Teaching STEM in the Preschool Classroom

Alissa A. Lange is an associate professor of early childhood education at East Tennessee State University. Kimberly Brenneman is program officer for education at the Heising-Simons Foundation. Hagit Mano is an early childhood STEM specialist at East Tennessee State University.

• ContentsForewordBetty Zan ixAcknowledgments xiiiPart I: Introduction and Background1. What Is STEM and Why Teach It in Preschool? 1Why This Book? 1What Is STEM?  3What Are the Standards for STEM? 5Why Teach STEM in Preschool? 6Why Include Specific Supports for Differentiation?  7How Will This Book Help Improve Our Teaching?  8Conclusion 92. Teaching Strategies 1Overview  11Reflecting on Our Own Experiences with STEM Teaching 12Strategies for Teaching Preschool STEM 14What Happens—Reports from the Classroom 28Conclusion  29Part II: Teaching STEM3. Science  33What Is Science in Preschool?  33What Is the Content of Science? 34What Are Scientific Inquiry and Science Practices?  36Big Ideas for Supporting Science Learners 37Try It Out! 42Spotlight on Practice  47Explore More 48Bringing It Home . . . and Back 50More Great STEM Stuff 504. Technology  53So How Do We Define Technology? 54Technology As a Progression 55Big Ideas for Supporting Technology Learners 55Try It Out! 58Spotlight on Practice  64Explore More 68Bringing it Home . . . and Back  69More Great STEM Stuff 695. Engineering  71What Is Engineering in Preschool? 71What Is the Content of Engineering?  71What Is the Engineering Design Process?  74Big Ideas for Supporting Engineering Learners 76Try It Out! 78Spotlight on Practice  84Explore More 86Bringing it Home . . . and Back 86More Great STEM Stuff 876. Math  89What Is Math in Preschool?  89What Is the Content of Math? 91What Are Math Processes?  94How Does Math Develop in Young Children?  94Big Ideas for Supporting Math Learners  95Try It Out! 103Spotlight on Practice  108Explore More 110Bringing it Home . . . and Back 110More Great STEM Stuff 111Appendix: Example Materials That Promote STEM Learning Across Preschool Classroom Areas 113References 117Index 121About the Authors  127

“…provides preschool teachers with an important foundation of effective practices as they explore teaching through STEM. The inclusion of fully developed lessons, effective differentiation strategies (especially for dual language learners), and resources make this book a valuable tool for any preschool classroom.”—Teachers College Record