STEM Lesson Plan Template Reflection:
This is my first class at Walden University as part of their Graduate Certification K-8 program, therefore it is the first time using this lesson plan template. I encountered some difficulty with understanding what each section of the template required and the amount of detail needed in each section to be adequate. Makes me feel a bit rusty!😬
The lesson plan template is definitely thorough, but to me it is seems a bit cumbersome. There are aspects of the template that I thought helped me keep the focus on students; in particular the 5 E's. It was worthwhile to think through each connection. While completing my weekly lesson plans I usually do not include this level of detail for each step in the lesson, but I do include ideas very similar to that of the 5 E's strategy.The 5 E's strategy just uses different terminology than I normally use in my lesson plans.
The STEM (or is it STEAM?) lesson that I created centered around student choice, student interest, and real-world connection. "Students are often motivated to learn if they understand the real-world applications of what they are learning" (Traurig and Feller, 2009, p.2.) We have science fair, so why not make a STEM fair! For this lesson I would have students design a STEM activity that is directly connected to a real-world issue (energy consumption, disposable plastics, drones, forces of nature, climate change, etc...) A list of the topics could be provided, but some students will want to find their own. Students will collaborate with at least one other student to design an activity for their classmates to complete during the STEM fair week. This lesson would take 2 weeks to complete, but would replace/update/revitalize several lessons on the scientific method.
As I attempted to complete the lesson plan template I couldn't help to think about the time constraints place upon teachers during the school year. One would hope that completing this lesson plan template more frequently, and being more familiar with its' requirements would shorten the length of time needed to complete the template. Otherwise, I feel as if it would be demanding, and a real challenge to complete the template for every single lesson I teach throughout the entire school year.
References:
STEM curriculum for K-12. Teach Engineering. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from https://www.teachengineering.org/
Traurig, A. & Feller, R. (2009). Preparing students for STEM careers. National Career Development Association.
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