I recently had the pleasure of partnering with the Van Andel Education Institute in conducting a day-long professional staff development teacher training for K-5 Michigan Teachers. During the training teachers were introduced to reflective journaling, STEM practices, incorporating low-cost technology, inquiry-based teaching practices, aligning lessons with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and of course having the opportunity to preview a wide-array of K-5+ children’s literature books with STEM themes. Teachers explored the nature of matter aka Materials Science using simple forms of technology, observed patterns and shapes in nature and in man-made designs, and designed, built and tested marble rollercoasters. It’s always interesting and exciting to see the revelations and transformations teachers make throughout a training. The Van Andel Education Institute is a proponent for quality, long-term and sustainable professional staff development that will enable teachers to feel confident and empowered to go back into the classroom and engage and empower their students. Check out a sampling of photos taken during “Using Children’s Literature to Inspire STEM Learning” professional staff development training.
Tag: 21st century skills
Using Loose Parts to Promote STEAM
I recently had the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion of the value of incorporating Loose Parts in the early childhood classroom to promote science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) content. The theory of Loose Parts, a wonderful term coined by architect Simon Nicholson after his groundbreaking article “How Not to Cheat Children: The Theory of Loose Parts” published in 1971 in the Landscape Architecture Journal. Nicholson believed that we are all creative and that loose parts in an environment will empower our creativity. Loose parts creates endless possibilities and invite creativity. Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. During this workshop early childhood educators were introduced to the theory of loose parts, and how loose parts can be used to promote science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Through hands-on-minds-on experiences early childhood educators explored a wide-array of materials that can be incorporated within indoor centers and outdoor play areas. Teachers rotated through seven loose parts centers tinkering, communicating, collaborating, using their critical thinking skills, and imagination. Incorporating loose parts within the early childhood classroom provide such wonderful opportunities for children to explore the world around them using natural, synthetic and recyclable materials. It’s low cost, sustainable, motivating, child-driven and highly engaging. For more information about incorporating Loose Parts within your early childhood + classroom and scheduling professional staff development contact Diana Wehrell-Grabowski, PhD on the contact page within this website. Check out a sampling of photos taken of the early childhood educators during the “Incorporating Loose Parts to Promote STEAM Content” teacher training workshop. What a great group of early childhood educators I had the opportunity to work with!
Take It Apart STEM and Maker Challenge: Perfect for America Recycles Day
Have you ever met a child that did not like taking toys and gadgets apart? Probably not, we are all curious beings wondering what’s inside that household gadget or toy that makes it work. November 15th is America Recycles Day, take apart projects and challenges, reverse engineering and tinkering are perfect for introducing students of all ages to recycling, mechanical engineering, making, the repair culture, 21st century skills and more. During my STEM, STEAM and MakerEd professional staff development trainings I introduce teachers to incorporating tinkering, reverse engineering and deconstruction challenges. The teachers truly enjoy analyzing a gadget and then taking it all apart, they all agree that incorporating tinkering and a take-apart center within their K-12 classroom or library makerspace is totally doable with little effort. During the STEM, STEAM and MakerED trainings I have teachers analyze the gadgets thoroughly before deconstructing the gadget. They must also label all the parts, and figure out what the parts do. If they have no clue as to what the parts are and what their functions are, they are encouraged to use books such as How Things Work etc. and then proceed to conducting internet searches. The teachers are asked to affix the components onto poster board, cardboard etc. Each group is asked to share what they learned about the gadget with their peers. An extension to the challenge is to design and create a new gadget using components of the deconstructed gadget and/or make art pieces from the components. Introducing students of all ages to the practice of taking apart a broken or out-dated gadget will help students to understand many aspects of engineering, improving technology, materials science, science and engineering practices and more. Of course what excites teachers is that incorporating reverse engineering, i.e., take apart challenges and centers within the classroom and or library makerspace is relatively cheap or free aside from the initial investment of small hand tools and safety goggles etc. required to take apart object. The following photos were taken during STEM classes I’ve conducted for VPK students as well as teachers undertaking reverse engineering and maker challenges during STEM, STEAM and MakerEd professional staff development trainings I’ve conducted. For more information about America Recycles Day check out the following website https://americarecyclesday.org/ . For more information about the STEM, STEAM, MakerEd and Next Generation Science Standards professional staff development trainings I offer worldwide, year-round check out the description pages found on this website.