5 steps to integrate STEM into student literacy

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In the world of education, we can sometimes make the mistake of branding STEM and literacy as opposing disciplines. Reading is seen as a creative subject. It’s colorful, artistic, and filled with imagination and wonder. STEM, by contrast, has a more clinical reputation. It’s a subject of hard equations, facts and logic, which depends on technical expertise.

As most educators know, however, these notions couldn’t be further from the truth. STEM and literacy frequently appear together in our daily lives. Cooking, infographics, even science fiction novels are evidence of how these two subjects often combine to create something extraordinary.

With more and more schools looking to bridge the gaps created by COVID learning loss, there has never been a better time for educators to merge the two disciplines into engaging, hands-on activities. One easy strategy to help K-12 educators get started is to build creative lessons around the books in their classroom. Just take the book Flight School by Lita Judge as an example. It’s the story of a lovable little penguin who dreams of flying but struggles to master the technical aspects of air travel. The story features determination, setbacks, and triumph, making ideal for young readers. Best of all, it can serve as a launchpad for STEM learning simply by following five easy steps.

Step 1: Identify the problem

Ask students to identify the primary problem in the story. This creates an opportunity for students to explore things like character, theme, setting, plot, and conflict–all of which are necessary for understanding literature. From there, an activity can be built using the students’ questions and observations. For Flight School, an easy STEM activity would be to have students construct a paper airplane capable of sustained flight. However, don’t be afraid to try another idea if it proves popular with the class!

Step 2: Determine criteria and constraints

Once you’ve settled on your STEM activity, it’s time to set some criteria and constraints. First, students should have a specific objective, such as building a paper airplane that can stay aloft for 10 seconds. With that established, give students a framework under which to work. Let them know that they can only use a certain number of supplies or that their airplane can’t be too big. This step emphasizes the need for clear goals and creative problem-solving within limits, the same conditions under which most professional engineers work in the real world.

Step 3: Create possible solutions

Now it’s time to start brainstorming. It’s important to remind students that they shouldn’t begin building until they have a plan (just like professional engineers). Have them start by sketching out their designs, examining the supplies, and sharing their observations with other students. Once they have a clear idea of what they want to build, have them collect their materials and begin construction. Collaboration and communication among students should be encouraged. After all, most big discoveries are made by teams working together rather than by individuals.   

Step 4: Conduct a solution test

Set up a space where students can test their paper airplanes and determine the success of their designs. If time allows, offer students the chance to improve their work. A key part of being an engineer is refining designs based on how well they perform during tests, so giving students this extra opportunity will allow them to practice like professional engineers. While this is going on, share inspiring stories of inventors like the Wright Brothers or Thomas Edison to remind them that great discoveries often require many attempts before they are successful.   

Step 5: Share your learning

Close out the lesson by having students share their projects with their peers and reflect on the results of their design. How well did it work? What was the most important criteria for success? What would they like to do differently if they had the opportunity to keep building? Take a moment to congratulate them on all their hard work and ask them if they can think of any other books that could serve as a basis for a fun STEM activity (if you’re in need of ideas, here are 30 read-aloud titles with 30 corresponding STEM activities.)      

By integrating literacy and STEM, educators can supply engaging learning experiences that complement both disciplines. Students will see how reading sparks their creativity, and how STEM can turn their ideas into tangible solutions. It only takes a little work and imagination for this combination to provide an activity that students will remember long after they have departed the classroom. So, let’s get reading, and give our students a learning experience that’s memorable, meaningful, and fun!