How to teach using STEAM through experiences and literacy by Shawn Heather Lord – NHSA Conference April 2017

Science Technology Engineering Art Math S T E A M

Do not let STEAM scare you – you are already doing it and just don’t know it!

No flexibility or allowance for discovery No flexibility or allowance for discovery. Basically one way to do it and a limited number of responses. When children are sitting and ‘being taught’, they are in a passive and receptive role. Preschoolers NEED to be in an active, participating role as much as possible. Directed Activity

Activity was ‘undirected’ or freeform Activity was ‘undirected’ or freeform. It was an open-ended experience with an unlimited number of answers. Undirected Children are natural scientists and once you allow them the opportunity to be curious they will take advantage of their desire to explore and discover.

When minds are allowed to be free, anything can happen! The groups were told to use whatever tools they had to ‘discover’ whatever they could about their apples. She discovered she could make a happy face on hers.

Quick question to apple activity people…were you dying to touch the apple to discover it? WHY? WHY?

Tactile learning is a learning style in which learning takes place by the students carrying out physical activities, rather than listening to a lecture or watching demonstrations. Preschool definition = ‘Hands-on” Kinesthetic

STEAM…as defined for preschool teachers.

A way of thinking! It’s discovering the environment through questioning, curiosity and exploration. SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY Any tool that helps in solving a problem. Any tool that helps make a task easier Any tool that makes your life easier. TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING PLAY! Problem solving. Creating, building or designing an answer to a question/problem. ENGINEERING

What is the problem with this!

ART A process that creates ‘something’. Expression of feelings/emotions through the use of different mediums. Any experience that encourages exploration. ART

The left brain controls the right side of our body. The right brain controls the left side of our body. Each hemisphere processes the same items/information, just in different ways. Each side of the brain “thinks” differently.

Left brain thinking is verbal and analytical. Right brain thinking is non-verbal and intuitive, using pictures rather than words.  

STEM teaches mainly to the left brain, or ½ the brain. When you teach with the ‘A’, you are teaching to the right brain, the other ½ of the brain. When we teach young children, we need to teach in ways that will allow children to utilize BOTH sides of the brain – that is STEAM! Why STEAM not STEM?

Anything to do with numbers, shapes, sequences, patterns, measurement, counting, sorting, comparing, etc. MATH

Applying STEAM to literacy

Key points on how to use books for STEAM Get them curious from the start. Be flexible with the science possibilities. Let your book run your STEAM, don’t try to make your book ‘fit’ it. Do what YOU like to do! Integrate with everyday activities. Build on the characters. Ask ‘what if’, ‘how’, ‘why’ and a lot of ‘how’ questions. Change the ending. MOST IMPORTANTLY….. Key points on how to use books for STEAM

Think outside the bowl!

Mud Germs Clean/dirty Twins Opposite Spots Bones Gravity Push/pull Cars Sheep Motion Force Trees Story Stones Seasons Donkeys Farm animals Picnics/ants/bugs Magic Emotions Numbers Wild animals Bedtime Brushing teeth Stuffed animals Habitats Addition/subtraction Singing

For more information or questions, please feel free to contact me at kinscikids@gmail.com Or, visit my website at www.kinscikids.com Materials from presentation and additional information available from Head Start and upon request. Thank you!