STEM Lesson Development

Using the lesson plan template for the STEM activity was very useful. The template allowed me to stay very organized and to review the many aspects that are involved in planning and implementing lessons. When I create lessons to be used in my sixth grade class I do not fill out something as extensive as the template, yet I can see how this template would be very useful to a beginning teacher or to simply reevaluate the layout of a lesson. Many of the sections that involved assessments and modifications are factors that teachers address naturally in their classrooms.

The use of the 5 E's strategy was useful in developing a lesson. I think the most important "E" is engagement as this is the time to spark the students' interest, determine background knowledge, and look for misconceptions. All of the E's have an essential part to the development of understanding for students. I believe that consistently using the 5 E's strategies in my lesson planning will increase motivation and understanding for my students.

In this weeks application, I developed a lesson about potential and kinetic energy. By using the topic of roller coasters, I hoped to draw in the attention of my students while aiding in the understanding of the transfers between potential and kinetic energy. If I was to use this lesson in my classroom I would assure that my students understood the concepts of a roller coaster. Many of my students come from different countries or are economically disadvantaged and have never experienced a roller coaster. By showing a short video of a roller coaster students would be pulled into the experience and also have a visual connection for the lesson.