Lesson 9: The "E" in STEM - Engineering in Early Childhood Attention Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able
Teaching Just like science and technology, children are already involved in engineering activities at a young age. Our job, as educators, is to be intentional and encourage engineer growth to aid in school success. As adults, engineers use creativity combined with science, math and technology to design and build things like bridges, buildings, water filtration systems and more. As young engineers, children do the SAME THING but on a smaller scale. The block area is an obvious space where you might see bridges, skyscrapers, ramps and pathways. Outside on the playground you might see children playing in the mud, re-directing water from one place to another and creating systems to float the leaves down the right path. Even as infants and toddlers, engineering is introduced as they use determination to build one block on top of the other just to knock it down and start over again. Promoting engineering in early childhood can be simple. First, gather some materials. They don’t have to be expensive and they do not have to be separated into cute little baskets that only come out one material at a time. Encourage creativity by mixing the materials. The whole purpose of engineering is creativity, problem solving, designing and using resources to build things that work. Toys and recyclable materials that encourage engineering can include:
Second, let them create. Provide them with ample opportunities to use these materials. It doesn’t have to be during a specific time of day such as free play or small group activity. It can be incorporated into any activity. If they are painting, they can imagine and draw “blueprints” for a new bridge. In the dramatic play area, add the book, If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen (a Maine author by the way) along with a box and materials to make a house. On a blank wall, tape up some cardboard tubes and put a basket at the bottom with objects that will fit in the tube. You could even just put a water wheel in the sink! Third, just like anything else we do, TALK to the children. Engage them in meaningful questions and use engineering words. Questions and phrases could include:
Assessment
Lesson 9 Quiz After reading Engineering Experiences in Early Childhood answer the following questions:
Lesson 9 Assignment Part 1: Observation and Planning You will be using the Anecdotal Form and Lesson Plan Form for this assignment. A key component to your Practicum experience is to engage in the process of observing, planning, implementing and reflecting on lessons. Below you will find instructions on each step of this process. During the First part of this assignment you will first, complete an observation. At the end of the observation in the space provided you will reflect upon your observation using the prompts below. You will then use this observation process to create a lesson plan. You will be using specific forms that we have created to do this.
Put all of these documents together and submit them to the "Lesson 9 Assignment - Part 1" Drop Box Part 2: Implementation You will be using the Reflection Form in this assignment. In this second part of the assignment you are expected to actually implement the Lesson Plan you created in the first part.
Submit this to the "Lesson 9 Assignment - Part 2" Drop Box
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