Early and consistent exposure to STEM curriculum is key to student comfortability and success in science, technology, engineering, and math subjects. It is essential that students’ in-classroom STEM learning continues even when their teacher is out and not able to facilitate lesson plans.
Substitute teachers play a major role in a student’s education. They can help students progress in their learning journey, have a new unique perspective on lessons, and find a new mentor to look up to. In this article, we provide a variety of STEM lesson plans that can be easily implemented by substitute teachers looking to engage students in lesson plans that will help improve STEM literacy.
Substitute teachers have a unique challenge when creating a curriculum. Most, if not all, of their lesson plans need to be compact and able to be completed during their short time with the students. That means substitute teachers are tasked with finding engaging STEM lessons that get students excited about learning and can be completed in one or so days.
Below is a list of quick-start STEM activities for substitute teachers:
It can be extremely effective and efficient for substitute teachers to have access to turnkey resource kits that allow them to easily implement STEM learning with their students. By having all of the required curriculum and materials, substitute educators can quickly add STEM learning to the daily lesson plan to get students engaged in quality STEM education.
Below are some options for STEM resource kits for substitute teachers:
There are digital tools and resources that substitute teachers can leverage when looking at different STEM learning opportunities to implement with students. Assuming students have access to technology in the classroom, apps and other online websites can get students engaged in STEM learning with little materials required.
Here are some resources for you to bookmark for your next substitute teaching experience:
Many students see substitute teacher days as free classroom days where there will not be any new lessons. This is a common misconception and something we need to debunk! Here are tips for substitute teachers to effectively manage their classroom and ensure students are in the headspace to engage in lessons and learn new things.
There are things school administrators and educators can do to create a substitute teacher-friendly environment. Through preparation and the compilation of relevant classroom materials, educators can set their substitute teachers up for success. For example, educators can provide background information on students, highlighting their skill sets and areas where they need more assistance. It can also be helpful for substitute teachers to know which Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) students are focused on, as it will help them choose which STEM lesson to implement in the teacher’s absence.
Substitute teachers should feel empowered to implement STEM curricula with students and help them improve their STEM literacy. These educators play a key role in a child’s education and can help prepare students to enter the STEM workforce in the future.
If you are a substitute teacher looking for STEM lessons to implement with K-8 students in the classroom or afterschool programs, click here to learn more about STEM Sport® current curricula offerings.
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