"STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking." https://educationcloset.com/steam/what-is-steam/

STEAM

Robotics/ 3D Printing

Vorpal Robotics - create fun, interactive, classroom-friendly projects based on open source technologies and 3D printing.

Where competitors design and operate remote-controlled armed and armored machines designed to fight in an arena combat elimination tournament.

How to Build a BattleBot

Tech Stuff

Classcraft transforms classrooms through avatars, gamification, and creating immersive play that promotes self-actualization, engagement, and collaboration for students. Teachers can reshape lessons into quests in which students choose their own adventure or work as collaborative teams that build positive classroom culture. . Grades 4 and up.

The global guessing game that gets kids learning about geography, culture, and the similarities and differences of how children live all over the world.

Anchor is an app/web-based software that enables the user to make podcasts. You can create, edit, distribute and store the podcasts all with Anchor. It is a free platform, so there are no fees involved, you just need a device with a microphone that has internet access.

Coding

CS Unplugged is a collection of free teaching material that teaches Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.

Organization

Wakelet - Save, organize and tell stories with content from around the web. A tool to turn many links into one.

You can learn anything. Expert-created content and resources for every course and level. Always free.

Build and navigate 3D and 360 degree virtual reality worlds, either replicating actual places or creating imaginary ones, using objects and backgrounds from Cospaces’s library or importing your own. Cospaces also allows users to animate and code creations with simple visual programming language. Use this app to create simulations, tours, games, and more. All Cospaces scenes can be experienced in 3D on mobile devices with VR headsets. Grades 2 and up.

Teacher Resources

to display ideas

STEM Toolkit and posters.

Lesson Plans

A website describing why STEM is important and quick activities for the senses.

All your questions answered about a WebQuest: A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.

Lockheed Martin provides generous funding to STEM education outreach activities for students from elementary school through college.

Novel Engineering

Students use stories, novels, and expository texts as the basis for engineering design challenges that help them identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process while reinforcing their literacy skills.

Using an easy storyboarding process with no programming required, students and educators can create their own sophisticated, interactive augmented reality mobile games, interactive stories, breakout challenges, and more. Apps can include videos, 3D objects, websites, and more. Grades 7 and up.

Book Connection

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark

"If you’ve got a good idea, and you know it’s going to work, go ahead and do it. The inspiring story of Grace Hopper—the boundary-breaking woman who revolutionized computer science—is told told in an engaging picture book biography".

App Inventor makes the process of designing Android Apps fun and accessible. Course-in-a-Box, video tutorials, and detailed instructions provide educators with everything they will need to start a coding course or club. Students, even those with limited coding experience, can learn to build and publish Android Apps within hours. The visual, block coding approach of App Inventor will engage and empower students to see what they can create next. iOS platform support coming soon! Grades 6 and up.

Video

Kapwing provides a multi-tool solution for teachers and students to create everything from video montages and memes, to stop action videos and sound effects. Its simple yet robust platform makes it useful for students of all ages. Teachers can use the various tools to engage students in any subject, and students will use these same tools to showcase their learning and improve presentations. Grades 4 and up.

Students and teachers will find this screencast and webcam video creation tool helpful on a daily basis. Teachers will find it especially easy to create videos of tutorials, review sessions, or feedback for students assignments. Students can use it for presentations, how-to videos, or responses to assignments. The options are endless, and teachers with a flipped classroom will love the ease of use. Grades 4 and up.

Students and teachers alike will enjoy creating videos using Typito. Users can incorporate icons, shapes, and photos to add pizzazz to any project; the platform offers a plethora of tools to unleash creativity. It is simple to incorporate audio, photo, and video files to give even the simplest video a professional look. Grades 4 and up.

Collaboration

Recap facilitates deeper, more empowering online discussions by combining the options of both chat and video for student responses. The site involves participants in a moderated, question-led dialogue using chat to get conversations started and video to explore thoughts more deeply. Students may be invited to answer questions in a queue, encouraged to dig deeper into a topic through a journey (collection of prompts), or to add their own questions. Sharing may be with the teacher, with the class, or with the world. Grades 2 and up.

Coding

Earsketch provides an innovative and unique learning experience by blending computer coding concepts with music theory. Educators can utilize Earsketch to challenge students to compose original songs, or as a launchpad for a coding class or club. Beginning coders can follow guided tutorials to instantly apply computer programming languages (Python or Javascript) to create loops, construct beats, and generate sound effects. Grades 5 and up.

Pencil Code fosters an interest in computer coding by introducing concepts in an accessible, straightforward environment. Students can bolster their coding ability by creating art, music, or other imaginative projects. Extensive teacher resources are available, including guided tutorials and printable resources. Pencil Code can be used to reinforce a variety of math skills or as a platform for students to create their own works of interactive fiction. Grades K and up.