Abstract:

STEM, which improves students' academic achievement as well as 21st century skills such as analytical and creative thinking, problem solving, and collaborative working skills, provides a link between school, workplace, society and the global economy. In the STEM approach, students are expected to solve real-world problems by using science, technology, mathematics and engineering in an integrated manner. Although the STEM approach is included in the education system of many countries, it is known that there are still problems in its implementations. The purpose of this study is to develop an exemplary STEM lesson plan that will shed light on teachers who will apply the STEM approach in their classrooms. The 5E learning cycle model was used in the plan developed for the study. In the 5E learning cycle model, which consists of five steps: engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate, the most appropriate step for the STEM scenario is the elaborate step. Because the elaborate step is the step that the information learned in the previous stages will be used in solving the new problem. In this step, a scenario involving a real-world problem is given. In STEM practice, real-world scenarios, which can be difficult for teachers to prepare, should be used to encourage students and realize meaningful learning. While preparing the scenario, criteria and limitations must be included. It should be payed attention to ensure that there is not only one solution to the problem. The STEM scenario prepared for this study was developed with a focus on hydrostatic pressure in the 1st unit of science course for middle school 8th grade students. The same scenario can be used and modified according to the level for preschool, primary, high school and university students at different levels. For example, at the high school level, it can be associated with gains in physics concepts such as balance, static, and tensile force. At the university level, it can be focused on a certain acquisition, or it can be left to their creativity to design bridges in very different structures.

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