Teaching STEM in the Preschool Classroom
Exploring Big Ideas with 3- to 5-Year-Olds

Alissa A. Lange (Author), Kimberly Brenneman (Author), Hagit Mano (Author)

9780807761724

Hardback, published 26 April 2019

144 pages
23.1 x 16 x 1.2 cm, 0.33 kg

Drawing from a professional development model that was developed with funding from the National Science Foundation, this book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to support preschool children to be STEM thinkers and doers. The text features research-based resources, examples of field-tested activities, and highlights from the classroom.

• Contents
• ForewordBetty Zan 
  ix
• Acknowledgments xiii
• Part I: Introduction and Background
• 1. 
  What Is STEM and Why Teach It in Preschool? 
  1
• Why This Book? 
  1
• What Is STEM?  
  3
• What Are the Standards for STEM? 
  5
• Why Teach STEM in Preschool? 
  6
• Why Include Specific Supports for Differentiation?  
  7
• How Will This Book Help Improve Our Teaching?  
  8
• Conclusion 
  9
• 2. 
  Teaching Strategies 
  1
• Overview  
  11
• Reflecting on Our Own Experiences with STEM Teaching 
  12
• Strategies for Teaching Preschool STEM 
  14
• What Happens—
  Reports from the Classroom 
  28
• Conclusion  
  29
• Part II: Teaching STEM
• 3. 
  Science  
  33
• What Is Science in Preschool?  
  33
• What Is the Content of Science? 
  34
• What Are Scientific Inquiry and Science Practices?  
  36
• Big Ideas for Supporting Science Learners 
  37
• Try It Out! 
  42
• Spotlight on Practice  
  47
• Explore More 
  48
• Bringing It Home . . . and Back 
  50
• More Great STEM Stuff 
  50
• 4. 
  Technology  
  53
• So How Do We Define Technology? 
  54
• Technology As a Progression 
  55
• Big Ideas for Supporting Technology Learners 
  55
• Try It Out! 
  58
• Spotlight on Practice  
  64
• Explore More 
  68
• Bringing it Home . . . and Back  
  69
• More Great STEM Stuff 
  69
• 5. 
  Engineering  
  71
• What Is Engineering in Preschool? 
  71
• What Is the Content of Engineering?  
  71
• What Is the Engineering Design Process?  
  74
• Big Ideas for Supporting Engineering Learners 
  76
• Try It Out! 
  78
• Spotlight on Practice  
  84
• Explore More 
  86
• Bringing it Home . . . and Back 
  86
• More Great STEM Stuff 
  87
• 6. 
  Math  
  89
• What Is Math in Preschool?  
  89
• What Is the Content of Math? 
  91
• What Are Math Processes?  
  94
• How Does Math Develop in Young Children?  
  94
• Big Ideas for Supporting Math Learners  
  95
• Try It Out! 
  103
• Spotlight on Practice  
  108
• Explore More 
  110
• Bringing it Home . . . and Back 
  110
• More Great STEM Stuff 
  111
• Appendix: Example Materials That Promote STEM Learning Across Preschool Classroom Areas 
  113
• References 
  117
• Index 
  121
• About the Authors  
  127