Think teaching STEM to little kids is like herding cats while also juggling torches that are on fire? I’ve been there. STEM education isn’t just about coding robots or building skyscrapers outta straws. It’s the link to empower our kiddos with skills in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and actual human-to-human communication.
Not only will STEM have your students problem-solving like tiny Einsteins, but it also teaches them how to be self-reliant and still thrive in a team. Imagine a classroom where kids aren’t just listening but actually hearing each other.
These are valuable skills your little learners will need in the future. Let’s dive into some tried-and-true tips from my own rollercoaster ride of teaching STEM to kindergarteners.
Mistake #1: There were no limits to supplies.
I’ll never forget spending $50 at the store to buy supplies for a STEM challenge. It was ignorant of me to let my students have a free range of supplies. They used every bit of the supplies, yet they still needed more to create the enormous design they planned.
It makes sense when you think about this because engineers limit themselves with time, money, and supplies. This straightforward constraint will force them to consider their resources and keep your project under budget!
By the way, if you need supplies, make sure you grab these FREE Supply Request Forms! Your wallet can thank me later.
Mistake #2: The kids don’t have background knowledge.
When I had to fix my website, I read about all the MX and DNS codes. None of them made sense to me, and I was at a frustrational level where I was ready to pull an “Office Space” and throw my laptop out the window.
Your students will do the same thing. When they don’t have the background knowledge, it’s easier for them to reach a point where they are so frustrated that they will inevitably have an outburst, crawl under a desk, or shut down. Consider all the domains of STEM or STEAM before giving the students the challenge.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is an excellent book for your STEM lessons. Try this The Dot STEAM Activitiesfor Growth Mindset that goes along with the book.
You can also tie your STEM lessons into the alphabet! Learn how I do that in this blog post, Alphabet STEM challenges. We use these letters weekly to teach letter identification and formation, phonemic awareness, and practice writing. The whole time we’re integrating math and science with it!
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Mistake #3: Teams were too large.
The first year I started coaching STEM, we were THE Hot Mess Express, and I was the conductor. I lumped 4-5 kids together thinking, “More minds, more magic,” right?
Nope.
It was like hosting a mini reality TV show that resembled Tele Novella and zero teamwork was happening.
Kids don’t really nail down those talking and listening skills until they hit 7 or 8 years old. And let’s be real, mastering communication is a lifelong journey- we’re all still learning, even as adults!
My advice?
Stick to groups of 2-3 kiddos. In these smaller settings, they get to actually hear each other and collaborate without the chaos. Plus, matching them by ability can make the process smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
Heterogeneous groups are best so students can use their gifts and talents and seek support from their peers when necessary.
For example, place those two together if you have a student who excels in math and another who is an average writer who struggles with math. The student who struggles with math will have opportunities to observe the student who excels while writing.
Disclaimer: Mix them often! Don’t keep the same groups all year. You’ll want to give them opportunities to work together in a variety of capacities, so they don’t become frustrated or disengaged.
Mistake #4: I didn’t assign roles.
That first year, I put students in large groups. They didn’t have roles or jobs. Let me rephrase that – they had no purpose! The introverted students didn’t speak up because they had no reason to.
Give each student a purpose by giving them a job title and description. Most adults have job descriptions. This makes it easy for the employee to know what is expected.
Consider the following jobs/roles:
Project manager: This person holds the team accountable by ensuring the project is complete by the specific deadline and follows the rules. They may have a timer or stopwatch in this position.
Supply manager: This person ensures the group has the correct amount of supplies and uses the supplies correctly and safely.
Reporter/Artist: A reporter records the team’s thoughts and reports on the final project to the class. Since they’re little, they can draw pictures to document the team’s thoughts and findings.
Mistake #5: The challenges were too complex.
Ever see kids go from excited to meltdown mode in 0.2 seconds? Yep, that was my class during my early days of teaching STEM. The challenges were just too much. So, I hit the brakes and simplified.
Take our pendulum-golf-ball-cup experiment. Originially, it had more steps than a line dance. Now? We started simple. What’s a pendulum? Cool, let’s build one. Will it get the ball in the cup? Let’s find out!
Key Takeaways?
- Stick to one-step STEM challenges.
- Make it relatable. If it’s tied to something they already know, even better!
- Keep your materials simple. We’re aiming for fun, not arts and crafts gone wild.
Wanna keep the STEM love going? Check out my no-sweat STEM Box Activities and Challenges.
Mistake #6: Skipped the Growth Mindset Lesson
Yup, I messed this one up big time. I dove headfirst into teaching STEM without giving my kiddos the lowdown on what a growth mindset is all about. Think of it as reliance training for our little ones. It’s more than just bouncing back; it’s about sticking with it when the going gets tough.
Before students complete a STEM challenge, have a real talk about what it means to have a growth mindset. Keep it laster focused on stuff like:
- What to do if your project belly-flops (it’s not the end of the world!)
- How to handle that sneaky voice in your head saying, “You can’t do it.”
- Ways to react constructively when someone critiques your masterpiece.
Remember, this isn’t just about STEM; it’s life skills 101. You’re not just shaping future scientists; you’re raising tough cookies ready to take on whatever the world throws at them. This explicit teaching will equip your students with the strategies necessary to be 21st-century thinkers while improving their social-emotional health.
Reflect to Perfect!
After each STEM adventure, grab a piece of paper and jot down a quick “trip report.” Ask yourself:
- What rocked in this lesson?
- What behaviors need a tune-up?
- Any surprise curveballs?
Share what went well and what surprised you with your students. Your next mini-lesson should be over what didn’t go well. Make it about smoothing out those bumps. Whether it’s honing in on growth mindset, engineering, or just some good ol’ science and math, keep it relevant.
Doing this not only fine-tunes your teaching game but also boosts your kiddos’ self-awareness.
So spill the beans, what’s your go-to tip for teaching STEM that’s making your classroom shine?
Check out 9 awesome benefits of STEM lessons here.
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