Save the Date(s)!

New for 2025 - TWO Days of the PSI!
10am-4pm ET each day

Choose one or both:
  • Day 1 - Thurs, July 10, 2025. STEM and Literacy
  • Day 2 - Fri, July 11, 2025. STEM and Art


Registration page, grant applications, and more details coming soon!
​The Preschool STEM Institute is an interactive, virtual professional learning experience for anyone who supports preschool educators. The content of the training focuses on supporting S.T.E. & M. and integrated STEM teaching and learning for 3-to-5-year-olds.

Why Register?
  • Explore what is S.T.E.M. and integrated STEM in preschool
  • Connect with other preschool teachers, coaches, master teachers, directors, teacher educators from across the United States and beyond
  • Receive materials, books, links, and more to support your preschool teachers
  • Have fun!

Included in Fee
  • Entry into full-day, virtual Preschool STEM Institute
  • Access to slides for modules
  • Materials, articles, and resources Kit
  • ​Follow up sessions with facilitators during following school year

That's a Wrap!

2024 PSI a Success!

Community Connections & Preschool STEM
July 12, 2024

Meet Our PSI 2024 Co-Facilitators

Haley Worthington 

Early Childhood Coordinator at Discovery Center at Murfree Springs
Co-facilitating our Science module

Helen Orimaye

Susan Jagger

Associate Professor in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University 
Co-facilitating our Technology module

Autumn Shaffer

Wes Kincheloe 

Outdoor Educator at Seedkeepers Forest School
Co-facilitating our Engineering module 

Amie Perry & Alissa Lange 
Doctoral Candidate in Early Childhood Education at East Tennessee State University
Co-facilitating our Math module
Early Childhood Content & Training Developer at the University of Virginia
Co-facilitating our Integration module
EC STEM Lab's Leadership Team 
Your STEM-loving hosts across the day

Want More Before July 2025?
"I loved everything about today!"

"I dreamed up a bunch of new ideas to teach in my classroom."
-2024 attendee comments


"The positive attitudes and friendliness of the facilitators made the Institute a fun experience! Also, having the resources for some hands-on activities sent to me ahead of time was much appreciated!"

"Thank you so much! It was very engaging and I learned a great deal to take back to my classroom! The kit and books were very helpful!"
- 2023 attendee comments




"We have been given a wealth of resources that I can learn more from and use, as well as share with educators."


"I appreciate the intentional link between the summer Institute and the upcoming STEM Workshops [more here] through the year. I'm already looking forward to reconnecting with this group..."
- 2022 attendee comments


"Thank you so much! I really enjoyed the Institute!"
- 2021 attendee

Details

The Preschool STEM Institute is led by the EC STEM Lab team.

Goals
  • Learn definitions, importance, and power of S.T.E.M. and integrated STEM in preschool
  • Explore strategies to support science and STEM learning in preschool
  • Connect with colleagues across the country and book authors
  • Leave with new ideas to support developmentally appropriate, inspiring early science and STEM learning experiences with teachers

JOIN US
  • 1-day virtual professional learning experience
  • For coaches, master teachers, directors, and anyone else responsible for supporting preschool educators
  • Focused on STEM teaching and learning for 3-to-5-year-olds
  • Hands-on, minds-on interactive style

WHY ATTEND?
  • Learn about big ideas in preschool STEM with
    • EC STEM Lab experts
    • Led by author of the Preschool STEM book
    • Teacher educators from across the region, country, & beyond
  • Dive into research-based STEM activities to support your teachers
  • Take training materials back to your center, school, program, or district
  • Get professional development hours approved by TrainTN
  • Get CEUs (.6) available from ETSU for additional $25 fee (optional)
  • Experience professional learning supports that build on our work  funded by the National Science Foundation​
​
​GRANTS 
  • Limited number of grants will be available
  • Check in next year for grant opportunities for 2024


​INCLUDED IN FEE
  • $150/per person
  • Entry into full-day Preschool STEM Institute (virtual)
  • For all Modules
    • Materials, articles, and resources to share with teachers
    • PowerPoints
    • STEM materials
    • Children's books
    • Padlet site especially for attendees with downloads
    • ​Book: Teaching STEM in the Preschool Classroom: Big Ideas for 3-to-5-Year-Olds book, by Lange, Brenneman, & Mano 
  • 1-2 virtual training/coaching sessions with presenters during following school year​

Thanks to our Funders and Supporters!

Explore Big Ideas in Preschool STEM with Colleagues

That's a Wrap!
Past PSI Events

2023 Institute

Together, we
  • provided an overview of what is S.T.E.M. and integrated STEM in preschool
  • emphasized the "S" in STEM
  • connected the content to the theme of space science

By the Numbers
  • 41 educators attended
  • 18 states represented
  • 1,200 preschool teachers to be reached

2022 Institute

Connect, Learn, Laugh
​​
And we did connect, learn, and laugh together on the topic of integrating social emotional learning (SEL) and STEM.
  • 43 attendees
  • 16 states 
  • 1,000 preschool teachers to be reached

The PSI is linked to our Preschool STEM Workshop series as well, which is free to all. Learn more.

Join us next year to be a part of the next professional learning adventure!

2021 Institute

Our ​1st Annual Preschool STEM Institute 2021 was a success! ​

​On Friday, July 9th, 2021 from 9am-4pm eastern time, we explored "STEM in the Garden: Supporting Preschool Teachers to Incorporate STEM Throughout the Day"
  • 35 educators
  • 12 states, 3 countries
  • 600 preschool teachers to be reached

Thanks!
  • NSTA provided free copies of Science and Children 
  • Childcare Exchange provided free Exchange professional development resources
  • This work was funded (in part) by a grant from the East Tennessee State University Research Development Committee Small Grants Program.
​
Science journals!
​
Putting her engineered trellis to use!
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