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STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom
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STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom

Foreword by Cary Sneider



May 2016 | 160 pages | Corwin

Make learning relevant with STEM essential questions

Planning interdisciplinary STEM lessons that meet K-5 grade level expectations can be a challenge. How do you fit it all in? In this engaging, well-organized guide, STEM instructional trailblazer Miranda Reagan provides a teacher-friendly, research-based guide to quickly and confidently infuse STEM concepts across content areas. Real-world vignettes, sample lessons and templates, discussion questions, and immediately applicable action steps help you seamlessly promote college and career ready skills. 

This inspiring guide helps teachers use STEM-infused interdisciplinary instruction to:

  • Deepen all content areas, including English/ Language Arts 
  • Promote the 4Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity 
  • Require students to take risks to solve problems
  • Differentiate instruction and scaffold support 
  • Expand students’ specific measurable capabilities
  • Incorporate design skills into the curricula

Save valuable time and confidently develop standards-aligned STEM projects across all content areas with this breakthrough guide!

“Spirited Teachers Eliciting Memories. Miranda's book is an inspiration for the elementary teacher who wants to begin using STEM in the classroom.”  She has answered all of the "but what ifs" and the "I'm not sures” and given teachers the answers to the "hows and whys" it will work.”
Dr. Jill C. Mertz, Adjunct Professor of Education at Maryville College, Maryville, TN

“After reading this book, infusing STEM into your elementary classroom will be as easy as 1,2,3…A, B, C!”
Susan Schipper, Elementary Teacher, Charles Street School, Palmyra, NJ

 
Foreword by Cary Sneider
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Chapter 1. STEM-Infusing All Content Areas
A Way of Teaching

 
Misconceptions About STEM-Infusion

 
Said No One Ever

 
Spiraling Down

 
A Breath of Fresh Air

 
Model Not Subject

 
Working Smarter

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 2. Why STEM in Elementary?
Then and Now

 
21st Century Readiness

 
Motivating Change

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 3. Rigor Meets Relevance
Explosion

 
Emotional Relevance

 
Making It Matter

 
The Relevance Trap

 
The Role of Technology

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 4. The Cross-Cutting Concepts Approach to STEM-Infusion
The Pattern Revelation

 
Cross-Cutting Concepts

 
Creating STEM-Infused Lesson Plans With Cross-Cutting Concepts

 
Concerns About Rearranging Standards

 
When to Use This Approach

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 5. The Standards Alignment Approach to STEM-Infusion
Operation Top Secret Message

 
Starting With the Standards

 
Connecting the Unconnected

 
When to Use This Approach

 
Brainstorming Project Ideas

 
Let the Creativity Begin

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 6. The Thematic Approach to STEM-Infusion
Play Ball

 
The Thematic Approach

 
Not Your Mama’s Thematic Teaching

 
When to Use This Approach

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 7. Assessing STEM
The Testing Mess

 
My Mistake

 
Assessing STEM

 
Rubrics

 
Student Goal Setting

 
Student Journaling

 
Improvement Logs

 
Teacher Clipboard

 
Assessing Social Emotional Learning

 
Standardize Testing and STEM

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 8. The Benefits of the STEM Mindset: Risk Taking and Resilience
Locked Out

 
A Mindset Shift

 
Growth Versus Fixed Mindsets

 
Growing From STEM

 
Student Empowerment

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 9. Student Collaboration
Lego Trench

 
Foundation of Communication

 
Richness of the Interaction

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Chapter 10. Leadership for Change
A Really Hard Night

 
Progress as an Expectation

 
Modeling

 
Parent Involvement

 
Goal Setting

 
Sharing Resources and Providing Support

 
Teaching Teams

 
Teacher Trust and Autonomy

 
Closing

 
Discussion Starters

 
Your Next Step

 
 
Resources
Resource A. Pipeline Lesson Plan

 
Resource B. Volcano Lesson Plan

 
Resource C. Candy Cane Lesson Plan

 
Resource D. Germs Lesson Plan

 
Resource E. Top Secret Message Lesson Plan

 
Resource F. Baseball Lesson Plan

 
Resource G. Moon Rover Lesson Plan

 
Resource H. Improvement Log

 
Resource I. Storm Shelter Lesson Plan

 
Resource J. Lego Lesson Plan

 
Resource K. Tennis Shoe Lesson Plan

 
Resource L. Helmet Lesson Plan

 
Resource M. Blank Lesson Plan Template 1

 
Resource N. Blank Lesson Plan Template 2

 
Resource O. Additional STEM-Infused Activity Ideas

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

"Reagan shows the importance of STEM-infused learning with much support. The importance and relevancy of the book is very clear. She adequately explained any desired target outcomes and gave steps to achieve them. Many good examples were included . . . An excellent choice to purchase for a school or team."

Marsha Basanda
Monarch Elementary, Simpsonville, SC

"This book does an excellent job of describing a STEM classroom and the basics for beginning to design your own curriculum . . . As a teacher who helped develop the STEM program in the elementary school where I teach, I could understand and relate to the issues and concepts presented in this book. STEM has become the curriculum of the future. This book will help educators not only understand what STEM is, but its importance and how to incorporate it in their classrooms."

Marti Hooten, Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher
Leaphart Elementary School (Leaphart Engineering Arts Program), Columbia, SC

“After reading this book, infusing STEM into your elementary classroom will be as easy as 1,2,3…A, B, C!”

Susan Schipper, Elementary Teacher
Charles Street School, Palmyra, NJ

"Spirited Teachers Eliciting Memories

Miranda's book is an inspiration for the elementary teacher who wants to begin using STEM in the classroom.  She has answered all of the "but what ifs" and the "I'm not sures” and given teachers the answers to the "hows and whys" it will work.  STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom is full of useful and fun information to guide teachers in this new, exciting area of education.  Watching the STEM classes in Miranda’s school, while working on their projects, is amazing.  The students work together well, discuss their ideas freely, and take pride in “improving” their projects!   Rigor, relevance, and creativity, ...what more can you ask for?  I cannot wait to use Miranda's book with my Science and Social Studies Methods Class as an inspiration for our preservice teachers!"

Dr. Jill C. Mertz, Adjunct Professor of Education
Maryville College, Maryville, TN

STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom blends interdisciplinary STEM lessons for K-5 grades with a guide that shows teachers how to understand basic STEM concepts and apply them across the curriculum. Case histories pair with sample lessons and templates to help teachers integrate these strategies into lesson plans in such a way that existing standards are infused with STEM concepts and results."

Donovan’s Bookshelf

This book was a great fit for the course.

Mrs Melissa Wynn
Early Childhood, Univ Of West Georgia
September 29, 2020

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 2


For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

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ISBN: 9781483392363
£24.99

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