up with HAMSTER (humanities, art, math, science, technology, engineering, reading). I think keeping it just to STEM or STEAM is the right choice haha.
ReplyDeleteThe stuff you're dong in your internship is super cool. Have you learned any new skills from it yet? Are you gonna go out and start your own syrup business?