Literacy and STEM Collide in Cullman City Schools
CULLMAN, Ala. — It’s dinosaur time in Cullman elementary schools, with a recent project blending literacy, retention, science and STEM helping students learn about dinosaurs while also working on their reading and hands-on learning skills.
Third grade students at East Elementary recently explored the world of dinosaurs by moving through different stations featuring nonfiction passages. At each poster, they scanned a QR code to reveal new facts and information about dinosaurs. Working in groups, students read the passages together, discussed what they learned, and answered comprehension questions to deepen their understanding.
Projects like this strengthen nonfiction reading skills by locating key details, main ideas, and text features; organically build background knowledge about dinosaurs through informational texts; practice collaboration and discussion while working in groups; use technology for research; and connect literacy skills to STEM and science.
“This lesson blended reading with science by using nonfiction passages about dinosaurs,” Jennifer Tidwell, the East and West STEM teacher, explained. “Students practiced literacy skills—reading, comprehending, summarizing, and answering questions—while also learning scientific content. By integrating reading into STEM, students not only built stronger literacy skills but also applied them in a real-world science context, showing how reading and STEM go hand in hand.”
Now that they’ve learned about dinosaurs, students will get a chance to literally put some together next with Imagination Playground Dinosaur Building Kits, where they can serve as both paleontologist and engineer.
“This hands-on experience allows students to connect literacy and science content with engineering and design, bringing their learning to life,” Tidwell said. “Working in groups encouraged lively discussion, and students were eager to share what they learned with one another. They were motivated to read the nonfiction passages because the technology and movement made the learning experience more hands-on and enjoyable.”
