So, I was explaining STEM to my dad, a retired physicist. He’s skeptical by nature as any good scientist should be. When I got to the part about teaching it to preschoolers, well, let’s just say I was bombarded by particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But hear me out – it really DOES<\/em> start with preschoolers! And I can prove it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Penny Bauder<\/a>, environmental scientist, teacher and mom of two, points out that “It is never too early to start STEM education, and an ideal way to teach STEM is to go out into nature!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boston Children’s Museum<\/a>, too, points out that children have a natural curiosity. STEM is a great way to help 3-5 year-olds to focus and refine their naturally inquisitive behaviors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even a pre-schooler can be a NASA citizen scientist! Download and install the GLOBE Observer app<\/a> and start measuring tree heights everywhere! What does this have to do with anything, Jonathan, you might ask. Well! It helps show how carbon moves through ecosystems, and adds to NASA’s databanks all about earth’s cloud and land cover – even mosquito habitats! Watch the video<\/a> for more details<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big kids and librarians alike will get the satisfaction of knowing that the data they send in could also help scientists working on other missions, including the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2)<\/a>, which uses a laser to measure the height of Earth\u2019s surface below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For out littlest, we can utilize this information to help them understand that more trees = more shade = less global warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cross-contextual learning is a fancy way of saying, use multimedia and different learning experiences (inside and outside the library) to enrich your children’s STEM programming. Penny Bauder points out that children\u2019s programming like Wild Kratts<\/a> or SciGirls<\/a> reinforce the love of investigation with positive examples from media. I gotta be honest here, I knew all about Wild Kratts, but SciGirls was new to me – can’t wait to introduce the show to my little one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n SciGirls Connect<\/a> has a whole resources section dedicated to Earth and Space<\/a>! You can adapt just about any of the activities listed there for any age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When going through the scientific process with our smallest library patrons, we need to encourage their interest.\u00a0 To do this we have to do what?\u00a0 That’s right!\u00a0 Asking what? based questions as opposed to why, how, etc.\u00a0 All of the research points to this.\u00a0 And here’s a handy how-to what:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, here’s some great resources for you to pillage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boston Children’s Museum has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n STEM Guidebook PDF<\/strong> Parent Tip Sheets<\/strong> STEM Activities<\/strong> STEM Family Workbook<\/strong> STEM Scientist Workbook<\/strong>Linking it up to Summer Reading 2019!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cross-Contextual Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Focus on what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Engineering PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Hearing PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Math PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Science PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Seeing PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Smelling PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Technology PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a>
Touching PDF English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Science: Air Wind<\/a>
Science: Shadow Play<\/a>
Science: Bubbles<\/a>
Technology: Magnets<\/a>
Technology: Magnifying Magic<\/a>
Technology: Shape Up<\/a>
Engineering: Paper Bridge<\/a>
Engineering: Towers<\/a>
Engineering: Recycle Art<\/a>
Math: Color Shape<\/a>
Math: Fishbowl<\/a>
Math: Picnic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Activities Workbook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am a Scientist Workbook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n