STEM education is becoming more common in schools and provides a range of exciting real-world contexts in which students can engage. However, a gap in most approaches to STEM remains the collection and use of data that can be used concurrently to develop statistical literacy and science literacy. This paper describes a STEM activity carried out with Year 5 students. The context originated in science and asked students to collect data to find the answer to a question, then present and interpret their data using TinkerPlots software. Elements of the same activity were also carried out by 4th-year Bachelor of Education (primary) pre-service teachers (PSTs) as part of a unit in science education. The activity provided the opportunity for the PSTs to experience an authentic STEM activity that had been conducted with primary students.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	primary, STEM, practice of statistics, science education, sustainability curriculum
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Curriculum and pedagogy
Research Field:	Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
Objective Division:	Education and Training
Objective Group:	Learner and learning
Objective Field:	Learner and learning not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Smith, C (Dr Caroline Smith)
UTAS Author:	Fitzallen, N (Dr Noleine Fitzallen)
UTAS Author:	Watson, J (Professor Jane Watson)
UTAS Author:	Wright, S (Mrs Suzie Wright)
ID Code:	131743
Year Published:	2019
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DP150100120)
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2019-04-03
Last Modified:	2020-05-12
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