How to Create A High Impact Science and Math Curriculum Fair At Your Program

Webinar Series

First Annual

MATH AND SCIENCE CURRICULUM FAIRA CELEBRATION OF TEACHERS!

How to Plan and Implement a MATH AND SCIENCE CURRICULUM FAIR

Presenter Information

Judy Cashell, MSEarly Childhood Education Manager

Pacific Clinics Head Start

Pasadena, CA

(818) 749-3606

jcashell@pacificclinics.org

Science and Math Curriculum Fair Overview

• Definition, purpose, philosophy

• Model for Professional Development

• Coaching Opportunities

• Toolbox

• Event Coordination

• STEM - early childhood education

• Equity

What is a Science and Math Curriculum Fair?

• Definition – A celebration of early STEM education and learning for young children ages birth to 5 years and their teachers, families, and the community.

• Purpose – A professional development opportunity event to showcase inquiry-based early STEM learning projects lead by teachers who teach teachers to raise the quality of STEM curriculum in ECE programs.

Curriculum Fair – Based on Project Approach

• Project Approach – Components of STEM education

• Emphasis on science, inquiry-based learning

• Using CLASS strategies - Concept Development and other CLASS domains

• Developing into long term curriculum activities ongoing, overtime

Professional Development

• Teachers Teaching Teachers

• Peer Coaching

• STEM Curriculum development

• Teacher involvement in professional development increases outcomes

• Ongoing approach to teacher preparation and coaching

Tool Box

• Webbing Chart and Sample

• KWL Chart

• Lesson Plans Form

• Sample CF Display - Display Board Description

• Walk About, Talk About Form

• Information for Presenters

• Timeline

• Presentation Talking Points

• Curriculum Fair Lesson Plan Book

Pacific Clinics Head Start/Early Head StartScience and Math Curriculum Fair Project

Information for Presenters

How to Plan and Implement a Science and Math-Curriculum Fair

Curriculum Fair STEM Project Planning

Teacher Planning Web

Teacher Planning Web: Earthworms

KWL Chart

KWhat I Know

WWhat I Want to Know

LWhat I Learned

Activity Lesson Plan

Activity Lesson Plan (Continued)

Presentation Talking Points

• Each presenter will have about 5-10 minutes to present their project; here are some key points that should be mentioned during the presentation. Please feel free to include additional information that is important to your project. • Project Title

• Age group

• How topic was chosen

• Concepts of project

• How it ties into School Readiness Goals

• How math and/or science was integrated

• How the children became engaged and what kind of questions were they asking (or what questions you were asking)

• Length of project, steps, and stages

• What were the learning outcomes

• How can this project be expanded or lead to a new project

Sample Curriculum Fair Display

Walk About, Talk About

Walk About, Talk About (Continued)

STEM Resources - Bibliography

• Region 9 Head Start Association

• http://www.region9hsa.org/learn/the-early-childhood-stem-institute/

• Link for Science and Math Curriculum Fair resources:

• http://www.region9hsa.org/event/create-high-impact-science-math-curriculum-fair-program/

Event Coordination

• Event Program

• Event Schedule

• Venue - Location

• Community partnerships and involvement

• Family EngagementErmine Melik-Mushkambaryan, Policy

Council Chair Person offered parent

testimonial at the Curriculum Fair.

Curriculum Fair Event Agenda

• Keynote – Early Childhood STEM Research Report – January 2017 “Early STEM Matters” –Early Childhood STEM Working Group

• Family engagement presentation

• Walk About, Talk About

• Teacher Presentations – Oral presentations, Power Point presentations, displays, work samples

Science and Math-Curriculum Fair for Early Childhood Education – Event Program

Science and Math-Curriculum Fair for Early Childhood Education (Continued)

Certificate of Appreciation

A book of Pacific Clinics Head Start/ Early Head Start and other grantee teacher’s lesson plans was complied and given to all teachers who attend the event. Sets of the Mathematical Thinking Learning Materials Workshop Blocks were distributed as door prizes to all child care sites to share in the classrooms.

First Math and Science Curriculum Fair:

Our first Math and Science Curriculum Fair was held on May 22, 2009 to celebrate the work of the many gifted teachers of our Head Start/ Early Head Start, Children’s Center at Caltech, and State Child Development Center Base programs.

TEACHERS TEACHING TEACHERS

The projects and activities grew out of the plans made by the teachers as they worked in teams and found their inspiration from the children.

As a part of their professional development teachers presented, and displayed preschool and infant/ toddler math curriculum activities that focused on math and science early learning concepts.

The Curriculum Fair is a special training model that celebrates teacher creativity, skill and expertise.

Teachers took a “Walk About, Talk About” through the numerous displays to collect new ideas and learn from their peers.

Topics displayed were related to math and science and included titles such as:

• Me and My Shadow

• Caps for Sale

• Number Rocks

• Speed and Gravity

• Balls in Action

• Fast Plants

• Science Inquiry with Sea Shells

• Form and Function of Threading

• Ramps, Rolls, and Roller Coasters

• Leaping Water Navigation System

Staff participants totaled 139 teachers including 99 Head Start/ Early Head Start teachers, 30 Children’s Center at Caltech teachers, and 10 State Child Development Center Base and Family Child Care providers.

Community visitors who attended the event included teachers, directors, and family child care providers from local preschool programs.

Plans are in place to hold the Curriculum Fair again next year with a continued focus on developing innovative education and instructional support to benefit the children.

Description of why and what I presented: By Sara Feiling, TeacherKidZKount, Loomis Early Head Start

“I am an infant/toddler teacher, this will be my 19th year in this field. We have heard of preschoolers documenting their daily activities in print but what about toddlers? They lack the skills to write the words needed for documentation. Can children under the age of three capture documentation of their own? The answer is yes, they can! With the proper tools such as cameras, they are able to document their learning in play, daily routines and interactions with peers.” -Sara

My Experience

“The curriculum fair was a great way for teachers to not only come together to share ideas but provide visual aids of how and why we provide these activities to children. Working together to help each other grow and help our children grow is part of why we teach. Teaching doesn't stop with children.” - Sara

“We Can’t See the Wind, but We Can Feel it”

The teachers described how their ideas grew from the interests of the children. They explained the processes of the science investigations and displayed evidence of the children’s work which demonstrated the learning outcomes.

“Beginning: We started out by asking the children what they knew about the wind?Our first step was for the children to go outside and feel the wind.

What do you know about the wind?How fast is it moving?”

-Adriana Marmolejo, Pacific Clinics Head Start

Infant Toddler STEM Exploration

Appreciation From Administrators

Region 9 Head Start Association STEM Institute 2018

• Upcoming Science and Math Curriculum Fair

• Location – To be announced

• Date – Spring 2018