TITLE OF DEVELOPING PRACTICE EXAMPLE
Clackmannanshire ELC – STEM Through Stories Approach
built BY
Digitize Pathways in partnership with Tablet academy Scotland and Co.Lab Hub
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CONTEXT / BACKGROUND
Sauchie nursery currently uses the 15 Core Text Strategy for literacy by Professor Sue Ellis. This has been embedded into practice since 2018 to encourage comprehension skills. The 15 Core Texts are now well known and loved by educators and learners.
Up until now the educators at Sauchie ELC have solely focussed on developing children’s comprehension skills but as time and educators' skills have progressed, we were aware that these texts allow learners to explore is so much more and provides an opportunity to explore interdisciplinary learning (IDL). Realising the importance of STEM learning and the development of STEM skills, Sauchie decided to focus in particular on a STEM through Stories Approach.
WHAT WE DID
The STEM Lead worked with the local authority STEM Officer to pilot a new STEM learning intervention to implement alongside the 15 Core Texts Strategy for comprehension.
The aim of this intervention was to increase staff confidence in identifying STEM learning opportunities within the 15 Core Texts. We also aimed to produce active floor books to track and monitor STEM learning as children explored each text.
HOW WE DID IT
Two texts were selected to model this approach; The Three Little Pigs and Shark in the Park. The STEM Lead and STEM Officer met to discuss possible STEM and IDL links and mapped these ideas out before trialing some of these ideas with a group of learners. Evidence was gathered and additional themes noted due to children’s interests and curiosity. This created a mind map showing key themes and highlighting learning opportunities in STEM.
This work was shared at a staff CLPL session and generated great discussions around other possible themes and provocations that could be used within these stories. Staff were then set the task of choosing another Core Text and identifying the STEM and IDL links that they could explore. They noted possible provocations, resources, STEM challenges and skills that could be developed through each story to create a mind map.
IMPACT / OUTCOMES
The mind maps produced were then used as working documents as learners explored the texts, continually adding and refining ideas and provocations. The mind maps are not designed to be prescriptive but simply to give staff ideas and to share practice. The outcome of this intervention is that each of the 15 Core Texts now has an associated STEM IDL plan that can be used to support practitioners. An example mind map for the text "Shark in the Park" is shown.
FEEDBACK
Lynsey Graham, Head of Sauchie ELC
"At Sauchie ELC, we are always looking to improve and build on current initiatives to enhance learning opportunities. This example demonstrates the importance of building connections across the curriculum to promote and offer depth, challenge, and enjoyment on the experiences provided".
Sauchie ELC Educator Feedback
"Really enjoyed the session, it gave us lots of new ideas to take our focus story forward with STEM, rather than just looking at comprehension skills".
"The mind maps were helpful and a great tool to use when working with the core texts".
"It was good to help us to identify interdisciplinary learning opportunities through each of the books and this has encouraged children to be more engaged with the focus texts".
Sauchie ELC Children's Feedback
"I liked building a house, we planted some seeds and they grow into carrots".
"Rabbits and guinea pigs use straw from the pet shop. You drink through straws and build houses with straws".
"Turnips were in The Three Little Pigs. We learned about carrots. Compost and seeds and water to grow".
UPLOADED FILES
Categories
Stage focus
Tags
LA
Clackmannanshire
Where?
Sauchie Nursery School, Main Street, Sauchie, Alloa, UK
CONTACT PERSON
Sara Plummer
CONTACT EMAIL
clsplummer@glow.sch.uk
