STEM learning everyday, everywhere for ALL children ages birth to five years
Dive deeper into investigations by exploring domains or cross-cutting concepts.
Domains: STEM
The domains or ‘subject areas’ that comprise STEM are science, technology (computational thinking), engineering, and math. Explore STEM resources for children ages birth to 5 years.
Cross Cutting Concepts
Cross-cutting concepts are a set of overarching big ideas that exist across all STEM domain areas. Find activities by cross-cutting concepts like cause and effect, form and function, and connections.
Resources that align with STEMIE Learning Trajectories
Many resources align with a particular LT and progression steps to guide your use of the investigation with your child.
Investigations
Investigations outline activities that align with a particular LT to use in center-based settings. They offer:
- Related STEM words to talk about
- List of materials
- Suggested adaptations and guided steps for all children
- Suggested prompts for engaging with children during the activity and ideas for continuing the investigation
Try one out:
Investigation: Ms. Mix-Up-Dressing a Baby Doll
An adult dresses a doll incorrectly and encourages child to find errors and possibly fix them.
Early Intervention (EI) Cards
EI cards are one page STEM activity cards for EI providers to collaborate with families to support children’s learning goals in daily routines. They include:
- Ideas and strategies adults can use to support children’s STEM learning
- Learning goals while doing every day activities
Try one out:
Early Intervention in Daily Routines: Bathtime
Encourage STEM learning during bath time
Everyday STEM Resources
Discover STEM within daily routines and activities.
These resources introduce STEM ideas into things you do everyday and do not align with any particular LT or progression. They include Discovery Play Activities, Daily Routines Explorations, and Storybook Conversations.
Discovery Play Activities
STEMIE offers a variety of STEM-related resources that allow for broad explorations of STEM ideas in discovery play activities! Play and interact with your child with STEM explorations and discover interests.
Daily Routines Explorations
Learn how to bring STEM into your daily routines like getting dressed or mealtime! Observe your child’s thinking in action with STEM explorations as a part of your day.
Storybook Conversations
Explore the storybooks that – in addition to being adored and well-respected children’s literature – offer an opportunity to expand on STEM ideas. Suggested adaptations, question prompts, and activities are provided with each tipsheet.
What resources are here for me?
All Children Participate in an Activity
When you consider the environment in which an activity takes place, the materials you use, and the instruction you offer, all children engage in the same activity. Every STEMIE resource offers specific adaptation suggestions. The Guide to Adaptations is a great place to start for any activity.
Environment
Provide access by considering the environment, activities, and routines for the room or set a length of time.
Materials
Make modifications to toys, plan the materials and AT devices you will use.
Instruction
Think of the guidance and information for support you can provide, even if its just reducing the number of steps.
Check out additional ideas that can be used to promote positive and active STEM learning experiences for each and every child.
