Stem to Story: Enthralling and Effective Lesson Plans for Grades 5-8 - Paperback

by 826 National (Author)

Bring STEM to life for students with zombies, rockets, celebrities, and more

STEM to Story: Enthralling and Effective Lesson Plans for Grades 5-8 inspires learning through fun, engaging, and meaningful lesson plans that fuse hands-on discovery in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with creative writing. The workshop activities within the book are the innovative result of a partnership between 826 National's proven creative writing model and Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds, an initiative dedicated to connecting young people to the wonders of STEM through hands-on learning. Authentically aligned with both the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, this book provides teachers, after-school and out-of-school providers, and parents with field-tested lessons, workshops, and projects designed by professionals in each field. Including reflective observations by arts and science celebrities like Jon Scieszka, Mayim Bialik, and Steve Hockensmith, lessons feature bonus activities, fun facts, and teaching points for instructors at every level. These quirky, exploratory lessons will effectively awaken student imaginations and passions for both STEM and creative writing, encourage identity with scientific endeavors, and make both science and writing fun.

Grades five through eight is the critical period for engaging students in STEM, and this book is designed specifically to appeal to - and engage - this age group. The guided curricula fosters hands-on discovery, deep learning, and rich inquiry skills while feeling more like play than school, and has proven popular and effective with both students and teachers.

• Awaken student imagination and get them excited about STEM
• Fuse creative writing with STEM using hands-on activities
• Make scientific principles relevant to students' lives
• Inspire students to explore STEM topics further

The demand for STEM workers is closely linked to global competitiveness, and a successful future in STEM depends upon an early introduction to the scientific mindset. The challenge for teachers is to break through students' preconceptions of STEM fields as "hard" or "boring," to show them that STEM is everywhere, it's relevant, and it's loads of fun. For proven lesson plans with just a dash of weird, STEM to Story is a dynamic resource, adaptable and applicable in school, after school, and at home.

Front Jacket

Praise for STEM to Story

826 has always been a place where imagination and education meet. They are taking what is most exciting about STEM and creative writing and bringing the two together in unique and exciting ways. In these lessons, students are learning about the world around them and use actual scientific exploration to envision and build new ones.
--Spike Jonze, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director

STEM to Story offers quality STEM activities that are easily implemented to engage middle school-aged youth. The activities provide hands-on learning--sparking creativity, curiosity and confidence in discovering STEM in fun and innovative ways.
--Jorge Perez, VP of Youth Development, Family Enrichment and Social Responsibility, YMCA of the USA

A fabulous resource for teaching students one of the most important lessons: that science is fun, creative, and tremendously important for everyone. STEM to Story from 826 will help inspire future scientists by introducing them to the beauty of STEM, and help all students explore its impacts in their daily lives in positive and fun ways.
--Rebecca Skloot, science writer and author of The New York Times bestseller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

One of the great tragedies of traditional science education is that students often fail to realize that science is a deeply creative process. How wonderful to see in STEM to Story the science curriculum organically entwined with creative writing, bringing both imagination and the art of expression directly into the science classroom.
--Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics, Columbia University; cofounder, World Science Festival

STEM to Story inspires students to learn using fun, engaging, and meaningful lesson plans that combine hands-on discovery in science, technology, engineering, and math with creative writing. Aligned with both Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, STEM to Story gives teachers a wide range of field-tested lessons, workshops, and projects that have been created and classroom tested by professionals in each field. The workshop activities within the book are the innovative result of a partnership between 826 National's proven creative writing model and Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds, an initiative dedicated to connecting young people to the wonders of STEM through hands-on learning.

STEM to Story includes reflective observations by artsand science celebrities including Jon Scieszka, Mayim Bialik, andSteve Hockensmith. The dynamic lessons feature bonus activities, fun facts, and teaching points for instructors at every level.These quirky, exploratory lessons are sure to awaken youngimaginations and passions for both STEM and creative writing whileencouraging interest in scientific endeavors. Now teachers can makeboth science and writing a fun-filled adventure.

Back Jacket

Praise for STEM to Story

"826 has always been a place where imagination and education meet. They are taking what is most exciting about STEM and creative writing and bringing the two together in unique and exciting ways. In these lessons, students are learning about the world around them and use actual scientific exploration to envision and build new ones."
--Spike Jonze, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director

"STEM to Story offers quality STEM activities that are easily implemented to engage middle school-aged youth. The activities provide hands-on learning--sparking creativity, curiosity and confidence in discovering STEM in fun and innovative ways."
--Jorge Perez, VP of Youth Development, Family Enrichment and Social Responsibility, YMCA of the USA

"A fabulous resource for teaching students one of the most important lessons: that science is fun, creative, and tremendously important for everyone. STEM to Story from 826 will help inspire future scientists by introducing them to the beauty of STEM, and help all students explore its impacts in their daily lives in positive and fun ways."
--Rebecca Skloot, science writer and author of The New York Times bestseller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

"One of the great tragedies of traditional science education is that students often fail to realize that science is a deeply creative process. How wonderful to see in STEM to Story the science curriculum organically entwined with creative writing, bringing both imagination and the art of expression directly into the science classroom."
--Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics, Columbia University; cofounder, World Science Festival

STEM to Story inspires students to learn using fun, engaging, and meaningful lesson plans that combine hands-on discovery in science, technology, engineering, and math with creative writing. Aligned with both Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, STEM to Story gives teachers a wide range of field-tested lessons, workshops, and projects that have been created and classroom tested by professionals in each field. The workshop activities within the book are the innovative result of a partnership between 826 National's proven creative writing model and Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds, an initiative dedicated to connecting young people to the wonders of STEM through hands-on learning.

STEM to Story includes reflective observations by artsand science celebrities including Jon Scieszka, Mayim Bialik, andSteve Hockensmith. The dynamic lessons feature bonus activities, fun facts, and teaching points for instructors at every level.These quirky, exploratory lessons are sure to awaken youngimaginations and passions for both STEM and creative writing whileencouraging interest in scientific endeavors. Now teachers can makeboth science and writing a fun-filled adventure.

Author Biography

826 NATIONAL is a network of nonprofit creative writing and after-school tutoring centers dedicated to supporting students, ages 6 to 18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and writing skills, and to help teachers get their classes excited about writing. 826 National's services are based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

JENNIFER TRAIG is the author of the memoirs Devil in the Details and Well Enough Alone, and the editor of The Autobiographer's Handbook.