5 Steps to Integrate STEM into Student Literacy

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In the world of education, we can sometimes make the mistake of labeling STEM and literacy as opposite disciplines. Reading is seen as a creative subject. It is colorful, artistic and full of imagination and wonder. STEM, on the other hand, has a more clinical reputation. It is a subject of difficult equations, facts and logic, which depends on technical expertise.

However, as most educators know, these notions couldn't be further from the truth. STEM and literacy often appear together in our daily lives. Cooking, infographics, and even science fiction novels are evidence of how these two topics often combine to create something extraordinary.

More and more schools are looking close the gaps Created by COVID learning loss, there has never been a better time for educators to merge the two disciplines into hands-on, engaging activities. A simple strategy to help K-12 educators get started is to create creative lessons around books in their classroom. just take the book <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Flight-School-Lita-Judge/dp/1442481773/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BCC70I99YIS3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SBo3PpQXbL2K6lAfKSF-yLhwWh4ZqojV42sUhuObg0MPZIVdjVVSljGIlrSvXv_zZQBOQK1avjGuaFSn0zLSPldl0vwuJF4MEVTQuKhQyBU2pLQ6OzGh3SlbuO9CqH6MfSMhYcLJBwMUj_sFhhxMY0lelPSY5LVPz74KZZTq_qdvcrM7acW6qj8W8MZuZCj-rKtsFdGNawV4ujkMW9VaAYXXH-egw6I6fimwkz-l7Sc.GWXXpQT5fQHP5DOprfiBcRql2SUINMABRqOXwf5IGy8&dib_tag=se&keywords=flight+school&qid=1733167968&sprefix=%2Caps%2C61&sr=8-1″>flight school by Lita Judge as an example. It's the story of an adorable little penguin who dreams of flying but struggles to master the technical aspects of air travel. The story features determination, setbacks, and triumphs, making it ideal for young readers. Best of all, it can serve as a launching pad for STEM learning simply by following five easy steps.

Step 1: Identify the problem

Ask students to identify the main problem in the story. This creates an opportunity for students to explore aspects such as character, theme, setting, plot, and conflict, all of which are necessary to understand literature. From there, an activity can be constructed using students' questions and observations. For flight schoolA simple STEM activity would be to ask students to build a paper airplane capable of sustained flight. However, don't be afraid to try another idea if it proves popular with the class!

Step 2: Determine criteria and restrictions

Once you've decided on your STEM activity, it's time to set some criteria and limitations. First, students must have a specific goal, such as building a paper airplane that can stay in the air for 10 seconds. Once this is established, give students a framework to work under. Let them know that they can only use a certain amount of supplies or that their plane can't be too big. This step emphasizes the need for clear objectives and creative problem solving within limits, the same conditions under which most professional engineers work in the real world.

Step 3: Create possible solutions

Now is the time to start brainstorming. It is important to remind students that they should not start building until they have a plan (just like professional engineers). Have them begin by sketching their designs, examining the materials, and sharing their observations with other students. Once they have a clear idea of ​​what they want to build, have them gather the materials and begin construction. Collaboration and communication between students should be encouraged. After all, most great discoveries are made by teams working together rather than by individuals.

Step 4: Perform a Solution Test

Set up a space where students can test their paper airplanes and determine the success of their designs. If time permits, offer students the opportunity to improve their work. A key part of being an engineer is refining designs based on their performance during testing, so providing students with this additional opportunity will allow them to practice as professional engineers. While this is happening, share inspiring stories of inventors like the Wright Brothers or Thomas Edison to remind them that great discoveries often take many tries before they succeed.

Step 5: Share your learning

Close the lesson by having students share their projects with their peers and reflect on the results of their design. How well did it work? What was the most important criterion for success? What would you like to do differently if you had the opportunity to continue building? Take a moment to congratulate them on all their hard work and ask them if they can think of any other books that could serve as the basis for a fun STEM activity (if you need ideas, here you go 30 titles to read aloud with 30 corresponding STEM activities).

By integrating literacy and STEM, educators can offer engaging learning experiences that complement both disciplines. Students will see how reading sparks their creativity and how STEM can turn their ideas into tangible solutions. It just takes a little work and imagination for this combination to provide an activity that students will remember long after they have left the classroom. So, let's get reading and give our students a learning experience that is memorable, meaningful, and fun!