One challenge I am working on is moving students beyond seeing STEM as separate school subjects and helping them recognize how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics work together to solve real-world problems. I also want my students to see that STEM is a human experience, so representation is an intentional part of my instruction. Students should have opportunities to see people from diverse cultures and backgrounds who have contributed to STEM while also beginning to see themselves as future contributors.

I am currently a STEM Pioneer through Penn State, and I am especially excited about my work with KidWind. I have been tasked with facilitating a STEM experience for fourth- and fifth-grade students in which they will explore wind energy and use the engineering design process to design, build, test, and improve their own wind turbines. I am excited to see how students apply science, engineering, technology, and mathematics to a real-world renewable energy challenge while learning through hands-on exploration.

I begin with the learning goal and standards, but I also think about what students will actually do with that knowledge. I plan opportunities for collaboration, hands-on exploration, productive struggle, discussion, and revision. I also intentionally identify where mathematics connects to the experience because I believe math is the common denominator of STEM—it gives students the tools to measure, compare, analyze, justify, and improve their ideas.

Recently, my fifth-grade scientists were challenged to build the tallest freestanding tower possible. Before touching the building materials, they created blueprints of their designs and thought about how they would construct their towers. Watching them test their structures, experience failures, communicate with their teammates, make adjustments, and try again was incredible. The final towers were exciting, but the real success was seeing students experience the engineering design process rather than simply being told what it is.

One of the most important things I have learned is that STEM is a framework, not four separate entities. I now approach STEM instruction by intentionally looking for the connections among all four areas: science is everything God has given us; technology is everything humans have created to help us navigate and improve our world; engineering is the process of designing and building; and mathematics is the common denominator that connects them all. Understanding STEM this way has changed how I plan instruction because I want my students to experience these disciplines working together, just as they do in the real world.

Make STEM education more inclusive by intentionally introducing students to the diverse people who have contributed to the STEM fields. Women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and people from cultures around the world have made significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, yet many of these individuals are not routinely represented in what students learn in school. Start small: introduce one STEM pioneer connected to the concept you are already teaching and show students how that person’s work helped make our world better. Representation matters; students should see that STEM has always been a human experience and that there is a place for them in its future.

Iesha, I am so excited you stopped by the blog! Thank you so much for sharing all the fantastic things you're doing to create an inclusive and empowering classroom. Your approach to STEM as an interconnected framework is a significant, applicable shift many of us can make to bring meaning and relevance to our students!

If you would like to follow Iesha's STEM work, make sure you give her a follow on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/iesha-griggs-m-ed-m-s-m-a-830b7a27a

Let's keep this important conversation going! Feel free to leave comments, and as always, share this post using the links below!

I currently serve in a rural library that does not have a dedicated makerspace. I was able to secure a $2,200 donation from our local Kiwanis Club to create a mobile maker cart, which has given our patrons access to hands-on STEAM experiences without needing a permanent makerspace.

The cart is two-sided. One side includes art and craft supplies, recyclables, and open-ended materials, while the other side is focused on building and engineering materials. My next challenge is finding ways to incorporate more technology so children can take their creations further and explore how technology connects with hands-on making.

I am also working to address a larger challenge: how can we make quality STEM resources more accessible to rural libraries? I am exploring the idea of creating a shared STEM resource lending library throughout Indiana so libraries of all sizes can provide meaningful STEM experiences, regardless of their budget, space, or staffing.

I serve as an ambassador for Grand Universe, a $450 million space and science center coming to Indiana. When it opens, I will help develop programming for PreK through 4th grade, and I am especially excited about imagining how every exhibit can be hands-on, interactive, and universally designed.

I want children to do more than simply learn about science. I want them to wonder, experiment, create, and see themselves as scientists and engineers. I also want to intentionally build computational thinking into these experiences by encouraging children to break down problems, look for patterns, think through steps, test ideas, and revise their solutions.

My dream is for kids to walk away inspired and curious, with the confidence to think, create, and solve problems. I want their families to leave with simple ideas and activities they can continue exploring together at home.

Being in a public library gives me the freedom to design STEM experiences around curiosity, creativity, and exploration. I don't have to plan toward a final grade or assessment, so I can focus on the learning process and what children discover along the way. I intentionally design my STEAM challenges to be as open-ended as possible. I don't want every child to create the same thing in the same way. I want them to use their imaginations, make their own decisions, try different approaches, and figure out what works. I plan the materials and challenge, then let the children take the learning in directions I may not have expected.

