Integrating STEAM

Kim DempseyLoudoun County Public Schools

Why STEAM?

The Role of Engineering in the Elementary Classroom

Major Obstacles

Instructional Time

Resources

Assessment

Teacher Buy-in

Misconception #1

One class period equals one standard taught.

Problem-Based Learning

Misconception #2

Learning is linear and sequential.

Questioning Skills

Little Ways to Incorporate STEAM

Morning Meeting

Centers

Science table- observing in journals, answering questions, writing about display

Design and Build- Legos, K'nex, Unit blocks with a design challenge

Digital tools- iPads, computers, and other tech- “Don't make an excuse, make a schedule!”

Recording Reading- use upcycled iPods, iPhones, digital recorders to make student podcasts of reading

Writing Center- popup cards Thematic Centers

Interactive Notebooks

Interactive Notebooks

Don't be afraid to let students discover their own answers.

That's called 'learning.'

Your job is to (a) provide an environment where they have the pieces to

put together the puzzle of learning and

(b) trust them to do so.

STEAM integrates content with real-world problems to solve. Teaching STEAM is a real-

world problem, too.