Stem
& Steam
Part
2 – Books to Share
Yesterday
I talked about why STEAM & STEM education is important. I personally lean
towards STEAM because I feel the addition of art curriculum in necessary for a well-balanced
education and also to reach more kids that learn visually. Books of course play
a very important role in the education of all children no matter their age or
learning ability. Counting books for infants and toddlers introduce them to the
concept of numbers. One of my eldest daughter’s first words was “two”. She was just over a year old and she knew what
it meant to have two cookies. I could give her one and she‘d shake her head and
point to the cookie jar and say two. She was not happy until she had two. In
simple counting books often it is just a number on a page with pictures of that
many items. When looking at books like this don’t just say then number and say
6 snakes (or whatever is pictured). Count the snakes or you can do the math and
say 5 + 1 = 6. Make sure you demonstrate the concept of math, not just the words.
As
children grow older you can introduce stories that include math and science
lessons when they are written into the story so that the children are
entertained but also challenged with these new ideas. Here is one of my
favorites from Barefoot Books.
The Real Princess
A Mathemagical Tale
Practice your math skills while enjoying this quirky take on
"The Princess and the Pea." The King and Queen and their three sons
are on the search for a real princess, but it is only the Queen who knows the
secret. After the story, there is an opportunity for readers to test their
counting skills with fun number games. Book with CD edition includes story
read by actress Juliet Stevenson.
http://bit.ly/1WFQaB6
http://bit.ly/1WFQaB6
New this
Spring also from Barefoot Books is the Genius of Leonardo da Vinci. Many of us
think of him as a famous artist, but he was also an engineer and inventor that
was truly amazing for his time. If I had to choose one book for a STEAM
classroom, this would be it.
The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci
Meet Leonardo da
Vinci: artist, engineer, pacifist and inventor. Told through the eyes of da
Vinci’s young apprentice, this stunning book will fascinate youngsters — and
inspire everyone! Features original words and drawings from da Vinci’s
notebooks to spark curiosity about STEAM and offer a unique glimpse into this
boundary-busting thinker.
Ages 5 to 11 years
My Granny Went to Market is a very popular book as it is a
counting book but it is so much more. It teaches Geography, World Cultures, and
rhyming while on a journey around the world. This book is a great way to
introduce young children to other cultures and to teach them about how unique
yet similar we all are around this magnificent planet. Kids and adults alike
enjoy this book.
My Granny Went to Market
A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme
Fly away with Granny as she takes a magic carpet ride around the
world, collecting a steadily increasing number of souvenirs from each exotic
location! This rhyming story will take young readers on an adventure to
different countries while teaching them to count along the way.
I wanted to include the Barefoot Books World Atlas as it is a
priceless educational tool for young students. This is one that should be
included in every home library. This book is a great introduction to the world
around us. With its interactive pages children really enjoy discovering each
new country and continent.
Barefoot Books World Atlas
This is the atlas for twenty-first-century readers. It’s packed
with information about the way in which communities and cultures around the
world have been shaped by their local environments, and it looks at the ideas
and initiatives that are shaping the future.
Maps of regions and oceans bring faraway places to life, with illustrated geographic and architectural features, people, plants and wildlife, from oil fields to Buddhist monks to the Amazon rainforest. Also features a pull-out map, fold-out booklets and panels.
Maps of regions and oceans bring faraway places to life, with illustrated geographic and architectural features, people, plants and wildlife, from oil fields to Buddhist monks to the Amazon rainforest. Also features a pull-out map, fold-out booklets and panels.
This final book I enjoy as it makes a really nice bedtime story
and what a great way to send those kids off to dreamland than with visions of
stars, planets and our solar system to fuel their dreams.
Star Seeker
A Journey to Outer Space
Journey through the
night sky on a poetic trip that blends adventure, imagination and science to
teach the basics of our solar system. Includes endnotes about the planets,
stars, moons, constellations and even a little mythology.
Ages 5 to 7 years
This book is currently out of stock until August 2016.
These are just a few recommendations that I currently have and I
will add more as I explore and find books that I know I’d love to read. I love
when I can sit and share a story with a child that entertains and yet also
teaches them about the world of science, math, and more often without them even
realizing it. These books are perfect for the classroom, homeschool, library or
just to read with your child. If you have any questions please comment below
and I will get back to you.
Please feel free to share this blog with your friends and
family, I want to inspire everyone with a child in their life to read to them
and with them.
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