Now that many schools around the country have moved their start date to before Labor Day, this edition concentrates on August days.
Using monthly themed events as a springboard and the maker movement for inspiration, kids build cross-curricular connections as they explore STEM - Science, Technology, Math and Engineering.
Primarily aimed for students in grades two through grade six, these engaging lessons and projects are easily adopted and adapted for learners of all ages. The projects and poetry lessons have been classroom-tested and provide enjoyable learning experiences in a variety of learning environments: home schooling; after-school programs; scouting; gifted and talented programs; extra-curricular clubs; adult ESL classes; and senior citizen activities.
Included are STEM/STEAM lessons, projects and poetry for the month of August and Back to School activities. The format and journals are your guide to take you throughout the year. Drawing on the inner poet in every child and the "let me do-it-myself" nature inherent in all learners, the activities and lessons integrate the Arts and give STEAM to your STEM initiatives. Budding scientists, mathematicians and engineers will practice creative and inventive thinking skills as they develop throughout the year.
Although these units of study focus on STEM, students love the core poetry lessons and learning about famous poets and their poems. From our teaching experience, we have learned that some teachers are uncomfortable introducing how to write poetry. You will be amazed how easily these classroom-tested activities will assist young poets discover the joy of writing their own poetry.
About the Author: DR. GARY CARNOW has been a classroom teacher, administrator, author and educational consultant who specializes in administrative and instructional technologies, grants and funding procurement, instructional program development, emerging technologies, makerspaces and 3D printing. He consults with major hardware and software companies and has written extensively for Tech&Learning magazine. He was one of the first educators to provide content for AOL and the Scholastic Network. Beverly and Gary have written educational materials together for over twenty-five years. BEVERLY ELLMAN has been an educator who has enjoyed wearing many different hats. She has been a classroom teacher, an author of educational publications and an educational product developer. She has co-taught several classes which combined poetry and multimedia through UCLA extension with Joyce Koff. In addition, Joyce and Beverly have worked together presenting educational workshops to various elementary and middle school teachers. She has enjoyed watching the enthusiasm, energy, and creativity sparked in students as they experience learning and master STEM content.
JOYCE KOFF is a poet and a teacher. Her work has been published in numerous poetry journals and she has taught in elementary and middle schools in her self-created program. Joyce makes the reading, understanding and writing of poetry accessible to all students and these methods are applied in this book. As resident poet at Coeur d'Alene Elementary School in Venice, California, she has been teaching poetry for over 25 years and was part of the art's team that was awarded the prestigious Los Angeles Music Center's Bravo Award.
SIAN BOWMAN has never lost the giddy excitement she experienced as child when drawing and painting. After graduating from Aberystwyth University with a Masters in Fine Art, specializing in children's book illustration, she started freelancing as an illustrator. She is in her element working on picture books and educational books for children. She finds inspiration for her characters in walking her wonderful, cheeky whippet, Jet, through the countryside of Mid Wales - where her imagination can wander.
SANDY STEVENS has a diverse background as an educator, musician and artist. Her 35 years in education were spent as a classroom teacher, counselor, and principal. Sandy she uses art and design as a way to communicate and engage students and colleagues.