For me, that is where innovation thrives. When children have the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, rethink their ideas, and create something that is truly their own, they are developing the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that STEM is all about.

One of my programs is called Tinkers and Thinkers. We read an inspirational picture book biography about an important figure in STEAM and then take on a related challenge. For one program, we read Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane and I challenged the kids to design a paper airplane. They could decide what they wanted their plane to do, whether that meant flying far, doing tricks, or something completely different.

One boy decided he wanted to build a paper airplane that could take off without being thrown. He experimented with pipettes and straws and used his breath to help launch his plane. When we ran out of time, he was still thinking like an engineer and had started designing a platform for his airplane to rest on before launching.

That experience reminded me why I love open-ended STEM challenges. You can give children the same materials and the same starting point, and they can take their ideas in completely different directions. Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens when we give children the freedom to follow their own questions and see where their thinking takes them.

I have learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers. I think many elementary teachers (and librarians) feel intimidated by STEM because they worry they need to be the expert in the room. I’ve discovered that my role isn’t to show children exactly how to complete a project. My role is to guide them through their own learning and discovery. Sometimes that means figuring things out together. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know. How can we figure that out?” In fact, I think those moments can be some of the most valuable STEM learning experiences.

One small change teachers can make tomorrow is to ask, “What could you change?” after a STEAM activity. Instead of stopping when a child gets something to work, invite them to change one part of their design and test it again. Change the angle of a ramp, the size of a paper airplane, the materials in a structure, or even one step in a process. It takes almost no extra preparation, but it encourages children to experiment, iterate, and think about why something worked or didn’t work. Sometimes a simple question is all it takes to turn an activity into a STEAM experience.

Thank you for stopping by the blog, Elissa! Your perspective as a librarian in a public library adds a unique view and so much to the conversation on creating ways for STEM to be accessible for EVERY child. You are doing amazing work!

If you would like to follow Elissa's STEM journey at the public library, make sure you give her a follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-dee-76b346288

We welcome your comments, and as always, be sure to share this post using the links below!

I’m currently working on building a strong, engaging STEM learning experience for first graders while I learn a new grade level and content. As a first-year first-grade teacher, I’m figuring out how to make STEM concepts developmentally appropriate, hands-on, and accessible for young learners while still challenging them to think creatively, collaborate, and solve problems.

I’m excited about finding more ways to integrate hands-on STEM challenges into our CKLA units so students can apply what they are learning in meaningful, creative ways. I especially love seeing first graders become engineers and problem-solvers, like when we recently designed and built the tallest tower possible to protect the Golden Goose’s egg!

I plan for successful STEM learning by connecting hands-on challenges to the content students are already learning, no matter the subject. I think carefully about the goal of the challenge, materials that are accessible to young learners, and how to group students so they can collaborate, communicate, and learn from one another. As I learn first grade, I’m also building a collection of STEM challenges that are engaging, manageable, and developmentally appropriate for my students.

One of my favorite recent STEM moments was our Golden Goose engineering challenge! After finishing our CKLA learning, my first graders worked in teams to design and build the tallest tower they could to protect the Golden Goose’s egg. They tested their ideas, made changes when things didn’t work, and practiced teamwork and problem-solving, all while being completely engaged in the challenge. Seeing them take ownership of their designs and proudly explain their thinking was such a magical first-grade STEM moment!

One thing I’ve learned is that STEM doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. With my first and second grade students, I’ve found that simple, hands-on challenges with clear goals give students the opportunity to think creatively, collaborate, test ideas, and learn from failure. I’m also learning that integrating STEM directly into our CKLA content makes the learning feel more purposeful and gives students a chance to apply what they’ve learned in a completely different way.

If you’re hitting a roadblock trying to come up with a STEM idea, ask AI to be your brainstorming partner! Give it the grade level, content you’re teaching, and materials you have available, and ask for a few simple, hands-on STEM challenges that connect to your lesson. You don’t have to use the ideas exactly as generated; let AI get you started, then add your own teacher creativity!

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog, Carrie! Congratulations on your National Champion of the Presidential AI Award. Your dedication to bringing relevant and meaningful STEM experiences to ALL children is inspiring! We appreciate you sharing your tips with us.

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