Teaching STEM in the Early Years: Activities for Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

320 Pages·2013·8.51 MB·English

by  Sally Moomaw

Published by Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117
www.redleafpress.org
© 2013 by Sally Moomaw
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted on a specific page, no portion of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or capturing on any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be
printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet.
First edition 2013
Cover design by Jim Handrigan
Cover photograph © Ocean Photography/Veer
Interior design by Percolator
Typeset in Mrs. Eaves XL and Mr. Eaves XL
Interior photographs by Sally Moomaw
Table 3.25 on page 113 was originally published in “STEM Comes to Preschool,” Young Children 65, no. 5
(2010): 12–18. Reprinted with permission from the National Association for the Education of Young
Children.
Oil paintings in Activity 7.10 (New Playmate, © 2004; Painted Pony, © 2007; Firewood, © 2009) are by
Carol Kelley. Included with permission from the artist.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moomaw, Sally, 1948-author.
Teaching STEM in the early years: activities for integrating science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics / Sally Moomaw, EdD.
pages cm
Summary: “The foundation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education begins in
the early years. Teaching STEM in the Early Years provides activities and learning center ideas that
seamlessly integrate STEM throughout your early childhood classroom”—Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-60554-253-9 (e-book)
1. Science—Study and teaching (Early childhood)—United States. 2. Technology—Study and teaching
(Early childhood)—United States. 3. Engineering—Study and teaching (Early childhood)—United States.
4. Mathematics—Study and teaching (Early childhood)—United States. I. Title.
LB1139.5.S35M66 2013
372.35'044—dc23
2012037237
For Charlie, without whose help there would be no book,
and for Sonya, a true STEM explorer
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: STEM Education
Chapter 2: STEM Learning Centers
Learning Center Activity 2.1 Light and Color (physics)
Learning Center Activity 2.2 Child-Designed Inclines (physics)
Learning Center Activity 2.3 The Great Incline Race (physics)
Learning Center Activity 2.4 Wishing Well: Using a Wheel and Axle (physics)
Learning Center Activity 2.5 Pendulum Pick-Up (physics)
Learning Center Activity 2.6 Worm Tunnels (life science)
Learning Center Activity 2.7 Insects and Spiders (life science)
Learning Center Activity 2.8 Seed Sort and Grow (life science)
Learning Center Activity 2.9 What Grows Above and Below the Ground? (life
science)
Learning Center Activity 2.10 Five Special Rocks and Minerals (earth science)
Learning Center Activity 2.11 Once Upon a Time: Exploring Fossils (earth
science)
Learning Center Activity 2.12 What’s Inside a Rock? (earth science)
Learning Center Activity 2.13 Can a Rock Float? (earth science)
Learning Center Activity 2.14 Wonders of the Sea (earth science)
Learning Center Activity 2.15 Where Should the Dinosaurs Go? (mathematics:
algebra)
Learning Center Activity 2.16 Nature’s Shapes (mathematics: geometry)
Learning Center Activity 2.17 Feed the Zoo Animals Game (mathematics:
number and operations)
Learning Center Activity 2.18 Measuring Pumpkins (mathematics:
measurement)
Learning Center Activity 2.19 Graphing Reptiles and Amphibians
(mathematics: data analysis)
Learning Center Activity 2.20 Choosing a Class Pet (life science)
Chapter 3: STEM throughout the Classroom
Cooking Activity 3.1 Geometric Grilled Cheese (mathematics: geometry;
physics)
Cooking Activity 3.2 Cornmeal Muffins (life science, physics)
Cooking Activity 3.3 Limeade and Lemonade (life science, physics)
Cooking Activity 3.4 Baking Bread (life science, physics)
Cooking Activity 3.5 Vegetarian Soup (life science, physics)
Block Activity 3.6 Building with Inclines (physics)
Block Activity 3.7 Building with Pulleys (physics)
Block Activity 3.8 Natural Building Materials (life science, physics)
Block Activity 3.9 Soft and Hard Building Surfaces (physics)
