STEM and the Literature Connection

 

 STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, but where does Reading and Literature fit in?  All of us know that a great lesson is multi-dimensional and cross-curricular but few of us have time to endlessly Google until we come up with the perfect book for to engage students or supplement a STEM lesson.

Fear not!  Here's a rather comprehensive collection of pictures books to enhance math and science concepts in your STEM lessons and to help bring concepts alive!

Level It Books

Level It Books is an excellent iOS app that teachers everywhere are using to scan a book and get a Reading Level.  This is perfect for anyone who wants to be able to easily find out if a book is the appropriate Reading Level for their student/child.  Best of all a educator can use this to track their students and their Reading Levels, keep a digital library of class books, and even create wish lists (think Amazon).  Also, there are lots of other features such as manually searching for books, a book of the day, and more.

I highly recommend checking out Level It Books by clicking here!!!

*Level It Books is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Digital Storytelling Through Creaza

One of my favorite things to do with students is to teach them how to write their own storybook.  This project helps to strengthen their grammar, usage, and mechanics (GUM) skills as well as help them work on writer's craft.  It is a long haul for a 4th grader to brainstorm, draft, revise, edit and finally publish, so the promise of a digital storybook at the end of the process is what can keep students motivated.

Creaza is a great way for student so improve their computer skills and at the same time help students think creatively about how to illustrate their story.  Students upload their own media files or choose from a variety of backgrounds and characters.


Once students have illustrated their stories, they can either type their text onto the slides or use the sound recorder to tell the story themselves!  What a great way to improve language fluency, written communication, and computer skills!