What was the number one cause of death during the Civil War? What fuel or power will the cars of the future run on? These questions and others like them can open our students minds to the importance of sustainability, clean water, and energy, as they relate to Social Studies and STEM.
I teach fifth grade Reading, Writing and Social Studies in rural Southwest Missouri.
I have a class full of vibrant children who really want to be successful learners. Even though I don't teach Science of Math, I try to integrate STEM activities into my teaching of Social Studies. Constructing sailboats while studying the early explorers, simple shelters while studying Native Americans, and building bridges while studying the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges, are examples of activities we have tried. What better time to learn about the importance of preserving clean water as an important natural resource then during a study of the Civil War, as they learn that the major cause of death during the war was diseases like cholera and dysentery.
My Project
During our study of Geography and our valuable natural resources we will use the ecoSTEM kits to learn about the importance of sustainability. We will use the water quality monitoring kit to investigate local stream health by testing physical and chemical parameters and searching for pollution-sensitive macro-invertebrates. It will let students explore how pollution affects our water and wildlife. We will use the energy kit to explore alternate sources of energy. Invention kits will provide opportunities to design and build wind, water, and solar powered devices.
This cross curricular unit will expose my students to the areas of STEM that will promote problem solving skills and creative thinking.
By participating in these units my students will be encouraged to use their imagination as a source of content. They will be encouraged to explore what is unknown, create multiple solutions to problems, and evaluate products free from the confines of regular assignments. This 'out of the box' thinking will better prepare them for the future
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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