Calling all K-5 STEM teachers, media specialists and gen. ed teachers!
Join me to quickly learn essentials when setting up your STEM space for Back to School. These are actionable strategies that you can easily implement right away that will start your year will great systems and lessons. All videos are pre-recorded and available to watch in your own time.
Day 1: STEM Teacher Prep
Day 2: Classroom Inventory & Purchasing
Day 3: Getting Started Lessons
Also, have the chance to win prizes and other special offers!
FAQ's
When is it?
Originally aired July 20-22, 2021, but it's all recorded so you can watch in your own time!
Looking for ways to improve your STEM teaching practice? Check out this list of books for STEM education. Whether reading the physical copy or listening to the audio, all texts include inspiring ideas to apply to the classroom. In fact, all texts are worth rereading as new ideas always seem to pop out the second read!
Books aren't listed in any particular order. All are worth investing in to continue to grow STEM teaching practices.
Amazon Affiliate links are included in the post. When purchasing through my link, so added cost to you but I receive a small commission in return.
Books for STEM Education | Creativity Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Amy Wallace and Ed Catmull
Written by the creator of Disney's Pixar. Highly recommend the audio version of this book. While not read by the original author, the performance is fantastic. While this book does go through some of the backstory of the history of Pixar, is also provides how creativity can be added to the workplace. When thinking about the workplace setting, this can be thought of as actual staff members but even students.
There are many quotable concepts given in this book. Top must read for those wanting an inspiring story.
Books for STEM Education | The Art of Tinkering: Meet 150+ Makers Working at the Intersection of Art, Science and Technology by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich
This book includes beautiful photographs to illustrate Makers who use STEM in their real worlds. While there are inspiring stories to share with students, not all are suitable for children. Recommend purchasing the physical copy of this book. There are many treasures of how this can spark creativity for future STEM lessons in the classroom. Also, gather ways on how students can use their creativity in real world applications.
Books for STEM Education | Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching by Jo Boaler
Naomi Meredith and school team meeting Jo Boaler at her Mathematical Mindsets workshop hosted at Stanford University, CA
This book is a MUST read for any teacher wanting to improve their math teaching practice. This book truly changed my teaching career and how to help students understand math. My copy of this book has tons of words written in the margins and sticky notes. Jo Boaler is incredible and how she is changing the math world to help all students believe they can do math.
In conjunction to this book, make sure to check out her website, YouCubed. There is a Week of Inspirational math which is a wonderful way to start the year during math workshop. Along with that are other activities, articles and trainings to improve your math teaching practice.
I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop led and taught by Jo Boaler and her team. This was during my days as a classroom teacher as I was learning strategies that would later apply to my K-5 STEM role.
Books for STEM Education | LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani
When getting started with Design Challenges, this book should be a prerequisite for teachers. This will explain the process to effectively plan a Design Challenge while also giving question stems to use in the process. Even if you have been teaching Design Challenges for awhile, this is a great references to go back to the basics and evaluate if current lessons are effective.
Books for STEM Education | Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom by Gary Stagner and Sylvia Libow Martinez
This book pairs well with the above book, LAUNCH. While explaining best practices to use in a STEM lesson, there are also ideas to include into lessons. Think of the like having a personal PLC (Professional Learning Community). This book isn't meant to be read straight through but rather pick and choose concepts you would like to read about.
Books for STEM Education | Unfolding the Napkin: The Hands-On Method for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures by Dan Roam
Visualization is a powerful skill that can be developed. It's not always as innate as you think. When I was a classroom teacher, when we would listen to chapter books or podcasts, I would have students draw illustrations of the pictures they saw in their minds while listening. More common than not, many students said, “I don't see anything.”
Again, we need to help students develop this skill and this book gives wonderful advice. By teaching students to solve by drawing and visualizing, it's unlocking another part of the brain. In fact, many Design Challenges involve drawing a plan. Help give students a set of tools. Therefore, drawing plans doesn't become overwhelming, but an asset to the creation process.
Books for STEM Education | Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity Through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play by Mitchel Resnick
Have you ever had the privilege to teach Kindergarteners STEM? Based on my experience teaching K-5 STEM, these little ones are by far the most creative and inventive age of children I ever teach. Granted, they don't always have advanced skills. However, they are always willing to try something.
How can we instill the thinking strategies and creativity Kindergarteners possess beyond that age?
Again, this is another wonderful book to listen to the audio version. Very inspiring and encouraging to create a culture in the classroom conducive to growth mindset and exploration.
