This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I work with kindergarten students in a low income school district. At the beginning of the school year, many of my students are academically and socially/emotionally behind the average student. We are an extremely large school district and funding is very sparse. We currently do not have a science curriculum, causing science to get mashed up (and often overlooked) with other thematic units. After attending a teacher conference, I learned a lot about STEM and want to get it started in my classroom ASAP.
STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in contexts that make connections to the world they live in.
STEM bins will be an excellent way to begin to weave science into my daily schedule. Kindergarteners are hands-on learners and need an engaging environment to thrive in. I am excited to get STEM started in my classroom.
My Project
Whether it is gardening, playing in the snow, or lining up by height, children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning early in childhood. Studies show that incorporating STEM into the Kindergarten curriculum promotes social/emotional development, as well as academic growth. STEM activities provide a hands-on and creative way to incorporate applied science into the early childhood classroom.
The STEM Bins are the perfect way to start this interdisciplinary approach to learning in my classroom.
The STEM Bins Comprehensive Kit includes 12 bins with various manipulatives (dominoes, pattern blocks, craft sticks, play-doh, etc) and challenge cards. The STEM Bins will be available as an alternative to paper and pencil morning work. After breakfast, my students will be presented with a STEM Bin challenge such as to build a house using only pipe cleaners or construct a wall with only base ten blocks. My students will learn how to use critical thinking and analytical skills, they will develop essential communication and collaboration skills, and will learn how to problem solve.
The STEM Bins would be a great introduction to STEM for both myself and my students. As we become more comfortable with STEM and the discipline's practices, I plan to dig a little deeper into the educational world of STEM. The STEM Bins are a creative and developmentally appropriate form of engineering for my kindergarten students. My students already have shown a readiness to engage in STEM; this project will only help enrich their experiences with the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Renne and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
