STEM

=STEM: PK-12=

Where do school libraries fit in with STEM?
School librarians should collaborate with teachers to teach science literacy and data literacy. The school library has many resources and the school librarian has training to support teachers in these areas.

The school librarian has knowledge about science that makes it easy for him or her to step up and begin the collaboration process. For example, the school librarian can take advantage of the following and integrate it with the resources in the school library: (Shout out to Joshua Greenberg and Marcia Mardis at WebWise 2011 for their presentations that provided the following.)
 * Science is about something we do not have the language to describe yet. It is a mystery.
 * Science is a process for creating knowledge.
 * Science demands evidence. Evidence changes science. The cycle continues.
 * Science is storytelling: It is a blending of logic and creativity.
 * Science explains.
 * Science predicts.
 * Science identifies.
 * Science avoids bias.
 * Science is complex.
 * Science is social.
 * Science creates awareness.

Need a Place to Go? Try These...
Thanks to all for their open collaboration, most of these sites have been added to my bookmarks because others have contributed their knowledge and use of them. If you have a site that you would like to see added and shared here, please let me know (haw001@shsu.edu) and I will include it in this list. TIA.
 * My Diigo STEM Bookmarks**: @http://www.diigo.com/list/weimar/stem


 * Search Engines to Try:**
 * **Infotopia []** A Google custom search engine that indexes sites recommended by teachers, librarians and others who work in education and library science. Maintained by Carole Bell and Dr. Michael Bell. Categories include STEM. Developed for elementary and middle school libraries.
 * **Virtual LRC []** A Google custom search engine that indexes sites recommended by teachers, librarians and others who work in education and library science. Maintained by Carole Bell and Dr. Michael Bell. Categories include STEM. Developed for secondary school libraries.

Chris Wildrick offers unique opportunities to participate in his projects.When I heard Chris speak at WebWise 2011, he shared pictures and audio that were created by students and adults related to dinosaurs, such as how they might look (art drawings), how they might sound (audio for a particular dinosaur), and what high school social category a particular dinosaur might be placed in from jock to jerk (chart ratings for categories/classifications for each dinosaur). As of this writing, one of his newest projects at the web site is "The Best Tree in the World: Center for the Collection and Promotion of All Wondrous and Odd Tree and Tree-Related Things." For this project, he requests input from readers that includes information, images, and ideas. Sources related to tress are also included such as links to other sites and titles of books.
 * Chris Wildrick: Nonstatic, Nonmaterial, & Nonunique Art** http://www.chriswildrick.com/

This online museum site offers explorations of astronomy and space, culture, earth, everyday science, human body, listening, living things, material world, mind, and seeing.
 * Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception** @http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Includes engineering, environmental science, forces of nature, innovation, military, physical science, science dictionary, science v. myth, space, and transportation. Each has featured articles and additional links to extend the information provided.
 * How Stuff Works: Science** http://science.howstuffworks.com/

Includes links For Educators, Ask a Scientist, For Curious Kids, and more. Colorful and attractive through the use of photography, this site is inviting.
 * Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Cool Science** @http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/

Features the earth, heliophysics, planets, and astrophysics. Current information about NASA is available here along with other pertinent information related to the government program.
 * National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA)** http://science.nasa.gov/

From the magazine //Popular Science//, this site provides video and links to information related to popular topics related to science and technology.
 * Popular Science: The Future Now** @http://www.popsci.com/science

From site: "The more we understand about science and its complexities, the more important it is for scientific data to be shared openly. It’s not useful to have ten different labs doing the same research and not sharing their results; likewise, we’re much more likely to be able to pinpoint diseases if we have genomic data from a large pool of individuals. Since 2004, we’ve been focusing our efforts to expand the use of Creative Commons licenses to scientific and technical research." Links to the Public Library of Science, BioMed Central, MIT Libraries, and more.
 * Science @ Creative Commons** https://creativecommons.org/science

Features science fair project ideas, student resources, teacher and parent resources, and more!
 * Science Buddies: Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers & Tools** []

Current news concerning topics related to science. A link for younger readers, Science for Kids, is provided on the home page.
 * Science News: Magazine of the Society for Science & the Public** @http://www.sciencenews.org/

From site: "Science.gov searches over 45 databases and over 2000 selected websites from **14 federal agencies**, offering 200 million pages of [|authoritative U.S. government science information] including research and development results."
 * Science.gov: USA.gov for Science** @http://www.science.gov/

Features experiments, field trips, and adventures, as well as information for parents, teachers, and scientists/engineers. The site is well worth the effort of digging into it.
 * Tryscience.org: Science, Museums, Science Fair Project Ideas, and Science Education** []

The library provides links to sites in table form making it easy to scan for desired results. Updated and kept current.
 * Virtual Library: Natural Sciences and Mathematics** @http://vlib.org/Science

Example of Using a Video to Brainstorm Questions with Younger Children (Older Ones Too, If They Like Puppies!)
media type="youtube" key="cDDbNV9KpZg" height="390" width="640" Puppy Can't Roll Back Over video is from Deception1980 on YouTube @ []

The video is of a puppy rolling back and forth over and over again. What questions might be brainstormed concerning this video, other than the obvious question of why is the puppy having trouble rolling over? HINT: Does anyone notice the roll of skin that appears underneath the puppy in the middle of his back? Could this have something to do with it? HINT: Has anyone mentioned the floor's surface? I am sure that students will be able to think of much more.