Key points:
- Engaging STEAM education tools push students to explore learning
- Can a data literacy program make science more relatable?
- Putting the ‘E’ in integrative STEM instruction
- For more news on STEAM, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM hub
According to the National Math and Science Initiative, STEM education helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fosters communication, and bolsters teamwork. In my 25 years of teaching, I have learned that finding and infusing arts into STEM takes the learning even further. I am always on the lookout for STEAM-based resources and tools that engage and inspire my students. In my experience, I have found that using creative, dynamic tools significantly boosts student learning outcomes–but you need to know where to look.
In my current role as a STEAM Specialist, where I teach students from Pre-K all the way to 6th grade, it’s important to use resources that can be tailored to their education level and lesson plans. Having access to STEAM education not only improves classroom outcomes, but better prepares students for the future. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the total number of STEM careers will increase at twice the rate–and pay more on average–than non-STEM jobs across the next 7 years.
Interacting with STEAM content in the classroom is the first step to inspiring students to explore those career possibilities in the future.
Finding good STEAM tools can feel daunting, so here are some of my favorite resources:
STEM Careers Coalition
The STEM Careers Coalition from Discovery Education is an alliance of industries and nonprofit organizations that provides access to STEM resources and connects students to industry professionals. The free resources are intuitive, easy to use, and tailored to be turnkey. The search features and filters make the career profiles and videos quick to find. There are suggested grade levels for each video and activity, linked questions, and suggested additional resources to follow up to the lesson.
The videos and questions can be embedded into Google Classroom or other learning platforms. This means you can curate content, activities, and lessons for students to complete without jumping to different platforms or tabs. It is a great way to integrate conversations regarding future careers into current STEAM lesson plans, and my students are always excited to connect what they learn in class to a real-life career and STEM professional.
Whether you are encouraging space-obsessed students or inspiring the next generation of engineers, STEM Careers Coalition provides educational materials designed to reflect the diversity of the students watching. Not only is STEM Careers Coalition easy to use, but its commitment to making STEM education equitable and engaging more than earns this resource a spot on this list.
Verizon Innovative Learning HQ
Verizon Innovative Learning HQ offers engaging and cutting-edge resources to support educators and students around the world. This completely free-to-use resource gives you access to 350+ K-12 lessons and activities across all subjects. From stop-motion animation to orbits modeled using augmented reality to in-depth looks at cells and other organisms, there are hundreds of STEAM-focused lessons to choose from.
The search function is very effective, allowing teachers to filter by grade level, subjects, standards, technologies involved, and more. It is easy to find a lesson tailored specifically to your students’ age and interests. The AR and VR apps offered immerse students in the content, making each lesson accessible and engaging. The AR/VR resources remain a student favorite in my classroom.
This database offers a lot of strong, innovative materials that supplement more traditional classroom resources. The emphasis on downloadable apps and creative approaches to standards-based lessons offers news ways to teach STEAM concepts.
Another reason I love Verizon Innovative Learning HQ is because it offers a wide range of professional development modules. These tailored professional development resources helped me sharpen my STEAM teaching skills and support teachers in developing new skills in the ever-changing educational landscape.
STEAM lesson plans for LEGO Education Solutions
With 400+ lessons ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, these LEGO-based STEAM lesson plans are another versatile classroom tool. Combining coding and LEGOs into interactive stories, students get to investigate a wide variety of STEAM concepts right at their desks as they follow along with the demonstrations.
Each lesson plan includes student worksheets and evaluative materials, write-ups on the relevant STEAM phenomena, and clearly-stated educational standards. The content is easily filtered by subject, grade level, and products needed to complete the lesson. Subjects include a wide range of STEAM topics, including computer science, social emotional development, math, creative exploration, and more.
The lesson plans and building guides are free to access. The LEGO products referenced are extensive and can be used for more than one lesson; the SPIKE Essential Kit, for example, is used in almost 70 different lessons in various ways.
This tool will engage your students in a new and dynamic way, helping them to understand complex topics and concepts through multi-step builds, discussions, and reflections.
If you are looking for comprehensive digital resources, this list is a great place to start. All three of these suggested resources and activities offer ready-to-use, standards-aligned curriculum that are fun and engaging for teachers and students alike. As I prepare for the upcoming school year at the Allegheny Valley School District, I know that I can visit any of these awesome tools and find materials that will get my students excited to learn.
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