Photo by Andy Falconer on Unsplash
STEM can be found all around you. Don’t know what STEM is? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and most commonly used when referring to educational practices. Chris Woods, a STEM teacher and host of the STEM Everyday Podcast, is an activist for incorporating and finding STEM in your everyday life.
Distance learning is a great time to be more mindful of STEM in your presence. Education is heading in the direction where STEM will be the most useful form of education for future careers.
1. Watch a movie
Movies that have STEM applications – watch a movie and then ask questions or do an activity afterward that relates to STEM and the movie. You don’t have to watch the whole movie, just watch the part of the movie that applies and talk about it.
2. Cook
Chris suggests having the student watch a video on how a cook makes rice. This video shows the cook using ratios, converting units, and applying mathematical skills to a common household activity. Additionally, he would ask his students to identify 3 parts of the video that related to math or science and share one thing they like to cook with the class. The reasoning for this is to get his students thinking about using STEM in their daily lives and how applications can show up virtually anywhere.
3. Makerspace
Create a makerspace at home or in the classroom. This is an area full of creation and creativity solely for the student to interact with what they are learning and find a meaning for it on their own.
4. “Field Trips”
Have your students visit a science museum in-person or virtually! This is a great way to engage students physically and visually. A more interactive approach to continue STEM education.
5. Online STEM Activities
The internet and social media is an amazing place to find all your best and creative ideas while teaching remotely. Join a PLN to keep updated with what the educators in your community are doing to make STEM education just as fun away from the classroom.
Chris has made resources to help any family or any parent to help them encourage STEM in kids’ lives. Check out his website dailystem.com to find 77 ideas to encourage STEM at home, in the resources tab. Parents can choose which ones they find interesting or beneficial that they can do with their students that day. For even more STEM ideas go to Chris’s (@DailySTEM) and Dyknow’s (@Dyknow) twitter pages and connect with us!
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