The June 2015 online issue of Educational Leadership explores the theme “Improving Schools from Within.” The magazine invited educators to share stories of schools that changed for the better—and how they did it. 

Emily Hardee, a North Carolina STEM coordinator, tells the story of a Raleigh elementary school that transformed itself from one of the lowest performing schools in the district into a STEM school that’s a model for the state. We’re gratified to know that the Engineering is Elementary curriculum played a part in the change.

When the Engineering is Elementary curriculum was first being developed, one skeptic told EiE director Christine Cunningham, “You’re crazy. It’s impossible to teach engineering to elementary students!” Today, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have made K - 5 engineering mainstream. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is thinking about even younger engineers.

The President has made early childhood education a priority, including—at the urging of the National Science Board—early STEM education. But what does “quality Pre-K - K STEM education” look like? And how do you help teachers expand early STEM education nationwide? EiE’s director, Christine Cunningham, is one of 14 educators pondering such questions as part of the Early Childhood STEM Working Group, meeting this week in Chicago. 

Engineering is Elementary has a large online library of Classroom Videos—nearly 200 in all.

These ~10-minute videos are intended to be a resource for elementary teachers who use the EiE curriculum. But they’re also a useful resource for college educators who work with preservice teachers.

Elementary teachers have to be ready to teach lots of different subjects, including science and (with the growing influence of the Next Generation Science Standards) engineering. 

But most preservice elementary teachers take only a few science courses—and rarely any engineering. “Many students come to me with what I call ‘science baggage,’” says Leanne Avery, a science education professor at the State University of New York College at Oneonta. “They’re fearful of science. And if you mention engineering, they’re ready to run out the door!”

This post by Natacha Meyer and Tania Tauer was first published in Education Week on April 24, 2015. The authors are senior curriculum develpers with Engineering is Elementary.

Today's unprecedented push to train students in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) has been primarily motivated by the need to produce a workforce capable of addressing the 21st century's global challenges. Research suggests that engaging middle school-aged youth in interactive STEM activities does more than just prepare them for STEM careers. Hands-on, open-ended engineering challenges provide youth with a fun and meaningful way to develop the 21st century skills that are critical to competency in today's interconnected global community.

Here are the top four 21st century skills you can promote in youth by facilitating engineering activities in your out-of-school time program.