STEM Advocacy Project Summary Supporting and increasing high quality, meaningful STEM (science, technology, engineering, and

math) education and experiences in early childhood is important. In order to do this we must create awareness and address teacher reservations, lack of confidence in their own knowledge, and not knowing how to include science in everyday early childhood experiences (National Association for the Education of Young Children [NAEYC], 2012). It is important to start quality STEM education in the early years when childrens interests, desires, and abilities are formed to address achievement gaps in these areas that begin before kindergarten and because early instruction in these areas improves later abilities (MacFarland & Krupicka, 2013). To address this we are setting up and presenting the ideal science center so teachers will gain knowledge related to science in early childhood education and why it is important and identify areas of growth that can be addressed in their classroom. Educators were able to explore the ideal science center and participate in several experiments using inexpensive supplies that can be done with young children and they left with resources that enabled them to seek out more information including presenters willing to come to their classroom for a reverse field trip and other information to aid in implementing science into their everyday curriculum. Participants will examine their honest view of science at the beginning of the presentation. By the end of the presentation, participants should be able to leave with a more positive view of what their science center should look like and ideas to take back into the classroom.

Resources Hamlin, M. & Wisneski, D. B. (2012). Supporting the scientific thinking and inquiry of toddlers and preschoolers through play. Young Child, May, 82-88.
http://www.naeyc.org/yc/article/supporting-scientific-thinking-and-inquiry

MacFarland, J. & Krupicka, R. (2013). Tomorrows science, technology, engineering and math workforce starts with early education. Ready Nation.
http://www.readynation.org/uploads/20130318_ReadyNationSTEMBrieflowresn oendnotes.pdf