1st Edition
The Primary STEM Ideas Book Engaging Classroom Activities Combining Mathematics, Science and D&T
The Primary STEM Ideas Book is designed to promote the integrated teaching of STEM in the primary classroom by providing teachers with lesson ideas for investigations and projects. The statutory requirements of the National Curriculum for science, mathematics and design and technology are comprehensively covered through a variety of practical, stimulating and engaging activities, which have all been tried and tested in the primary classroom. The interrelationship between the STEM subjects is strongly integrated throughout, allowing children’s knowledge and skills to develop with confidence in these key subjects through activities that only require easily accessible resources generally found in the classroom.
Written by subject specialists with years of classroom experience teaching STEM subjects, each chapter contains:
- A rationale showing links to the National Curriculum
- Key subject knowledge
- Brief activity plans
- Ideas for supporting higher and lower attaining children
- Follow-up ideas to provide extra inspiration
Including ‘how to’ guides and other photocopiable resources, this book is perfect for creating integrated lessons, group work and discussions relating to STEM. The Primary STEM Ideas Book provides easy to follow instructions and helps spark fresh inspiration for both new and experienced teachers in primary STEM education.
- Introduction to STEM
- How to use this book
- It’s about time
- Pattern
- A to B
- Plant Magic
- Help!
- Chocolate
- Up, up and away
- STEM beyond the curriculum
Organisation
Curriculum links
Photocopiable resources
STEM or STEAM
Curriculum map
Sundials
Water clocks
Candle clocks
Gravity clocks
Alarm clocks
Tracking the sun
Are you Vitruvian Man?
Fibonacci and the golden rectangle
Symmetry in nature
Number patterns
3-D Shape bubbles
Cargoes
Egg race
Defying gravity
Post a crisp
Animal antics
Is fastest best?
Cable cars and lifts
Pea mazes
Living walls
Meet a tree
Grow a meal
Plants for building
Sunflower race
Heliographs
Buoyancy aids
Wind chill
Whistles
Compasses
Beachcombing
How strong is chocolate?
Percentages
Chocolate wrappers
Flat pack building
Making chocolate
Market research
Paper planes
Jet engines
Rockets
Catapults
Parabolas
Payloads
Who forged the cheque?
Chain reaction
Building with triangles
Sorting machines
Packing puzzles
Makey Makey
Biography
Dr Elizabeth Flinn worked in cancer research before retraining to become a primary science specialist. She taught KS2 and KS3 Science in a variety of schools in the state and independent sectors for over a decade. She is now a Lecturer in primary science and design and technology education at Middlesex University in London.
Dr Anne Mulligan is a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University in London where she teaches primary mathematics on the Initial Teacher Education programmes. She has over 20 years of experience teaching in the primary classroom, specialising in KS1, and spent four years as a Deputy Head Teacher before moving to teacher education.