K-8 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education – There is a lot of interest in STEM education for young kids in K-8 (Kindergarten – 8th Grade) but very little is about Engineering. Find a resource for K-8 Engineering. This could be an article, a lesson plan or an activity. Post a link to the resource and a brief description of the importance of this to the K-8 Engineering discussion.
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https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/udl_engineering_lesson01
Including engineering in K-8 education is important because it helps kids learn to think critically and work together early on. By teaching them about engineering, we can inspire them to become future problem solvers and innovators, making STEM education more complete.
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I found a great resource that offers fun, hands-on engineering activities https://education.lego.com/en-us/resources/championing-your-stem-program/
Introducing engineering concepts at a young age is super important because it encourages problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. These skills are essential not just in STEM fields but in everyday life. Plus, making learning engaging helps spark a lifelong interest in science and technology.
This website offers free, standards-aligned engineering lessons and activities designed for young learners. It covers topics like designing simple machines, understanding structures, and problem-solving processes, making engineering concepts accessible and engaging for kids. Early exposure to engineering helps students develop critical thinking and creativity, laying a strong foundation for future STEM learning.
https://www.teachengineering.org
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I found a great engineering resource for K-8 students: http://stem-works.com/activities This website provides a wealth of engineering lesson plans and activities, including hands-on experiments suitable for K-8, covering basic engineering concepts such as bridge construction, energy systems, and simple machines. These resources allow students to practice hands-on in exploratory activities, build their initial understanding of engineering, and stimulate their interest in STEM subjects.
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I found a valuable resource titled “Engineering is Elementary” from the Museum of Science, Boston. This program provides educators with curriculum materials designed to introduce engineering concepts to K-8 students through hands-on activities and lessons.
The importance of integrating engineering into K-8 education lies in its ability to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in young learners. By engaging students in engineering challenges, they can apply scientific principles in practical scenarios, which not only enhances their understanding of STEM but also prepares them for future careers in these fields.
Here’s the link to the resource: https://yes.mos.org/
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chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2023/05/Engineering-Resources-K-8-Career-Literacy.pdf
This lesson plan covers different subjects in different forms, from games to fun activities, to teach the younger generation in a unique, entertaining way. It provides links to various topics with descriptions of what they are and what recommended grade to start with.
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One resource I found was called DIY. It’s a creative platform where kids can make projects, share their work, and build some stem skills. It keeps kids accountable by encouraging them to share only their own creations and interact through comments and portfolios. Teachers can also track multiple students’ activities with a dashboard to support their progress.
https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/diy
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One resource I found was KiwiCo, which offers hands-on STEM kits that introduce K-8 students to engineering through purchasable crafts like hydraulic arms and mechanical clocks, These activities promote problem-solving and critical thinking, showing kids how engineering applies to real life. Introducing engineering at an early age is essential because it helps make STEM fields more accessible and less intimidating to engage in later on.
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Ignite STEM learning in K-12 – TeachEngineering
TeachEngineering is a great resource for introducing engineering to young students. I found a very useful link which has easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities that make engineering fun and hands-on. I think it’s important for kids to learn engineering early because it teaches them to solve problems and be creative. These skills help them in all subjects, not just STEM. I also like that this site is free and available for teachers and parents, making it easy for anyone to start teaching engineering basics.
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I found this really cool website that goes over all kinds of engineering from aerospace engineering, agricultural engineers and couple of other topics that go over the usefulness of that particular engineer and how it works. It also provides different curriculums for whichever engineer you choose and different links to have you explore that engineering profession you have chosen.
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https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/ced_fac/56/
The research paper emphasizes the importance of introducing K-8 educators to simplified robotics programming through graphical user interfaces. This approach helps teachers without a computer programming background to effectively integrate robotics into their curriculum. This is crucial because it allows young students to explore engineering concepts and develop problem-solving skills early in their education, fostering an interest in STEM fields and helping bridge the gap between traditional education and modern technological skills.
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https://www.khanacademy.org/science/electrical-engineering
Growing up, I always used Khan Academy for any subject I was struggling with in school. This website is useful and important because it provides videos and step-by-step instructions like a tutor would for free.
