How to Plan and Implement a STEM Focused Unit?

Learn the basics to implementing STEM in the classroom. These foundational tips will help make designing curriculum simple and effective.

Integrating STEM into the classroom does not require a large budget or curriculum change. Any school, any classroom and any teacher can adopt a STEM focused curriculum. One of the primary costs of STEM implementation is curriculum, but designing STEM curriculum is not something only experts in STEM can do. Any teacher, who is an expert in their subject can work with other teachers to design their own STEM curriculum.

Writing the Units of Study

Schools often plan four ten-week interdisciplinary units of study throughout the year. These four quarters serve as the framework for lesson planning. Each quarter can explore a theme, study or idea and build upon it in the weeks that follow.

There are two foundational steps in designing a STEM unit:

1. Review the Standards

The first step in designing individual STEM units is to study the standards that are to be covered in each of the units. This review helps to ensure well-rounded STEM instruction and provides an integrated focal point for the ten weeks. This step also supports the development of initiating questions that will guide and connect all learning experiences throughout the year.

Using a graphic organizer, with the lessons and concepts to be covered, can be useful in planning the individual units, and allows everyone– teachers, students, and parents – to see the ten-week objectives at a glance.

2. Review Curriculum, Courses, and Materials

After the overview of goals and standards are set, begin searching for books, interactive websites, field trips, projects, games, people, or works of art that will help bring the concepts to life. Place each of the selected resources into a discipline and list each of the standards and the concepts to be covered throughout the unit. Lessons, activities, projects, and assessments are then put in place to ensure mastery of content. Repeat the process for each discipline, being sure to include all resources for later use.

Implementing Effective Lessons

Effective STEM lessons often begin with a “hook.” A hook is designed to the grab students’ attention and spark their curiosity before the lesson starts. Once students are engaged, the purpose of the lesson is stated, and the teacher models the skills, strategies, concepts and standards that are embedded within the lesson. Students then practice the skills taught as a class, followed by independent practice. Finally, students are brought back for closure of the lesson. Research has shown that lessons that follow this basic design cycle of engage, explore, explain, and elaborate are more likely to motivate learners, and leads to higher academic achievement.

When implementing STEM instruction begin by exploring the concepts and standards to be taught, look for a hook that will engage students, and provide multi-sensory experiences within the lesson to reach all learners.