February 26th is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Even though fairy tales are usually associated with younger children, all ages enjoy a good fairy tale. Read a fairy tale and have your students participating by making appropriate sound effects or repeating a phrase on a regular basis. For older students help them create a fairy tale and find a way to share it with others. Help them develop their communication skills and use their creativity with drawing, painting, photographs or videos.
To turn fairy tales into the impetus for STEM teaching and learning, check out the strategies in Sharing Books Talking Science-Exploring scientific concepts with children’s literature by Valerie Bang-Jensen and Mark Lubkowitz. These authors show teachers how easy it is to use the NGSS Cross cutting concepts to turn any children’s book or story into science. Because you are reading literature, talking science and developing your student’s curiosity it becomes STEM. I highly recommend this book that will help you understand which books whisper science and which shout science and how literacy can help your students develop curiosity.
For more ideas, you can visit websites such as:
Remember, STEM puts the “fun” back into “FUNdamentals”!
About the author:
Dr. Cindy Moss is a nationally respected thought leader in STEM education and reform. Dr. Moss brings over 31 years experience in district leadership, classroom instruction and inquiry based learning to her work as a champion for STEM engagement and career & workforce readiness. Learn more about Dr. Moss here and follow her on Twitter at @STEMboss