Books for STEM Education | Comprehension and Collaboration (Revised Edition): Inquiry Circles for Curiosity, Engagement, and Understanding by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey “Smokey” Daniels
Naomi Meredith with Stephanie Harvey after listening to her presentation.
Comprehension isn't reserved for literacy blocks. If students aren't comprehending what they are learning, what are they learning?
By planning productive ways for students to use inquiry and collaborate, deep thinking can occur. Again, this is a skill that needs to be developed with proper structures put in place.
In my K-5 STEM classes, my class format follows the workshop model. My lessons start by reviewing past lessons and a strategy to help students continue to work on their project. From this book, Harvey's strategies can definitely be implemented during whole group and small group STEM lessons.
Again, she is another guru I had the pleasure of learning from in person and meeting. Her work is incredible to help students use high level thinking strategies.
Ignite Creativity with this Build a Shelter STEM Project
Imagine being sent off into the wild with limited supplies. You have to stay quite a few days, but need a safe place to sleep. How can you build a shelter that will withstand different types of weather?
In this challenge, students go through the Engineering Design Process. They explore different weather patterns, shelter building tips. Finally, students build a design and test it under various conditions.
Let's take an inside look into this STEM Survival Camp Experience.
Ask & Imagine
After spending a long summer in the sun and adventuring, it can be hard to get back into an academic mindset. To help play off of that energy, this lesson was created for 5th grade students during the Back to School season.
Students were tasked with the challenge, How can you build a shelter that can withstand different elements? While many kids had been camping before, building a shelter from items found in nature wasn't their expertise.
After watching video clips and researching different shelter types, students had a brainstorm list of ideas that might want to try, and those that they didn't.
Build a Shelter STEM Project: Plan
For this shelter challenge, not all items would be used from the Makerspace. While some items were provided, the majority of the structure was created from items found outside. With thoughtful drawing and labeling, students visualized what their shelter might look like.
Once the rules of gathering items from the land were reviewed, students were ready to find the necessary items to build a strong structure.
Build a Shelter STEM Project: Create and Experiment & Improve
As dirt scattered the floor, students collaborated and built their shelter designs. Ideas began to change once materials were in place. Building with sticks, string and other materials proved to be a challenge!
After a few days of building, stations were set up around the classroom where students could test their shelter under different elements. From there, modifications and improvements to shelter designs were made.
Build a Shelter STEM Project: Share
Finally, as the week came to a close, students shared their final designs by taking photos and adding them to their digital Engineering Design Process notebook. They also took videos of their shelter withstanding the elements within Flipgrid. While some designs were taken home, many were too soggy after the rain challenge!
Grab this Challenge for Your Class!
Students can easily build a shelter. However, key details and learning opportunities can be missed. Go through the entire Engineering Design Process easily. In addition, save time on planning and have easy share options.
Part 3: Must-Have STEM Station Rotation Ideas (this post)
Tips for Planning STEM Stations
Keep station planning meaningful and purposeful. With the ideas listed below, students can experience many different STEM concepts within two, 45 minute classes.
With a 4-station model, plan around the acronym STEM. Have each station correspond with each letter; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Also, have a mixture of no-tech and tech options. This will help keep students’ interest while also not having students on a screen the whole time.
One of the stations can also be teacher-led. This is a great time to lead a small group and teach a skill, revise work from a project, or go deeper into a concept. Add a teacher-station in once classes are able to be independent during work time.
Below are ideas when getting started, for both primary and intermediate elementary students.
This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the link, no extra cost to you, but I receive a kickback from purchases.
Station Rotation Ideas | ‘S’ for Science
Epic! Books create a book collection where students can read about the related science topic to bigger projects
Tangrams, Words and Numbers challenges. There are different kits for iPad & Kindle Fire, so make sure to double check which one is being ordered before purchasing.
In each set, there is an activity that corresponds to each letter of STEM; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
As a bonus, you will also receive STEM vocabulary posters. There is also a digital version that can be used to type student names to keep track of who is at each station.
Naomi Meredith is a former classroom teacher turned current K-5 STEM teacher and coach. Her role not only includes teaching over 500 students in her school, but also leading professional development and co-teaching with teachers to help them integrate STEM & Technology.
With over a decade of experience along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM certificate, she helps teachers navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there.
She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM & Technology in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!
Classroom Management During Stations | #1 Teach Station Expectations
Be very explicit in expectations as to what will be accomplished at a station. The goal is to have students be independent during this time, so keep directions 1-3 steps.
