TEC Play and Lesson Plans: T+S in STEM: Inquiry and Research

Image courtesy of Ms. Liza Sullivan

A feeling of apprehension often arises when TEC Center mentions using technology to explore nature or when we see children with iPads and digital microscopes in their classroom garden or neighborhood park investigating their environment. Many fear technology breaking or believe nature should be a “tech-free” zone. However, all fears and misconceptions usually dissipate around using technology as a tool to explore and discover nature after educators, parents and children have the opportunity to support children’s curiosity and reflection on how the world around them works.

TEC Center is committed to supporting educators and parents as they navigate connecting the T+S in STEM. During the 2017-18 school year, TEC Center hosted Dr. Milton Chen and Dr. Mark Bailey who presented on how impactful technology is as a tool to explore, discover, document, and analyze science concepts, experiences and experiments. Dr. Mark Bailey shares 3 tips for early childhood educators who want to get started using technology in the following video:

NOTE: When you are reading their plans scroll through the whole plan as many educators have added pictures that can be quite useful.

As you read these plans note that many of them use photography and video that include images of children. The TEC Center promotes and believes that children have the right to know how and where their images and voices will be used and the right to refuse sharing their images, voices and work online.

Before you take pictures or video of children remember to:

• • talk to your school leadership first about your plans
  • ask parents/guardians to sign a release form provided by the school or program
  • ask each child for permission and tell children how their images will be used
  • protect a child’s privacy and digital footprint by putting a shape or positive emoji over a child’s face before sharing it on social media platforms to protect a child’s privacy
  • Before sharing images of children with parents and caregivers make sure to review guidelines for protecting their privacy with parents, including reminding parents to
    • ask for permission from your child if you can post an image, video or project online and respect your child’s wishes
    • share with care and post images of only your child online
    • be positive and a good digital citizen by posting only positive comments, photos and videos a child would be proud to show someone later in life-never shame your own child or another child online

Photo courtesy of Ms. Cassidy
Students painting polar environments

Here are 3 T+S in STEM play and lesson plans developed by our TEC Mentors:

• Polar Regions, Developed by Meghan Cassidy, PreK educator
  • In this play and lesson plan, nature is brought into the classroom virtually. Ms. Cassidy displays video and pictures on the classroom Promethean board. With beginning readers, research often looks like group discussion with audio and visual aids in the form of videos and pictures. Through these observations and discussions is how students conduct their research and inquiry.
    • Watch how Chicago Public Schools teacher, Yeliz (Zurawic) Williams uses technology to support research in a preschool classroom.

Image courtesy of Learning Resources
Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope

• Exploring Nature with Tech Tools, Developed by Colleen Cunningham, PreK educator
  • Ms. Cunningham’s students conduct their research and inquiry by bringing outside objects (sticks, leaves, etc.) into the classroom and by using a digital microscope to make observations. This activity could serve as an entry point into place-based learning. Interested in learning more about place-based learning? Here’s a definition and tips for place-based education and learning.

• Research Penguins/QR Codes, Developed by Colleen Wiora, First Grade educator
  • Ms. Wiora highlights the importance of teacher facilitation of media literacy skills in this play or lesson plan. Media literacy is a strong component of research and inquiry using digital media tools. We suggest you to download the Media Literacy in Early Childhood: A Critical Conversation November 2017 Report from TEC Center and NAMLE to support your understanding of this critical skill for adults and children.
    • Learn about QR Codes here
    • NOTE: Safari is an apple tool for browsing the web

Photo courtesy of Ms. Wiora Student using a tablet to scan a QR code

Additional related resources:

• The S+T in STEM: Place-Based Experiential Learning activity book
• Student Inquiry: October Butterfly Migration, a policy-to-practice story by educator, Sydney Spann
• Watch Short Video Interviews with Dr. Mark Bailey

Find more Early Childhood Tech Integrated Play and Lesson Plans from TEC Mentors here.