This slideshow accompanies a talk at the Preschool Services Discussion Group meeting at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference.

1. STEM
Storytime
Extenders
Amy Koester
Preschool Services Discussion Group
2013 ALA Annual Conference

2. Why do STEM with preschoolers?
STEM activities…
• promote early literacy skills
development
• engage children’s natural curiosity
• exercise fine motor skills
• are FUN

3. STEM Activities in Place of a Craft
• Build something useful—it’s
engineering while still feeling like a
craft
• Set out STEM tools for kids to
explore

4. Have a science table for free play
Magnifying glasses and specimens, magnet wands and magnetic objects,
and a balance scale with objects to weigh make for great hands-on STEM
exploration.

5. STEM Activities as the Main Event
• Build a story time around a STEM
concept
• Spend at least half the program
engaged in hands-on experiments
and activities

6. Offer hands-on experiments for concept learning
There are a plethora of ideas for preschool-friendly STEM experiments
and activities in your non-fiction collection (start with Janice Vancleave’s
titles), on teacher and librarian blogs, and on Pinterest.

7. STEM Activities To Go
• Take-home STEM activity sheets
• “Make it, Take it” stations with STEM
projects

8. Invite families to do STEM at home.
Write up STEM activity instructions on a handout, or prep basic supplies
to distribute in brown paper bags. Make it easy for caregivers to do STEM
with their kids at home.

9. Links to more ideas and resources
online
akoester@stchlibrary.org
@amyeileenk
http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com