Packed with activities that are perfect for September, October and November, clever kids and their parents and teachers will enjoy these lessons and unit STEM/STEAM ideas anytime of the year. Using monthly-themed events as a springboard and the maker movement for inspiration, elementary students build cross-curricular connections as they explore STEM - Science, Technology, Math and Engineering. Use these ideas for any day of the week, any week of the month or any month of the year. Primarily aimed for students in grades two through six, these lessons and projects are easily adopted and adapted for learners of all ages. The lessons have been classroom-tested and will provide enjoyable learning experiences in a variety of learning environments: home schooling; after-school programs; scouting; gifted and talented programs; extra-curricular clubs; adult ESL classes; and senior citizen activities. Inside you will find three jam-packed months of STEM/STEAM lessons, projects and poetry. Drawing on the inner poet in every child and the “let me do-it-myself” nature inherent in all learners, the activities and lessons will help your students earn an A for the Arts and will bring STEAM to your STEM initiatives. Your budding scientists, mathematicians and engineers will practice creative and inventive thinking skills as they develop throughout the year.These materials focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Elementary kids love the core poetry lessons and learning about famous poets. Their poems integrate easily with your STEM and common core focus. From our teaching experience, we have learned that some teachers are uncomfortable introducing how to write poetry. You will be amazed how easily these classroom-tested activities will assist young poets discover the joy of writing their own poetry.We hope that you have access to some classroom or school technology. As technology using educators, we know that technology enriches the classroom experience. For over thirty years, students and teachers have used technology tools to add exciting dimensions and high interest to classroom work. We have specifically designed these activities and projects to be enriched through the use of technology, however it is not a pre-requisite. Paper, pencils and other common classroom supplies will suffice. If you have access to a few computers and a printer, great, we believe strongly in using what you have. There is no need to go out and buy the latest and greatest.
DR. GARY CARNOW has been a classroom teacher, administrator, author and educational consultant who specializes in administrative and instructional technologies, grants and funding procurement, instructional program development, emerging technologies, makerspaces and 3D printing. He consults with major hardware and software companies and has written extensively for Tech&Learning magazine. He was one of the first educators to provide content for AOL and the Scholastic Network. Beverly and Gary have written educational materials together for over twenty-five years.
BEVERLY ELLMAN has been an educator who has enjoyed wearing many different hats. She has been a classroom teacher, an author of educational publications and an educational product developer. She has co-taught several classes which combined poetry and multimedia through UCLA extension with Joyce Koff. In addition, Joyce and Beverly have worked together presenting educational workshops to various elementary and middle school teachers. She has enjoyed watching the enthusiasm, energy, and creativity sparked in students as they experience learning and master STEM content.
JOYCE KOFF is a poet and a teacher. Her work has been published in numerous poetry journals and she has taught in elementary and middle schools in her self-created program. Joyce makes the reading, understanding and writing of poetry accessible to all students and these methods are applied in this book. As resident poet at Coeur d'Alene Elementary School in Venice, California, she has been teaching poetry for over 25 years and was part of the art's team that was awarded the prestigious Los Angeles Music Center's Bravo Award.
SIAN BOWMAN has never lost the giddy excitement she experienced as child when drawing and painting. After graduating from Aberystwyth University with a Masters in Fine Art, specializing in children's book illustration, she started freelancing as an illustrator. She is in her element working on picture books and educational books for children. She finds inspiration for her characters in walking her wonderful, cheeky whippet, Jet, through the countryside of Mid Wales - where her imagination can wander.
