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Book Drop: Creating a video series for early learners to engage in literacy, STEM, and careers!
STEM Tales is a 2.5 year research project focused on the creation of a new children’s media series (titled Book Drop) which focuses on STEM learning, literacy, and careers. OUTREACH: STEM Tales outreach is designed to engage children (ages 4-8) and families through in-person programming at 21 libraries across the nation. In each library program, families view one episode of Book Drop, learn about the career of the book reader, and engage in hands-on activities that focus on important STEM skills. Families are provided with a copy of the book and a family guide for continuing the STEM learning at home. BOOK DROP SERIES: Episodes feature the reading of a children’s book with a STEM focus, complemented by live-action children engaging in STEM activities, and an animated story featuring Kitty & Leo, who travel the Earth (and into space!) delivering books to real-life STEM professionals for story time. STEM professionals act as the storybook readers, and feature careers including astronauts, engineers, zoologists, and gardeners! RESEARCH: While research shows that in-person read-alouds are effective at teaching children literacy skills, little is known about how media read-alouds impact children’s literacy skills and academic knowledge, or if they motivate children to future careers. The STEM Tales research project investigates the effect of media read-alouds by diverse scientists and engineers on STEM and literacy in young children and their interest in careers.
Pillar 1: Innovative Use of Technologies in Learning and Teaching
Decades of research show that in-person read-alouds are effective at teaching literacy skills. The STEM Tales project aims to expand on this knowledge by using digital media read-alouds and conducting research on how watching a video of a read-aloud can help children learn specific academic concepts and processes, such as literacy development, science inquiry, or the engineering design process.
Pillar 2: Partnerships for Career and Workforce Preparation.
Children have stereotypical views about what STEM professionals do and know little about STEM careers. Media can have a powerful impact on children’s beliefs and perceptions, shaping and reinforcing stereotypes about STEM. Book Drop is designed to disrupt stereotypes by featuring diverse onscreen characters, readers, and near-peer role models doing the work that STEM professionals do. Book drop’s diverse cast can demonstrate an opportunity for child viewers to see themselves and their own potential in a STEM career.
Pillar 3: Strategies for Equity in STEM Education
All STEM Tales components are founded on DEI principles. The Book Drop media features kids, adult readers, and animated characters from diverse backgrounds. The chosen books feature a diverse cast of characters, and a diverse group of authors and illustrators. Outreach library locations were chosen based on their ability to serve communities underrepresented in STEM career fields. The librarian training and PD materials included explicit focus on strategies and practices to include underrepresented community members.
Discipline(s)
Interdisciplinary
Target Gradespan(s)
Early Childhood (PK)
Elementary school (K-5)
Target Participant(s)
Youth / students
Educators
Parents / caregivers / families
Project Setting(s)
Informal Education