Typically, I’ll host 4 stations that students will rotate through over the course of two days, 45 minute classes. When factoring in explaining the stations and clean-up in between, each station is around 15 minutes long. Students complete two stations a day.
If needed, post station expectations where it’s located. For example, when my primary students are using Bee-Bots, I have the expectations on how to use those near the station (after we go over them of course!).
Classroom Management During Stations | #2 Simple Materials
To help with the independence and clear expectations, keep station materials simple. Having limited items will help students get to work quicker as well as the clean up.
When using Osmos, I have the iPads set up, the app ready on the screen, and the corresponding pieces open and ready. It’s very clear for the students what materials they will need and which app they will be using to get started.
Classroom Management During Stations | #3 Kid-Accessible
Everything needed at the station should be kid-accessible. Unless it’s a teacher-led station, students should have easy access to all of the materials needed for the task.
Students shouldn’t be relying on the teacher to grab materials for the station time. This hinders independence.
Have a designated area in the room where all required materials are set up. If it’s not possible to leave materials out in between classes, have previous classes help set it up before they leave. Or often, I’ll add items to stations while the previous class is in their clean-up stations. Use that time wisely and creatively.
Classroom Management During Stations | #4 Use a timer
Use a timer that the class can see. It shouldn’t be a mystery for students how much time they have left to work. Especially for students who have a hard time with transitions.
Some students will want to keep working at their station and not switch. Having a visual timer can help all students prepare for the next steps and what they can accomplish in the given time frame.
My favorite timer is Classroom Screen. It’s free to use and there are other widgets that can be used on the screen in conjunction with the timer.
If students feel that there isn’t enough time at their station, consider repeating the stations again. Switch out some of the activities slightly, but keep the same format.
Classroom Management During Stations | #5 Keep track of kids
If you are teaching within a specials rotation, or even if stations are in your regular classroom, keeping track of where the kids are is super important.
Trust me.
Someone might be absent one day, get pulled for a group… really anything! Simply write the names of the kids in the group on the whiteboard or on a station rotation digital chart.
This will ease headache and arguing as to who completed what station.
Classroom Management During Stations | #6 Clean Up Completely Before Rotating
This step is one of the most important. Students need to clean up fully before rotating. I’ll tell students, “Clean up and stand at your clean station.”
I’ll walk around to each group and ensure all the materials are put away and correctly. This is also the time if students need to wipe down and clean pieces with cleaning wipes.
For younger students, here is the process I use:
Timer goes off
“Clean up and stand at your clean station.”
Students clean up, teacher walks around to stations to ensure things are being put away correctly
When cleaned, student stand at clean station
Teacher checks all stations one more time
All stations clean
Teacher says, “If you are at the Technology station, raise your hand!”
Students at station raise hand
Teacher says, “Please point to the Engineering station”
Students point, don’t move yet
Teacher says, “If you are at the Engineering station, raise your hand!”
Students point, don’t move yet
(Use same process for all stations) Once every student is pointing to next station, they will walk to new station
This may seem annoying at first, however, these explicit steps will help ensure materials are put back where they need to be. This also helps students learn to be respectful of the space and the tools at hand.
Classroom Management During Stations | Let Me Help You Plan!
What questions do you have about starting STEM Stations in your room? Feel free to direct message me on Instagram, @naomimeredith_ or send me an email, contactnaomimeredith(at)gmail.com, and I would love to chat with you!
More About the Author, Naomi Meredith
Naomi Meredith is a former classroom teacher turned current K-5 STEM teacher and coach. Her role not only includes teaching over 500 students in her school, but also leading professional development and co-teaching with teachers to help them integrate STEM & Technology.
With over a decade of experience along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM certificate, she helps teachers navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there.
She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM & Technology in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!
Robots in the classroom are a great way to integrate content and STEM. Learn how to use Sphero in your classroom and great lessons to get started with.
There are a few different Sphero to choose from. If you have a limited budget, the Sphero Mini is a great starting point. For a robot that has more complex coding options and is larger (great for integrating building projects), try the Sphero Bolt.
This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the link, no extra cost to you, but I receive a kickback from purchases.
Once your students have some coding experience, either with other robots or even coding online with Scratch your students can be successful with Sphero.
There are many different types of out there. I had the original version (the white ones) and they stopped charging and connecting to my devices. If you can afford newer ones, go with that option.
There are a few apps to choose from. I found that the Sphero Edu app worked best for a classroom setting and used “real” coding. It can be overwhelming at first for elementary student eyes, but with anything, start slow to go fast!
