The document discusses bringing STEM into early childhood education. It provides an overview of STEM, including definitions of science, technology, engineering, and math. The presentation emphasizes that young children are capable of learning STEM concepts through play and exploration. Specific tips are offered for incorporating developmentally appropriate STEM activities into lesson plans, such as asking open-ended questions to encourage inquiry and problem solving. Resources for additional information on STEM in early education are also listed.

1. Scientific Process
Toddler Style:
Discover Ways to
Bring STEM in
Everyday.
TXAEYC Conference
September 27, 2019
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2. Presenter
Pat Carter
ECE Consultant, The Source for Learning
Master Texas Trainer # 1728
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3. F R E E E A R L Y C H I L D H O O D W E B I N A R S
The Source for Learning makes it easy to connect to professional
development through webinars designed to meet early childhood
educator needs.Visit the link below to register for upcoming webinars and
sign up to receive future announcements.
https://www.sourceforlearning.org/ecei/page/webinarsLearn more:
Webinars designed for Early
Childhood Educators.
View our upcoming
webinars!
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4. Today’s Objectives
Knowledge on the
basics of Science,
Technology,
Engineering, and Math
(STEM)
How STEM learning
promotes brain
development in
toddlers
OBTAIN DISCOVER
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Tips and strategies to
easily incorporate
STEM activities into
your everyday toddler
lesson plans
ACQUIRE

5. Scientific Process: Toddler Style
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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Should I eat this crumb?
Child sees a crumb on the floor
I think it is food!
Child eats crumb
Child spits out crumb
Child hands you spit out crumb

6. Jean Piaget’s Cognitive
DevelopmentTheory
Sensori motor
Preoperational stage
Concrete operational stage
Formal operations stage
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Focuses on how children acquire
knowledge, but also understanding
the nature of intelligence
Piaget believed that children take an active role in
the learning process, acting like little scientists as
they perform experiments, make observations,
and learn about the world around them.

7. Brain Facts
The first 3 years of life are the most rapid period of growth of
the human brain.
Everyone is born with 10,000 neurons.
Growth occurs when information from one neuron flows to
another neuron across a synapse.
During the first 3 years of life, it is estimated 1,000 trillion
synapses are built through the experience a child encounters.

8. What does it mean for ECE
Educator?
Let them play! Let them be curious!
Remember, curiosity will not harm the children
s
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So what does this mean for early childhood educators?

9. What is STEM?
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STEM is an acronym. It was used originally by the
US government to describe fields of study that
helped immigrants get work visas: science,
technology, engineering, and math. Today,
educators are linking these areas together in what
is called STEM curriculum

10. Value of STEM Education
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• The focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications
helps develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and
21st-century skills
• Other skills attained through STEM education include
problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity,
decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance
of failure and more.

11. STEM Research Findings
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• Equality of Opportunity Project (EOP) – Bell, A., Chetty, R.,
Jaravel, X., PetKova, N., & Reenen, J. V. (November 2018).
Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance to
Exposure to Innovation.
• A recent two-year research analysis found that young
children are capable of engaging in, at developmentally
appropriate levels, the scientific practices that high school
students carry out (McClure et al. 2017).

12. NSTA’s Position Statement
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Early Childhood Science Education
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) affirms that
learning science and engineering practices in the early years
can foster children’s curiosity and enjoyment in exploring the
world around them and lay the foundation for a progression
of science learning in K–12 settings and throughout their
entire lives.

13. Science is observing,
investigating, and exploring
the world.
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14. Copyright © 2019 by The Source for Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
Technology is the use tools
and machines that help to solve
problems or do new things.

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Engineering is a way for toddlers to
design create and build things that
work. It is an introduction to problem
solving and creative thinking.

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Math is measurement,
relationships, and properties of
quantities and sets, using
numbers and symbols.

17. Two Rules of STEM Success
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Create a safe environment for
children to explore using
their senses.
Create natural learning experiences
that led to discovery and inquiry.

18. Questions to Promote STEM
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When you ask a “why” questions, it implies
there is a correct answer and you are
testing the child.
Start with a “what” question and you’re
starting a conversation and exploring right
along with your children.

19. Sample Questions
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What happened there?
What did you try?
What have you changed?
What are some of the ideas?
What have you seen other people trying?
What do you notice about ________?
What do you think will happen if we _______?

20. Resources
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1. Brain Development Exchange: November/December 2010
2. ww.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-
2795457
3. Home/Preschool STEM/Everything you wanted to know about
STEM activities for Toddlers
4. ZERO TO THREE zerotothree.org
5. NAEYC- naeyc.com
6. www.preschoolsteam.com

21. Questions?
Contact us: ece-pd@sflinc.org
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