Question
Where can you find good resources to teach STEM concepts for early childhood environments?
Answer
In an early childhood environment, STEM concepts are taught through play. Here are some ideas for budget-friendly, creative, play resources for targeting STEM standards.
Repurposed Resources. To determine what types of materials or resources you have available for teaching STEM concepts, I recommend first taking an inventory of what you have. Go through cabinets, cupboards, and storage rooms in your program and see what is already available. You may find things that were not originally intended for math and science that can be repurposed to teach STEM concepts. Commonplace items such as extra paperclips, a rubber band ball, missing game pieces, and caps collected from dried-up markers can be used in new ways.
Free and Found Resources. Free and found resources include things you find outside such as pine cones, rocks, and sticks. It also includes things that say "Free, take one." Early childhood people tend to take more than one because we know that we will have a use for them. Take advantage of giveaways from local trade shows, pick up yardsticks when you are in the home improvement store, and when you're looking at paint samples save the paint strips that have different shades and colors. Sometimes I will say, "I'm a teacher - is it okay if I take a handful of these?" and most of the time they will say yes. Another great way of getting some resources is to go directly to the source. If you need tongue depressors, go to a doctor and see if they'll give you tongue depressors. If you need toothbrushes, ask a dentist if they will donate some toothbrushes to you. It doesn't hurt to ask. People can tell you no, however, if you tell them that you are a teacher working with young children on a limited budget and explain how this would benefit your children, many people are happy to donate things to you. You can also ask people to save things like toilet paper tube rolls, butter tubs, or other household items.
Inexpensive Resources. Inexpensive resources are those that you pay for but that do not cost very much money. You can find inexpensive resources in dollar stores and in clearance bins. Some of the best resources I found have been in clearance bins at a grocery store. I don't pass a clearance bin without taking a look, and my husband knows that if I find something useful he will need to help me go through the bin to find 10 more for my classroom. Thrift shops and garage sales are also great places to get some inexpensive materials. Keep your eyes open when you are out shopping and it almost becomes a game to find great, inexpensive resources. When you tell your colleagues in early childhood what you found, they will understand your excitement and share their experiences in collecting items; working together makes it easier to acquire great resources.
How do you come up with new ideas for resources? The easiest and cheapest way of getting ideas is by going online to teacher webpages, Pinterest, and blogs. You may also have to spend a little money to purchase a book, magazine or subscription for new ideas. Another fairly inexpensive way of getting new ideas is by visiting other classrooms and programs. This may, however, require time and/or travel. I love going to other classrooms because I can get so many creative ideas. You may be able to visit another program after hours in your community to new ways to incorporate learning activities in your own program. Finally, you can get new ideas at conferences and meetings. Attending conferences, such as the NAEYC conference, and meetings does take time and can be costly but you do get a lot of great ideas.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from a course entitled, Budget Friendly, Creative Play Ideas Targeting STEM Standards in the Early Childhood Classroom, by Amber Tankersley, PhD.