Lesson Ideas
Inside the Sphero Edu app, there are ideas to try. With my 5th grade students, we went through the Engineering Design Process (EDP) while learning about the Iditarod. Students were posed with the challenge: How can you create a sled that Sphero can pull through the Iditarod race?
After going through the (EDP) students came up with interesting designs which posed new challenges when coding. This lesson had high engagement and the 5th graders the following year asked if we could be doing “that sled lesson”.
Another lesson I taught in 4th grade with was snowflakes. Again, another Engineering Design Process challenge where we explored the science and math behind snowflakes. The coding involved a lot of angles and symmetry.
Additional Accessories
There are a few accessories to try (listed above). However, when getting started with Sphero in the classroom, accessories aren’t necessary.
One accessory that is worth the investment are pool noodles. These can be used to block off various corners and exits. There are moments when there is a bug in the code and Sphero will quickly roll away and hit something. The noodles will keep the robot safe from knicks and impacts.
How to Use Sphero| Grab these lessons!
Don’t waste your time planning new lessons. Grab this bundle of 2 Sphero lessons that have been used with hundreds of students in my 4th & 5th grade STEM classes.
What questions do you have about using Sphero in your classroom? Feel free to direct message me on Instagram, @naomimeredith_ or send me an email, contactnaomimeredith(at)gmail.com, and I would love to chat with you!
Wondering if a station rotation is worth having in a STEM space? Why even get started with this instructional model? While stations don’t have to be used every class time (they definitely can!), it’s worth adding into your instructional model. Below are the benefits I’ve seen in my K-5 STEM classes when using a station rotation.
Station Rotation | #1 More Experiences in Less Time
Lack of time is a common thread in the teacher community. To maximize the time you are given, stations are a great way to do this. Instead of working on one project during class time, students have opportunities to experience more.
With stations, many bite-sized activities can happen over the course of a couple of days. Experiencing robots, a building challenge, making scientific observations and attacking a math challenge can all get done at once.
When planning units, think about the lessons that aren’t as intense and save those for a station rotation. These experiences are still meaningful, but don’t require an entire class time to complete it.
Station Rotation | #2 Less Materials Needed
Buying quality STEM supplies isn’t cheap! Of course, buying supplies isn’t always needed to get started with STEM. [You can read about how to start your Makerspace by clicking here]
When purchasing materials is an option, don’t feel obligated to buy a class set. Or even half a class set! Station rotations make it possible when you only have 4-6 of an item.
In my STEM classroom, I only have 5 Bee-Bot robots since they are expensive. However, that has been plenty in my classroom since they are a high quality robot for primary students and they can be used at a station easily.
Station Rotation | #3 Opportunities for Small Groups
There are many opportunities when students need to be explicitly taught concepts in STEM. Sometimes, this can be difficult in a whole group setting.
With a station rotation, this can naturally bring an opportunity to pull small groups. Or, if you don’t want to take students away from the experiences, have one of the stations be a teacher-led station.
Some teacher-led ideas can be:
teaching a new tech skill
introducing a new app
completing a first step in a bigger project
catching up on past projects
Station Rotation | #4 Easy to Manage
The biggest goal when hosting station rotations is to build student independence when exploring STEM concepts. Once this is implemented in the classroom, station rotations are fairly easy to manage.
With minimal materials and student directed, this is a great time as a teacher to facilitate the learning. Helping individual students can often be easier during this time since students all have a task they are working on.
So what are some management tips?
Stay tuned for the next blog post in this series: Tips for STEM Classroom Management During Centers
Station Rotation | Let Me Help You Plan!
Planning out your STEM Rotations doesn’t have to be difficult. Click HERE to grab your FREE STEM Rotation Planning Guide. Inside are templates and ideas to get you started with implementing your first round of STEM Rotations!
What questions do you have about these activities? Feel free to direct message me on Instagram, @naomimeredith_ or send me an email, contactnaomimeredith(at)gmail.com, and I would love to chat with you!
More About the Author, Naomi Meredith
Naomi Meredith is a former classroom teacher turned current K-5 STEM teacher and coach. Her role not only includes teaching over 500 students in her school, but also leading professional development and co-teaching with teachers to help them integrate STEM & Technology.
With over a decade of experience along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM certificate, she helps teachers navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there.
