ASTA Arkansas Science Teachers Association
Mission: To support Arkansas Science Educators
So You Want to Plan a STEAM Event or Lesson?
Stephanie Long, ASTA Elementary Director
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Whether you are a master educator or an aspiring educator, many elementary teachers across the state are struggling to devote time to science instruction. Below you will find three, tried and true, ready-to-teach STEM lessons that follow the Engineering Design Process, promote collaborative learning, and encourage students to think critically, collect data, and write analytically.
What is STEAM?
While reference to curricula connections between the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics subjects can be traced back to a 1985 policy forum, the first explicit use of the acronym— STEM—was not formally used until fifteen years later. In 2001, two state representatives from Michigan and Colorado set up a Science Technology Engineering and Math caucus in
Congress. This caucus is still in existence today. By 2008, STEM became a national educationally referenced term. The addition of Art to STEM was first developed in 2006 by a researcher named Georgette Yakman who believed that “Science and Technology are interpreted through Engineering and the (social, language, physical, musical and fine) Arts, all based in elements of Mathematics” (STEAM Education, 2015). By 2019, over 2,900 teachers from all 50 states and 38 countries have been trained in STEAM and are embedding these practices into their teaching.
Why Plan a STEAM Night?
STEAM Night involves families in their children’s learning, promotes STEAM instruction in the classroom, models careers, and unites students, teachers, parents,
and the community in an innovative and fun learning experience. This event impacts students by providing enrichment, experiences, and background knowledge for current and future lessons, concepts, and standards. It impacts families because parents experience the importance of education and the joy of learning alongside their children. STEAM Night impacts the community by forming partnerships between
community members and the school. STEAM Night also contributes to the overall improvement of the school culture by increasing awareness of STEAM for students,
teachers, parents, and the community.
The ABC’s of a successful STEAM Night are to:
A - create an Action Plan
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B - Budget for the event
C - Collaborate with colleagues and community members.
The ABC's of a Successful STEAM Night!
Whether you have attended a STEAM Night, are in the brainstorming phase, or want to improve your next event, these three steps are guaranteed to enhance your STEAM Night event! The ABC’s of a successful STEAM Night are to: create an Action Plan, Budget for the event, and Collaborate with colleagues and community members. A successful STEAM Night starts with creating a detailed Action Plan. Your Action Plan should include a contact list for district, city, and state community members who could prepare and provide a STEAM related activity at your event. The Action Plan should also include an email template that you and/or your committee could send to community members inviting them to participate. Your committee should plan your event at
least three to six months in advance, because many state-based community
members require at least 90 days advance notice to participate. Consider creating a flier to promote the event and encourage participation from your school, district, and community. You also need to Budget when planning a STEAM Night. Most community members who volunteer will bring their own supplies, but they will most likely need the basics provided such as extension cords or tape. To encourage attendance from families, consider budgeting for a concession stand with affordable food and drink options. I suggest also providing a concession stand voucher to all community volunteers to show appreciation for their participation. Finally, Collaborate with colleagues and community members. Contact local community members and ask them to support your event by planning and providing a STEM related activity. Personally invite teachers from each grade level to join the STEAM Night committee. Communicate with your district science facilitator
and building administration. It takes a TEAM to successfully plan and host a
successful STEAM Night. After the event, meet with your STEAM Team to
reflect, revise, and improve your next event. Remember to thank your
community volunteers and, if you plan as far in advance as I do, go ahead and
send them a Save the Date for your next STEAM Night event!
Helpful Links to Get Your Planning Started
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Sample Community Contact Spreadsheet - CLICK HERE
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Sample Invitation Email to send to community members - CLICK HERE
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Sample Flier - CLICK HERE
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Sample Staff/PTA Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet - CLICK HERE
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Sample Student STEAM Night Graph - CLICK HERE
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Consider joining STEM Teacher Leadership Network and collaborate with STEM educators across the United States - CLICK HERE
STEAM LESSONS
Below are three ready to use Elementary STEM Lessons!
3, 2, 1, BLASTOFF!
Get ready to explore forces and motion through Stomp Rockets! This lesson teaches students the effects of motion on an object by challenging students to identify the forces that make their rocket move. Students will design, build, and test their rocket. They will record, graph, and analyze their data before making changes or improvements and retesting. This lesson is easily adapted for younger grades, and has the option for straw rockets instead of stomp rockets. Students claim this investigation truly is “out of this world!”
How Strong is a MAGNET?
Have you ever wondered, just how strong is a magnet? This lesson investigates the question: How does a magnet's attraction to a metal change as the distance from the metal increases? Students will learn the cause and effect relationships of magnetic interactions through a design challenge that teaches them to apply scientific ideas about magnets. Students will test a magnet, record data, graph and analyze their data, and communicate their results. This lesson is sure to “attract” students and help them develop their own claims about magnets.
The Friend "Ship"
Based on the book, The Friend Ship, this lesson takes the traditional “sink or float” lesson a step further by challenging students to design and build a boat that is both strong and fast! Students will truly feel like engineers as they design, test, improve, and retest their boats. This lesson will engage both kids and “kids at heart!”
Scan the QR Code!
Scan the QR code for access to all three STEM investigations, lesson plans, materials lists, literacy connections, student recording pages, pictures, and MORE! All documents are “View Only” and will prompt you to make a copy. Feel free to share with other educators and get ready to have fun learning alongside your students!
About
My name is Stephanie Long
Stephanie Long is a third grade teacher in Northwest Arkansas. She is the current facilitator of her elementary school’s STEAM Night and has helped grow the annual event from 17 community participants to more than 30. The school’s most recent STEAM Night hosted over 700 parents and students. If you have questions or would like more information about hosting a STEAM Night event at your school, email Stephanie at slong2@sdale.org.
