Transcription
What does STEM look likein preschool and what isSTEM anyway?
DeborahJ.Stewart,M.Ed.2016 (c) Teach Preschool, LLCWhat does STEM look like in preschool and whatis STEM anyway?Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.When I was rst asked to participate in a discussion on the topic of STEM afew years back, I had no idea what STEM was about. I sure didn’t want to talkabout a topic that I knew nothing about. Or did I? As I was listening to theother guests, Sherri Killins and Lilian Katz, I began to realize that I knew quitea bit about STEM and it is something that I bet you know more about thanyou think too!What is STEM?According to Dr. Sherri Killins, “What STEM does is give a label to what youare already doing helping children to explore, observe, ask questions,predict, integrate their learning its what we’ve always done in earlychildhood education.”The Distinction between Academic Learning and Intellectual LearningDr. Lilian Katz says, “It is important to know the distinction betweenacademic learning and intellectual learning . and most people don’t getthat.”In the chart below, the distinction between Academic Learning andIntellectual learning is described for you.Page 1
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?Academic learning “by de nition is the stu that is clear like the alphabet,it’s no logic, it just has to be memorized and it does have to be learnedeventually.” (Lilian Katz)Intellectual Learning “has to do with reasoning, hypothesizing, andpredicting, theorizing, and so forth and that’s natural.” (Lilian Katz)Page 2
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?“You want children to learn their academic skills in the service oftheir intellect so when they come and say, show me how to measure thisor show me how to write that because they are doing an investigation –which is an intellectually based activity and it comes so naturally to allchildren.” (Lilian Katz)In other words, children will initiate academic learning when they areengaged in activities that challenge their thinking, knowledge,understanding, and skills.Page 3
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?How to apply Stem in your preschool classroomOur experts give the following advice Become more intentional about what you are doing"If you start by reflecting on what you are doing already, you will find you thatyou are already doing things in STEM and with an increase in your languageand your ability to support children to predict what might happen next orexplore or question, you will already be advancing those ideas of science,technology, engineering, and math.” (Dr. Killins)Building your own skill of asking questions that further children'sinvestigations, ideas, and thinking is central to promoting a STEMenvironment.Page 4
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?Don't let the words like "hypothesis or research" make you nervous.Tohypothesis may be as simple as the child answering a question like, "Will icemelt in my hand?" then testing that answer to see what happens. Researchmay be a simple as nding a few simple articles on the topic and supplyingthe materials to explore the topic further.The basic dispositions of science are asking questions then predictingwhat the outcome might be."Work with things that are right in front of you. What isn't in the best interestof advancing this knowledge is to imagine an ocean if you don’t live near anocean or imagining a pirate that doesn’t exist. Use what is in front of you tocreate this learning and explore so you can test and try.” (Dr. Killins)The more you can use what is right there in the child's real world, the moremeaningful the process will be to the child. If you want the child to reallydive into a topic of interest, he will need to be hands on in order to test,explore, invent. Remember, a young child learns best when he or she canuse all of the senses to explore an idea or answer a question. The idea ofSTEM is to promote understanding and knowledge in real life and in realtime through play and exploration.Page 5
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?How to learn more about STEMThink about something you want to know about and explore it and look upmore information and then share this information with your children. Useyour natural curiosity – go into the concept of STEM by using your own senseof curiosity. (Dr. Killins)Put ideas into action, re ect on them, then gure out how you can take thisidea or process up another notch to invite even more exploration,questioning, hypothesizing, observation and you will see that there is alwaysanother way.Page 6
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?The importance of play“There are no greater natural scientists and engineers then young children.Inquisitive learners who learn STEM concepts through play. High qualityearly learning environments provide children with the structure in which tobuild upon their natural inclination to explore, to build, and to question.”Once again it comes down to letting the children play! (JD Chesloff shared byRae Pica in “What, Teaching STEM in Preschool, Really?“)Page 7
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?The benefits of STEMThe link between early childhood and STEM is indisputable. Early exposureto STEM – whether it be in school, at a museum, a library, or just engaging inthe natural trial and error of play – supports children’s overall academicgrowth, develops early critical thinking and reasoning skills, and enhanceslater interest in STEM study and careers. (Sparking a Child’s Interest inScience and Technology.”Page 8
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?As I mentioned before, you are probably already applying STEM in yourclassroom but just didn't realize it. To realize the possibilities of STEM, beginby looking at the everyday things your students do, ask, or say with new eyes.Instead of supplying an answer to every question a student asks, considerhow you can challenge and support your students to turn those everydayideas and questions into a study of their own.Page 9
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?Above all else, remember.What does STEM look like in preschool and what is STEM anyway?Page 10
What does STEM look like in preschool andwhat is STEM anyway?About the Author: Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. has been working and teaching in the eld ofearly childhood education for over 30 years. Deborah currently owns andteaches in her own part-time, private preschool called The Children’sStudio. Deborah’s deep passion for teaching and working with youngchildren is documented and then graciously shared with millions ofreaders around the world through her blog and other social networkingcommunities. Deborah believes that young children learn best throughplay and exploration and embraces this belief in all that she does in herown classroom so that she can e ectively and passionately sharerewarding, real- life, tried-and-true practices with other teachers, parents,and leaders across the field of early childhood education.What does STEM look like in preschool and what is STEM anyway?Page 11
What does STEM look like in preschool and what is STEM anyway? Academic learning “by de nition is the stu9 that is clear like the alphabet, it’s no logic, it just has to be memorized and it does have to be learned eventually.” (Lilian Katz) Intellectu
