Cultivating Wonder: Using Picture Books to Explore STEAM Concepts
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This document discusses the importance of cultivating a sense of wonder in children. It argues that most children lose their innate sense of wonder and clear-eyed vision of the world by adulthood. If the author had influence, their gift to each child would be a sense of wonder that lasts throughout life to combat boredom and disenchantment in later years. For a child to keep their sense of wonder, they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share in rediscovering the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world.
Cultivating Wonder: Using Picture Books to Explore STEAM Concepts
- 1. A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years . . . If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. Rachel Carson
- 2. WONDERWORKS S cience T echnology E ngineering A rt M ath Robin Gibson, Youth Librarian rgibson@westervillelibrary.org http://cultivatewonder.wordpress.com
- 5. FICTION & NON-FICTION PAIRINGS Picture Books Contain information that can serve as starting points for investigating a topic Non-fiction books Are less utilized for this age group but present information in appealing ways
- 6. WHY PICTURE BOOKS? • Fun & engaging preschool audience • Some students connect more strongly to fiction • Stories are a good way to learn • Some teachers more comfortable with – already use them
- 7. USING NON-FICTION WITH YOUNG CHILDREN • Much more engaging than in the past: illustrations, photographs – very visually appealing • Author Melissa Stewart writes that their “purpose is to delight as well as inform” • Careful use of language, great read- alouds
- 8. HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES OR EXPERIMENTS Book pairs + activities = a more memorable learning experience • Open-ended • Child-centered • Extend the theme/topic • Use everyday materials (as much as possible) **You don’t have to have a science background!
- 9. OTHER ELEMENTS Vocabulary Don’t be afraid of using big words! Repetition Multimedia (videos/apps) - interactive, supplement Multiple Learning Styles • Movement – large motor skills, physical/ kinesthetic learners • Songs – aural learners • Art –visual/kinesthetic • Experiments – learn by doing
- 10. SCIENCE
- 11. Exploring the Natural World - Animals are always popular
- 12. Bats Are Sleeping (tune: Frere Jacques) Bats are sleeping Bats are sleeping Upside down. Upside down. Waiting for the night to come, Waiting for the night to come, Then they’ll fly around. Then they’ll fly around.
- 19. Weather – Wind, rain, clouds – all good STEAM storytimes – things children can relate to
- 20. Cloud Dough Mix 1/2 cup baby oil with 4 cups of flour and voila! You have a sensory concoction that is crumbly and soft, yet sticks together when molded, like wet sand.
- 26. Activity 1 Making the invisible visible
- 27. TECHNOLOGY
- 37. Guidelines for using media with children --opportunities & challenges 2012 NAEYC & Fred Rogers Center Position Statement on Technology and Interactive Media in Early Childhood Programs *When used intentionally and appropriately, technology and interactive media are effective tools to support learning and development. *Intentional use requires early childhood teachers and administrators to have information and resources regarding the nature of these tools and the implications of their use with children *Limitations on the use of technology and media are important. *Special considerations must be given to the use of technology with infants and toddlers. *Attention to digital citizenship and equitable access is essential. *Ongoing research and professional development are needed.
- 38. AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Guidelines https://twitter.com/AppFairyPodcast Brand new! From Madison Public Library A is for App (pinboard from Westerville Public Library) criteria: engagement interactivity cost culturally relevant
- 40. ENGINEERING
- 41. Benefits of block play
- 48. Activity 2: Building Towers & Bridges
- 49. ART
- 51. • Science + art • Ways of seeing – let eye blend colors (even frame is pointillist – made of little dots) • Circles/shapes • If anywhere near, visit the Topiary Park
- 53. • Mathematical precision • Shapes • Primary colors
- 54. Mondrian studies with crayon What can you make with a square??
- 56. • “drawing with scissors” • fine motor skills • collage – work cooperatively Activity 3
- 57. MATH
- 61. Comparative size: big, bigger, biggest small, smaller, smallest
- 64. RESOURCES
- 65. YOUR LIBRARY! • Educator card • STEM Resources for Educators • Science kits
- 66. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind – creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people – artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers – will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys. – Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind
Editor's Notes
- #6: Nonfiction notes: Increasingly visual -- Often have multiple texts
- #12: Count from Sesame Street singing the Batty Bat – good for dancing & counting, as is Bat Jamboree
- #14: https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1682192
- #16: Science kit @ Body
- #18: Cause & effect; sink & float – continually popular. Great when you can do outside – Kids WILL get wet. Fall is great – do w/pumpkins – unlikely pairings
- #20: Show cloud viewer
- #42: Benefits of block play
- #44: Tumblebook of Subway Ride: https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1687127?lang=eng
- #45: Tunnels . . .
- #48: Maybe delete this one?
- #62: Comparative size: big, bigger, biggest; small, smaller, smallest
- #66: http://www.westervillelibrary.org/science-kits