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One Small Step for STEM, one Giant Leap for Students

Implementing STEM into your classroom can be done incrementally - one small step at a time. And be assured, your student's interest & comprehension of all the STEM subject matters (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) will take a giant leap forward.

One fallacy within some winds of STEM education doctrine is that this change must be systemic - that it has to happen as a whole within today's education system. While that is a good goal, classroom teachers can, and are, making incremental changes that provide STEM connections through hands-on activities. Incorporating STEM into classrooms is a grass-roots level initiative that can provide the impetus (both in support and in implementation strategy) for systemic change. 

If you are like many other teachers, taking that first small step is the toughest, so here are some suggestions. Hopefully, one of these will either click with you, or will provide an idea of what would work for you and your classroom:

1. Modify an existing activity to include some STEM connections. For instance, you may already be doing MTVs (mousetrap vehicles) as a technology activity, having students actively problem solve within design parameters to construct a working MTV. During the process, really anywhere within the introduction, wrap-up, building time, etc., STEM concepts can be mentioned that can provide connections for the students. For instance, mention that the energy being used to propel the MTV is stored (or potential) energy in the spring - a science concept. Or you can ask the question, for your design, how far will the MTV move with one revolution of the axle? This math concept is based on the formula for the circumference of a circle, so they could measure the diameter of their wheels, multiply by pi (3.14 will work just fine), and that will provide them the distance travelled each time the wheel/axle rotates once.
2. Incorporate a new activity that has good STEM connections. One I recommend highly for getting started in STEM is the Straw Rocket activity. Not only does it have multiple STEM connections, it is a quick build - getting students into the STEM concepts without a great deal of time spent in construction. And, it's relatively inexpensive. Many other activities can also fill this bill - pick one out that captures your interest, or that you think might capture the interest of your class. 
3. Investigate STEM curriculum offerings that link STEM concepts to activities. Pitsco's series of Getting Started Teacher Guides were written for this specific purpose. They incorporate STEM concepts using Pitsco kits and equipment. Just thumbing through these guides can provide a spark for an idea of how you might transform a current classroom activity into a STEM activity. It's not rocket science - well maybe in some cases it is - but it's not as difficult as you might think!
4. Do a simple demonstration using a kit or piece of equipment, and talk about different STEM concepts within that demonstration. For instance, the MM-1 Stirling Engine works off the energy within a cup of hot water. Heat a cup of water to boiling (microwave or otherwise) and set the MM-1 on top of the cup. After 15 seconds, give the propeller a spin, and away it goes - converting the heat energy of the hot water into rotational energy of the propeller. This can be a very good introduction to an energy unit, and can provide many STEM connections: heat energy, expansion, contraction, mechanical linkages, ideal gas law, conversion of energy from heat to mechanical, conversion of linear mechanical movement to rotational, measuring & calculating rpm (revolutions per minute), measuring & calculating the rate of change of rpm as the water begins to cool, measurement of water temperature, graphing water temperature and rpm over time, and more! These demonstrations don't have to be complex, but they can be if that fits your classroom situation & needs. And in the case of the MM-1, be ready for a discussion of free energy or perpetual motion machines!
5. Show a youtube.com, teachertube.com or a commercial video (like The Way Things Work) of a Rube Goldberg type device. Have students watch and list how science, technology, engineering and mathematics is used within the devices - then have a discussion about their comments.