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This program provides engaging lesson plans and activities that introduce engineering concepts to K-8 students. It’s important because it not only fosters creativity and problem-solving skills but also helps students understand how engineering applies to real-world challenges. By incorporating engineering into STEM education, we can inspire the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers.
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When I think about education resources online, I think about KhanAcademy.org or Coursera. Khan Academy is a great resource for foundational learning. This is great for some of the early subjects you’d have to take for a K-8 Engineering plan.
Link:
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From a consulting firm serving educational institutions, this article provides an overview of K-8 computer science and engineering programs provided by the district, compiled by research teams that designed curriculums for students based on applications in the modern world. This company supports learning about engineering early for deeper student comprehension and potential interest in STEM fields.
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This article was really helpful in understanding how to approach teaching STEM for K-8 students. It breaks down practical steps for getting started, like using tools such as VEX Robotics to make learning interactive and fun. I also liked the advice about starting small and connecting with other STEM educators, which shows how teaching STEM can be both manageable and collaborative.
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While researching this discussion topic a lot of things I found were like taking a trip down memory lane. Things like building soda bottle rockets and balloon cars. I remember doing a lot of these STEM projects as a kid. I did however find this one that I didn’t even know about until I found it and I thought that it was pretty neat because you can make it with simple things that you can get anywhere. It is called, ” Make an Alka-Seltzer Powered Lava Lamp.”
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/make-a-lava-lamp
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The following resource from DiscoverE offers numerous engineering challenges and activities for kids in grades K-8, encouraging them to think like engineers while building structures, solving puzzles, and real-world challenges. This resource is important because it makes engineering relatable by linking it to everyday life, which can help demystify the field and spark a long-term interest in engineering careers.
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The San Jose local library offers a “STEAM Learning Lab – Hour of Code” program for children ages 7 to 13. This program teaches the basics of coding and computer science concepts for free. Each week features a specific theme, such as ‘Minecraft Hour of Code’, and requires an RSVP. Since the event was fully booked for the upcoming program, it’s apparent that there is significant interest in engineering among the kids. Engineering is important for children as it helps develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, as much data indicates the importance of STEAM education for entering the job market, residents can fully benefit from the local library’s free engineering programs.
https://sjpl.bibliocommons.com/events/670ac2d95f5993d30fa1e38a
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I found a resource which is titled “STEM Activities for Kids: Engineering Challenges” on Education.com. In this resource, there are varieties of engineering activities for K-8 students such as structural design and materials science.
Introducing engineering into K-8 education is important because it encourages young learners to think critically and be creative. When students take on engineering challenges, they learn practical problem-solving skills and begin to understand how engineering shapes the world around them, helping to set the foundation for future STEM careers.
https://www.education.com/resources/stem-activities/engineering/
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This website offers a range of teaching tools, research briefs, and practical activities aimed at improving STEM education for K-8 students. One of its strengths is its focus on equitable teaching practices, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to quality STEM education. It also provides resources to help teachers integrate engineering concepts into their classrooms. This is especially important because it gives teachers concrete strategies to introduce engineering at the K-8 level, where exposure to this area of STEM is often limited. https://stemteachingtools.org/
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My take on this subject revolves around equity and access to technology. A significant societal issue is the digital divide—the gap between those who have access to modern technology and those who don’t. By integrating engineering education at the K-8 level, we can help bridge this gap early on. Providing all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, with access to engineering and computer science learning opportunities can ensure more equitable outcomes in terms of digital literacy. Though, it’s important to acknowledge that not all schools have the same resources to implement robust K-8 engineering programs. The disparity in access to technology like computers, internet, and robotics kits can leave some students behind.
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https://csba.org/en/GovernanceAndPolicyResources/ResearchAndPolicyBriefs/STEM#gsc.tab=0
The website I found has multiple links about how there are multiple challenges in learning about STEM. They give resources like research briefs, videos, and professional learning tools to help school boards improve STEM education in their districts. It talks about how California has changes to their STEM program.
engineering 4 kids 