She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM & Technology in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | Engineer Inspiration Boards
Need an easy STEM activity for Elementary Students? Check out these Engineer Inspiration Boards. These work best for younger students in grades K-2. With a one page format, students can use this board as inspiration to build various things that represent the theme represented. See how you can use these in your classroom in a variety of ways!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you purchase through my link, it’s no added cost to you and I get a little kickback in return. Win-win!
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | What are they?
These one page boards are meant to be a way to inspire students to be creative and imagine new solutions to design the images shown. A variety of themes are available to provide students new inspiration year round. There are not step-by-step directions to tell students how to build each one. It's inspiration!
The boards come in a few different formats:
PDF [Color and Black & White} Full size, half size and quarter-page size
Google Slide
Powerpoint
JPGs Directions for creating a Seesaw activity are also included
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | How Should I Use These?
Before jumping into building, have students thoughtfully plan by drawing and how they are going to create their design & write down the materials they are going to use. After they have built their first creation, challenge students to improve their design with the suggestion checklist.
Likewise, they don’t have to try all of the suggestions, but they are more than welcome to! Then have students share their work on the sharing page by either placing their design on up of the page, drawing their page or inserting a picture digitally.
Here are some ways these Engineer Inspiration boards can be used in your classroom:
Create a book of the Engineer Inspiration boards you collect and leave them as a station in your classroom.
Have hands-on homework weeks where you assign an Engineer Inspiration Board along with the planning pages
For a class reward or warm-up, display the Engineer Inspiration board on the big screen in your classroom and set a timer for students to create what they can in that time frame.
Need a quick sub plan idea? Print out these boards, place the planning pages in page protectors and leave out materials you want students to build with while you are away.
Use the Engineer Inspiration Boards during a station at a class party. Parties can still be fun and have an educational component!
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | What Should Kids Build With?
These mats are designed to be used with an endless amount of supplies. Whatever you have in your classroom or at home, kids can create with it! Click here to get my go-to STEM supply list!
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | What Other Teachers are Saying…
Teachers around the world love using these Engineer Inspiration Boards in their classrooms! Here is what they are saying.
“These are absolutely AMAZING! We use these boards early on for STEM Fridays. I would have students choose one thing from the first row, then the next week from the second row and so on. I was blown away by what my students came up with, and what clever materials they used! I had a student build one of the items using their dirty clothes from their hamper! (HA!)” -Livin' the Third Grade Dream
“I used these activities as part of the students asynchronous work. They are loving creating the different things on the board!” -Brittany S.
“A wonderful extension activity and easy to use!” -Dominee K.
STEM Activity for Elementary Students | Where can I Get Them?
Each board can be bought individually and also in a bundled set. Want to try one before you buy? Click HERE for a Space Themed Board for your class!
Here are some Hour of Code Activities to try in your classroom while in person. There are so many options to choose from! I'll share the ones that have been the most successful in my K-5 STEM classes. These are all low-prep, and highly engaging to help expose students to the world of coding.
Organize supplies so they are easy for students to access and clean up when finished. I like to use clear plastic containers to leave in the center of each table with the necessary supplies for the lesson. Especially as a specials teacher, this helps tremendously so I am not running around in between classes gathering supplies!
How you will share computer coding links with students? {Google Classroom, Seesaw, Schoology…}
Do you need to set aside instruction instruction time for students to set up any coding accounts? {Example: Scratch}
Will kids be using one device for paired programming or each student code on their own device?
Is a station rotation model or whole group going to work best for your class?
You can teach these lessons in a way that works best for your kids, your classroom and the resources you have available. Each resource below is clickable or type in corresponding link.
Under ‘Teach’, there are 9 great beginner printables that progress off one another for students. I like doing pair programming the first day to help students problem solve together. I also made a little checklist to help students check off when they complete a challenge.
Since only half the class is playing at a time, when I’m introducing the game, we will play as a group in teams of 4. Once they get the hang of it, I will split them up onto the 2 remaining game boards.
On Scratch’s official website, there are more great tutorials to help students master this type of coding and challenges kids can complete. There are even coding cards to download and print.
STEM & Technology Holiday Gift Guide for Kids 2020
The ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for kids! This is to help you decide on which STEM and Technology gifts you should keep an eye out for your classroom or even your own children. Each item is paired with a resource from my shop that can implement in your classroom right away.
These are tools that I've used in my K-5 STEM classroom as well as a few others that are on my wishlist. Below each image are the clickable links to each of the resources.
Amazon Affiliate links are included in this guide. When you purchase through my link, there is no extra cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.
5 STEM Gifts for Kids You Need in Your Classroom | Watch the recording down below:
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