Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

Thirty-five early childhood teachers explored a wide-array of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts during a recent hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based teacher training workshop I conducted in LaVergne, Tennessee. It’s always rewarding to see the enthusiasm of early childhood teachers in their willingness to be introduced to new and exciting investigations to bring into the early childhood classroom. During the six-hour workshop teachers were actively engaged in exploring numerous STEM concepts via hands-on-minds-on explorations. We started off the workshop by observing and analyzing shapes and patterns found in nature and man-made objects. Then it was onto building 2 and 3-D structures. Analyzed toys to explore force, motion and energy concepts. Made connections to birds, airplanes, helicopters, parachutes, and seed dispersal. Built ramps out of store-bought race car tracks, paper tubes, insulating foam, and whatever else the teachers could get their hands on. Ended the session with building boats out of aluminum foil, the goal being to have the aluminum boat carry the maximum cargo load (pennies) without sinking. Additionally, teachers were introduced to numerous early childhood literature STEM connections such as “Iggy Peck The Architect” and more. Check out STEM literature references under the book page on this website. What a great group of early childhood teachers at LaVergne Primary School, Tennessee. We need to have a strong science and STEM presence at the early childhood level if we want our children to continue their excitement for the natural world around them. Check out some of the photos taken during the STEM workshop for early childhood teachers.

On a recent Saturday in May seventy early childhood teachers attended a six hour hands on science teacher training workshop I conducted. The workshop was sponsored by the Brevard Early Learning Coalition. Teachers were introduced to approximately 80 children’s literature titles that can be incorporated into the early childhood classroom to teach literacy, science, math, art, social studies, cultural concepts, as well as gross-motor skills. It was a great group of teachers. Very eager to actively explore numerous concepts through hands-on investigations. It was a great group of teachers, very motivated and eager to expand upon their existing content knowledge as they conducted a wide-array of hands-on-minds-on explorations. Throughout the workshop teachers were encouraged to share their successful approaches to integrating science within their own classrooms. The following 116 photos give a brief glimpse of the many explorations the early childhood teachers conducted during the day-long workshop. Teachers explored the following concepts:

How to incorporate children’s literature into the science classroom;

Exploring shapes and patterns in nature and man-made objects;

Building structures with various materials;

Animal camouflage;

Living creatures; and

Botanical concepts.

A few of the children’s literature books used during the workshop follows. The books can be purchased through Amazon via this site.