This document provides suggestions for how school librarians can incorporate STEM programming and activities in the library. It recommends hosting inquiry-based and unstructured STEM experiences for students through programming, makerspaces, collaborating with teachers, and connecting with STEM experts. Specific examples outlined include measuring temperature with mitten experiments, squishy circuits, and providing materials like KEVA planks, Snap Circuits, and LEGOs to encourage exploration.
1. HOW TO PUT THE
LIBRARY IN STEM
Alicia Montgomery
Town Center
Elementary
Coppell ISD, Texas
@TCE_Library
Emily Bredberg
Lakeside Elementary
Coppell ISD, Texas
@BredbergReads
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USING ADOBE CONNECT - SOUND
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USING ADOBE CONNECT - CHAT
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USING ADOBE CONNECT -
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5. ALSC RECORDED WEBCASTS
http://www.ala.org/alsced
Purchase each for only $25!
Titles include:
• Be A Winner: Inspired Youth Grant Writing
• C is for Common Core and Collection Development
• Maker Programming for Kids: No Makerspace Required
• Best Practices for Apps in Storytimes
...and many more!
6. MEMBERSHIP WITH ALSC
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Included in student membership:
•access to over $100k in yearly
awards, scholarships, and grants
•travel scholarships for special
events such as the National
Institute and ALSC
preconferences
•discounts on ALSC professional
devleopment including online
courses, webinars, and face-to-
face conferences
7. HOW TO PUT THE
LIBRARY IN STEM
Alicia Montgomery
Town Center
Elementary
Coppell ISD, Texas
@TCE_Library
Emily Bredberg
Lakeside Elementary
Coppell ISD, Texas
@BredbergReads
8. JUSTIFICATION
Libraries are a place of exploration. STEM
programming in the library fosters inquiry and
supports scientific understanding.
9. INQUIRY IN STEM
• Library programming
can provide STEM
experiences without
expectations.
• These inquiry based
experiences provide
freedom for students
to construct their
own understanding.
• Looks like:
• Collaboration with
teachers or
community
• Makerspaces
• Programming
• Collection
development
10. LIBRARY PROGRAMMING
• STEM as a part of story
time or class checkouts
• Any size programming
• Can be an extension to
a book
• Or larger experiments
for the students to
explore.
*Top Picture: We measured the
temperature inside a mitten with a
hand and without a hand while
reading The Mitten by Brett.
*Bottom Picture: Students explored
squishy circuits with the help of a
volunteer.
11. MAKERSPACE
• Opportunities for creative exploration.
• Provide a mixture of freedom and structured activities
• Possible Supplies (beyond
the 3D Printer):
• Recycled materials
• Blocks
• Legos
• Snap Circuits
• Origami Paper
• Makey Make
• Yarn
• Magnets
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pipe cleaners
12. TO START THE MAKERSPACE
• Clear some shelves
• Find some boxes
• Collect supplies
• Ask for donations
• Collect cardboard and recycling
• General craft supplies
• Sturdy building materials
• Start small and expand where
you are comfortable
• Seek input from student
advisory committees
• Design and respond based on
the reactions from the
children.
• Accept the chaos.
13. CURRICULUM SUPPORT
• Make yourself available to
STEM classrooms
• Offer ideas and library
resources
• STEM fairs in the library
space
• Collaborate on inquiry
based lessons
• Connect with experts
• Attend planning meetings
14. STEM EXPERTS
• Find experts in your community and around the country
for
• Library STEM programming
• Genius Hour
• For classroom units
• Resources
• STEM Fire
• NASA DLN
• Skype in the Classroom
• Universities
• Business world
• Twitter
• Cast a wide net
• Search for related university programs and businesses
• Send out at least 2 requests for every 1 connection
20. Explore Further
Websites and Blogs
• Make Magazine
• Play Based Inquiry
• STEM Friday
• Renovated Learning
• Code.Org
• Building STEM with Dia Book
Lists
Twitter and professional
organizations such as ALSC are
also great places to go for ideas
and resources.
Books
• Invent to Learn: Making,
Tinkering, and Engineering in
the Classroom by Sylvia Libow
Martinez, Gary S. Stager.
• Inv ent to Learn Guide to 3D
Printing in the Classroom:
Recipes for Success by David
Thornburg, Norma Thornburg,
and Sara Armstrong
• From STEM to STEAM: Using
Brain-Compatibale Strategies to
Integrate the Arts by David
Sousa and Thomas Pilecki
Editor's Notes
KEVA challenges, building ideas on website, lesson plans for all grade levels & content areas including STEM.
