Ask an educator to reflect upon their first STEM related activity. The majority of teachers would share that it had something to do with supporting National Engineers week or some kind of science fair. These are great places to get started with STEM but not the only place to integrate and incorporate STEM in the classroom.
STEM has become a way of blending principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in a hands-on authentic project-based approach to learning.
Perhaps the National Science Foundation said it best about the Importance of STEM:
“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.”
We want our students to become global learners, problem solvers, innovators, inventors, and logical thinkers. Incorporating STEM skills and activities into the classroom will increase students’ abilities in those areas and allow them to be successful in the future.
The collection of resources below were chosen to give you background information on STEM, how to build support for STEM in your community and lesson ideas for getting started.
Resources
- Intel® Education—K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Resources – a collection of STEM resources that support critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving
- Resources for STEM Education – Resources and findings generated through educational research and development projects funded in part by the National Science Foundation can help inform states and school systems that are developing strategies for improving K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education
- STEM Education Resource Center – a collection of resources and webinars from PBS Teachers – for supporting STEM in grades PreK-12
- Siemens STEM Academy – A collection of Teacher resources and community to share ideas, resources, etc.
- Change the Equation – Improving learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- The 10 Best STEM Resources – compiled by Phil Nast for the National Education Association (NEA)
- Teachers Engage STEM Resources – A collection of resources and discussions regarding STEM with other educators in the Intel Teachers Engage Community
- National Geographic Learning STEM – connections, resources, and lesson ideas related to STEM
- Pinterest – Stem Lesson Plans
- Teachers Try Science – A collection of project-based environmental science lesson ideas.
