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    Calling All Superheroes! Exploring STEM Careers

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    Subject: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

    Lesson Length: 30 - 40 mins

    Topic: STEM Careers

    Grade Level: 4, 5

    Standards / Framework:

    STEM learning goals

    Brief Description: Students will create a STEM superhero based on one of the components of STEM. Students will craft a scenario for their superhero based on their traits and area of expertise.

    Know Before You Start: Experience with STEM challenges and lessons is beneficial, but not necessary.

    Hook:

    • What do the letters of STEM stand for?
    • Have students use Post-It notes to jot them all down. When they’re finished, have them turn to a partner and compare their notes.

    Activity:

    • Discuss the subject areas that comprise STEM.

      • How is science important in our everyday lives?

      • How does technology make our lives easier?

      • What do engineers do?

      • How do you use math in your everyday life?

      • How can math be used when you are doing something creative?

    • Brainstorm a list problems involving each of the four STEM disciplines.

      • Help students think about how a superhero might be helpful in these situations.

      • Share the sample comic. Talk about which STEM subject the hero is focused on and how they solved the problem.

    • Have students will create a STEM superhero comic. Students should include:

      • Name (something creative, interesting, and related to their STEM subject).

      • Character traits based on their STEM subject.

      • The problem the superhero is facing.

      • How the problem was solved.

    Closure:

    • Have students will share their superhero comic with a partner.

    Differentiation:

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
    • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.

    • Provide sentence stems when answering questions, e.g., "Science is important because ___."

    • Allow students to work with a peer model.

    • Provide STEM Superhero examples from which to choose.

    Resources:

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