Guidance for creating meaningful STEM lessons

STEM Lesson Guideposts presents a clear and actionable approach for teachers and leaders to follow in developing meaningful STEM lessons and units. This companion to the bestselling STEM Lesson Essentials is a practical guide for helping you on your journey of creating integrated, interdisciplinary STEM units.

Where do I begin with STEM?

Educators often ask, "Where do I begin?" when thinking about STEM learning. Inspired by this question, Jo Anne Vasquez, Michael Comer, and Joel Villegas developed the W.H.E.R.E. planning model--five interrelated guideposts that provide structure and guidance for conceiving, creating, and organizing STEM experiences. These key focus areas include:

• What and Why: What needs to be learned and why?
• How: How do I plan to meet this goal?
• Evidence and Evaluate: What evidence of learning will be used and how will I evaluate the final product?
• Rigor and Relevance: How will I provide opportunities that will lead to increased rigor and relevance?
• Excite, Engage, Explore: What activities will excite my students and engage them in the STEM practices?