Block Activity 3.10 Building with Mirrors (physics)
Sensory Table Activity 3.11 Sailboats (earth science, physics)
Sensory Table Activity 3.12 Plumbing Problems (physics, earth science)
Sensory Table Activity 3.13 Life in a Pond (life science, earth science)
Sensory Table Activity 3.14 Water Slides (physics, earth science)
Sensory Table Activity 3.15 Geology Shakes (earth science)
Art Activity 3.16 Creating “Tops” for Tops (physics)
Art Activity 3.17 Nature’s Imprints (life science)
Art Activity 3.18 Creating Fossils (earth science)
Art Activity 3.19 Pendulum Salt Prints (physics)
Art Activity 3.20 Snowflake Projections (earth science)
Music Activity 3.21 Water Can Band (physics; mathematics: algebra)
Music Activity 3.22 Nature’s Maracas (life science)
Music Activity 3.23 Rattle Drums (physics)
Music Activity 3.24 Pipes and Pitches (physics)
Music Activity 3.25 Birdsong Patterns (life science; mathematics: algebra)
Chapter 4: STEM Outdoors
Outdoor Activity 4.1 Balloons Aloft (earth science, physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.2 Feed the Birds Pulley (life science, physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.3 Tracing Shadows (earth science)
Outdoor Activity 4.4 The Ants Come Marching (life science)
Outdoor Activity 4.5 Large Variable-Slope Ramps (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.6 Laundry Day: Horizontal Pulley (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.7 Raise the Flag: Vertical Pulley (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.8 Creating Wind Chimes (earth science, physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.9 Tricycle Tracks (earth science, physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.10 Container Garden (life science)
Outdoor Activity 4.11 Spraying the Rainbow (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.12 Bubble Clusters (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.13 Creating Bubble Wands (physics)
Outdoor Activity 4.14 Inside a Bubble (physics)
Chapter 5: STEM in a Project-Centered Curriculum
Classroom Project 5.1 Ice
Classroom Project 5.2 Trees
Classroom Project 5.3 Class Movie
Classroom Project 5.4 Quilts
Chapter 6: Quick STEM Activities
Quick Activity 6.1 Apple Corer and Divider (physics, life science)
Quick Activity 6.2 Sloping Water Table (earth science, physics)
Quick Activity 6.3 Window Prism (physics, earth and space science)
Quick Activity 6.4 Ice in the Water Table (earth science)
Quick Activity 6.5 Instant Parallel Lines (mathematics: geometry)
Quick Activity 6.6 Sand Timers (mathematics: measurement; earth science)
Quick Activity 6.7 Dry Sponge, Wet Sponge (physics, earth science)
Quick Activity 6.8 Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque (physics)
Quick Activity 6.9 Holes in Bottles (mathematics: measurement; earth science;
physics)
Quick Activity 6.10 Reflection Treasure Hunt: Indoors (physics)
Quick Activity 6.11 Reflection Treasure Hunt: Outdoors (physics)
Quick Activity 6.12 “Rubber Band” Band (physics)
Quick Activity 6.13 Fence Percussion (physics)
Quick Activity 6.14 The Wonderful World of Coats (physics)
Quick Activity 6.15 Tricycles Sound Poppers (physics)
Chapter 7: STEM-Based Field Trips
Field Trip 7.1 Going to the Zoo
Field Trip 7.2 What Lives in Our Neighborhood?
Field Trip 7.3 At the Car Wash
Field Trip 7.4 Visiting a Garden Center
Field Trip 7.5 Exploring a Fabric Store
Field Trip 7.6 Visiting a Construction Site
Field Trip 7.7 How Food Grows in a Vegetable Garden
Field Trip 7.8 Visiting a Pizza Parlor
Field Trip 7.9 Watching a Music Rehearsal
Field Trip 7.10 Experiencing an Art Museum
Glossary
Recommended Children’s Books
References
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my editor, David Heath, for his astute guidance in the
preparation of this book, and Charles Moomaw for his extensive technical
assistance. I am grateful to Dr. Peter Moomaw for lending his scientific expertise
and to artist Carol Kelley for graciously allowing her artwork to be included in
this book. I greatly appreciate the participation of Andrew, Ashley, Caroline,
Charlie, Emily, Max, Nancy, Peter, Sonya, Tamara, and Vivian, who appear in
the photographs.