Steam Activities in 30 Minutes for Elementary Learners

Using STEAM activities, this book places school librarians at the intersection with inquiry in an elementary school. Learners will think like a scientist and design like an engineer using an iterative process to make authentic learning connections and develop a growth mindset. Designed to be completed in 30-minute class periods, 14 scaffolded STEAM activities allow school librarians to easily shift the same lesson between classes and grade levels. National School Library Standards alignments with STEAM content area standards promote instructional partnerships focused on teaching inquiry, collaboration, and learner-driven exploration, making STEAM a perfect approach for the elementary school library. An invaluable timesaver, this resource provides

• activities scaffolded for grade bands K-2, 3-4, and 5-6, engaging learners at greater levels of complexity or cognition;
• alignments to the AASL Standards Framework for Learners, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the National Core Arts Standards;
• science background for school librarians and other educators who may be unfamiliar with the STEAM concepts being explored;
• sample assessments, technology integration, collaboration and growth mindset tips, suggested picture books, and more.

Deborah Rinio, PhD is a former school librarian from Fairbanks, Alaska. She is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor for the School Library Certification Program at Montana State University Bozeman and teaches as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was a school librarian in elementary, middle, and high schools for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. She was on the AASL Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board that developed the National School Library Standards. She has served on various boards and committees including the ALA Policy Corps, Alaska Association of School Librarians, and Alaska Library Association. She is published in VOYA, Knowledge Quest, School Library Connection, and School Libraries Worldwide.