Connecting PLT and STEM

1. Connecting PLT and STEM Mary V. Ball mvball44@charter.net Cindi Smith-Walters Cindi.Smith-Walters@mtsu.edu

2. A Quick Overview of What We know about Project Learning Tree….

3. But what is STEM? Working alone or w/a partner, identify the items that represent “technologies”.

4. STEM Stands For • S = Science • T = Technology (a human-made object, process, or system that solves a problem or fulfills a need) • E = Engineering (process of creating technologies- to benefit society) • M = Mathematics (ST&E use math as a common language) • A = Art (being added in some schools)

5. BIOMIMICRY • You will either get a bag or a card. • Got a bag? Look inside – what might the object have to do with biomimicry? • Got a card? Read it – what object might it be referring to? • Try to find your ‘partner/s’ – sit together. • Discuss the question/s on the card.

6. Why is STEM Education Important?

7. + 13% of the US workforce is over 55 & by 2020 60% will be over 55 + When 70 million US baby boomers retire 48 million workers will replace them + Top 10 most in demand jobs did not exist in 2004 + 60% of new jobs in 21st century require skills possessed by only 20% of the current US workforce + 90% of all scientists & engineers in the world live in Asia

8. Connecting PLT to STEM • NSES Technology Standards call for learning the “Design Process” • STEM Lessons that include an Engineering Challenge allow students to experience engineering. • NSES also suggests “age-appropriate” progression in learning and “appropriate tasks”.

9. A STEM Connection for Activity 93: Paper Civilizations One of the Enrichment ideas for this activity suggests you have students “analyze how paper’s properties suit how it is used.” So let’s explore some Paper Properties, beginning with examining “torn” paper to look at the fibers!

10. Examining “Torn” Paper 1. Hold a piece of paper in your non-dominant hand. 2. Pull towards your body with the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand. 3. Examine the torn edge on both sides of the paper using a hand lens. 4. To tear out a curved shape, try using a wet Q-tip to draw the shape and then pull the paper apart.

11. How Does “Grain” Affect a Paper’s Properties? Machine-manufactured paper has a pronounced grain because fibers align parallel to the movement on the machine. Hand-made paper pulp is evenly spread manually causing fibers into random orientation. So there is no grain direction and expansion & contraction are identical in both directions. Grain affects how paper folds and tears.

12. Testing Paper “Grain” Fingernail Test: Use fingernails of thumb & middle finger to slide down the vertical & horizontal edges of the paper. Feel the edges. Bending Test: Bend sheet in both directions, noting “resistance”. Fold, crease, and repeatedly “open and close”, noting any “cracking” along the crease. Tearing Test: Tear paper “cross-wise” and “length-wise”, noting smoothness and straightness of the torn edges.

13. Why Care About Paper Properties? How do the properties of different types of paper affect: Their manufacturing? Their uses? Their ability to be recycled?

14. A MAD MINUTE THINK: What is the definition of STEM? On a Post-It at your table list 2 PLT activities from the PreK-8 guide that naturally fit with this STEM topic of “Effects of Paper Properties.” PAIR: Explain your thoughts to someone. SHARE: Let’s talk together.

15. If Time Permits – More on the NSES Tips • “Mystery Objects” • “Compare a Pair” • “New and Improved?” • Engineering Design Challenges

16. Your Challenges Work with a partner to answer these questions on your Survey Sheet: • How will you incorporate ‘STEM’ into your next workshop or facilitator training? • For what PLT activity will you agree to find or create a STEM Connection? (Send these to Mary Ball at: mvball44@charter.net)

17. Questions for us or for the group?(because we always learn more from our peers than from the teacher!)