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STEM in Literacy

by Angela Williams

Check out some of my ideas on how to incorporate STEM challenges using picture books!

This semester, I had the amazing opportunity to present a teacher workshop at the KSLA conference in Hershey, on my two favorite topics; STEM and Literacy! At this workshop, I taught a lesson I wrote last year based on the book Three Cheers for Tacky, which is described more below. My group and I also showcased some mini challenges that we created that the teachers can look through. Below I will describe the challenges I created as well as Teacher tips that you may find useful when implementing STEM into your classroom.

Coding with Tacky design challenge

*Three Cheers for Tacky* by Helen Lester

This challenge is called Coding with Tacky and it allows students to practice coding skills in a fun and engaging way! Students will first identify the problem in the book and then solve it using coding.

The challenge: Create a cheer you want to teach Tacky and create a set of codes that he can follow along with to practice it.

Some things to keep in mind: The codes should be specific and creative. Encourage students to have fun with their cheer and incorporate popular dance moves.

Testing: When the students are done with the set of codes, they will pass their sheet off to another group. This will test to make sure their codes are specific and eligible.

The Little GREEN Fort design challenge

This Challenge is called The Little GREEN Fort. This challenge allows students to research negative effects of construction on the environment and use the design process to create a solution to these effects.

The Challenge: After researching the negative effects that construction has on the environment, plan and design a fort that is green and sustainable.

Some things to keep in mind: The materials and tools used should be Eco-friendly.

Teacher tips: The research and planning period should be student facilitated. Provide books on the topic and recommendations for varies websites.

Also be sure to provide a large amount of tools and materials that they could use to create their model.

Clean your Oil Spill design challenge

This book works to inform children on the impacts of oil spills and how the effect our environments and living organism such as plants and animals. This book also includes how we can prevent them and real-life tools that are used to clean them up.

The Challenge: After learning about the negative impacts of oil spills on the environment, create a tool that could be used to clean up the oil in your water stimulation.

Materials: a small container, water, vegetable oil, pebbles (optional), a feather, and a variety of craft materials.

Procedure:

Read the book Oil Spill! by Melvin Berger
Each student will receive the small container and create their ocean stimulation by filling it with water and possibly adding sand and/or pebbles
To stimulate a oil spill in their ocean, drop some vegetable oil in each container.
Students will make observations based on what the oil looks like in the water and how they think it effects the living creatures.
Stick a feather in the oil to stimulate a bird who is covered in the oil. Students will make predictions on how oil spills effect birds.
Students will brainstorm and plan 3 different solutions to cleaning their oil.
They will then test their tools and reflect on what did and din’t work.

Advice for future preservice Teachers

Throughout my college experience this far, I have taken the time to reflect on my journey. I noticed that I was on my own when it came to picking classes, attending professional developments, and preparing for my upcoming classes. Not always because I didn’t have the help, but because I chose to make the decisions on my own. In this post I am going to talk about some things that you should think about while in school to become a Elementary teacher.

Some things your professors might not tell you while you’re in school

Collect children books

One thing that I have done since freshman year is collect children’s books. I not only plan to provide them for my future students, but I also currently use them to write lesson plans for class. This could be a costly task but it doesn’t have to be! There are many great ways to start your collection. Here are my favorite (and cheapest) ways to find great books:

Thrift stores
Scholastic warehouse sales
Family members
Facebook Marketplace

Most thrift stores have a children’s section where there might be a large amount of books. Each book could range from .50 cents to 1 dollar! This is my number one, favorite way to get books for my future classroom. I also like to visit the scholastic warehouse sale which is thrown, I believe, twice a year (May and December). This is when the books are Buy One Get One FREE! This could still be pricey but you’re potentially finding great books and crossing them off your wish list! Extended family is also a great way to find great books. Two members of my family were teachers and they passed down some of their books to me. Lastly, Facebook market is a great resource to not only use to find great books but also other things you could put aside for your future classroom! Although previously owned books might not always be in the best condition, it is a cheap and effective way to find great quality books to provide for your future kiddos!

2. Go to as many Professional Developments/workshops as possible

Another thing that I have been doing since Freshman year is attending different workshops and Professional developments on topics I find interesting. Not only do you learn so much from attending these, but you also often receive free resources. This also looks great on a resume!

3. Take care of yourself!

While being a Full-time student and working, it is often hard to put yourself first. With that being said, you must look at your schedule and put aside time where you might go hang out with a friend, or spend the night in and watch TV. Although I wasn’t the best at this, I wish someone would have told this to freshman-junior year me.

Teaching Abroad

Last winter, I took my STEM practicum course in Stolkholm, Sweden, where I planned and taught two different STEM integrated units to both 5th and 6th grade! Each day for one week, I acted as a full-time classroom teacher, where I taught lessons, stayed after to reflect, and planned for upcoming lessons. This was overall an eye-opening and self-reflective experience that I will forever be grateful for! Below I am going to describe what my experience was like.

My experience

When I first applied for this opportunity, I was slightly unsure and terrified. Going to another country for the first time without my family was quite nerve wrecking and the overall process of experiencing a safe and successful trip also worried me. However, we got there safely and I had a great time. Although I can’t say everything went as planned as we had a few hiccups trying to find our hotel in our first stop in Lithuania. You know the quote, “Sometimes you need to get lost to find yourself”? Well that was what was keeping us sane and motivated to keep pushing. After a mile and half of wondering around with our luggage, we finally found it, and by the second day we new our way!

Another part of our trip that caused some anxiety… was moving in with a host family when we got to Sweden. This was often a little awkward as it was a little out of my comfort zone, but they taught me so much about their country and welcomed me into their home!

Now its the first day of teaching in Sweden. After free exploration in Lithuania and Latvia, it was time to get a little serious and teach the unit we have been preparing. To get to school, I had to take about a 20 min bus ride which was also a new experience for me. But this time was used to relax and listen to music that would prepare me for my day. Once we were at the school, my co teacher and I had a busy schedule where we would go from 5th and 6th grade teaching the units we prepared prior to departure. After school, my peers and I would stop at the mall or stop for a snack. We even had the chance to go to a Ice bar!

Conclusion

This experience has taught my so much of not only traveling but also myself. I never thought I would travel a country by myself and I look forward to any upcoming adventures I create for myself. With all that being said, I advice you to try looking in to volunteering in another country. As a teacher, it is so interesting to see a classroom in a different perspective, where things may be completely different.