Weiss Analysis of STEAM Levels of Integration by Clara E. Weiss

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 14:58:34 UTC

Adding to the list of STEAM resources from EDUG 681, students will curate lessons that showcase multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary STEAM teaching. Lessons can be pulled from professional organizations and other vetted-sites and should be one students can imagine implementing in their own classrooms.

Students should select 10 lessons and describe each in a 5-7 sentence paragraph how and why it is either 1) multidisciplinary, 2) interdisciplinary, or 3) transdisciplinary teaching. Students should be prepared to justify their thinking and share resources with peers. Lessons can be reposted from an existing Padlet from EDUG 681 or on a newly created Padlet. The Padlet link should be submitted on Moodle by the due date listed on the syllabus.

1. Digging for Knowledge

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:04:01 UTC

This lesson is an example of interdisciplinary teaching because it blends science, technology, and mathematics in a unified learning experience rather than treating them as separate subjects. Students practice scientific inquiry through the archaeological dig simulation, applying problem-solving and analytical skills to interpret artifacts. Technology plays a role as they engage with media resources and consider how modern tools aid archaeologists, while mathematics is embedded in mapping quadrants and recording artifact placement with accuracy. The disciplines connect naturally under the larger theme of archaeology, allowing students to see how different fields inform and strengthen another in real-world problem solving. However, this is currently task-driven which is part of what prevents it from being transdisciplinary. This could easily be expanded to serve a purpose and teach empathy through discussions of the ethics of archaeology. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary approach makes the lesson more engaging, bridging content areas through meaningful applications.

2. Tessellations

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:16:16 UTC

This tessellation lesson is an example of multidisciplinary teaching because it brings together math, art, and technology, but the subjects remain connected side by side rather than being fully integrated. Students apply mathematical concepts as they recognize and create repeating geometric patterns, while simultaneously engaging in artistic design through color, shape, and creative expression. Technology is woven in as students experiment with tessellation apps, learning how digital tools can expand artistic and mathematical possibilities. Each discipline maintains its own focus, math builds precision, art fosters creativity, and technology provides new modes of exploration, but together they can create a richer, more engaging learning experience. This multidisciplinary structure encourages students to see how different fields can work in parallel to enhance both understanding and expression.

3. Build a Better Birdhouse

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:18:30 UTC

This birdhouse lesson is an example of transdisciplinary teaching because it asks students to move beyond subject boundaries and apply their knowledge in a real-world, problem-solving context. Rather than treating math and engineering as separate areas, students integrate measurement, design, and construction into one meaningful project with an authentic purpose: building a functional bird feeder or structure. The design process requires mathematical precision with measurement and scaling while simultaneously demanding engineering creativity in selecting materials, testing stability, and refining solutions. Students are not just practicing isolated skills but engaging in the authentic work of engineers, connecting classroom learning to practical applications outside of school. This transdisciplinary approach emphasizes the relevance of STEAM in daily life and empowers students to see themselves as capable designers and problem-solvers.

4. Geometric and Organic Shapes

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:21:56 UTC

This lesson shows multidisciplinary teaching by having students explore mathematics, art, and technology through complementary but distinct activities. Students identify and classify geometric and organic shapes, deepening their mathematical understanding of form and structure. At the same time, they express these concepts visually by creating art projects that highlight shape differences and encourage creative interpretation. The use of technology, whether through drawing software, digital sorting tools, or interactive platforms, enhances engagement and provides new ways for exploring shape concepts. While each discipline maintains its own focus, together they enrich the learning experience, making it more dynamic and accessible. By maintaining clear connections among subjects, this multidisciplinary approach helps students make meaningful associations across STEAM domains.

5. It's All About the Chair

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:25:36 UTC

This lesson embodies interdisciplinary teaching by bringing together engineering and art. Students engage with the design process, making purposeful choices about form, function, and aesthetics as they plan and construct a pop-up book. They use engineering thinking through structural planning and artistic skills through visual design. Rather than each subject standing alone, they have a shared goal, designing a chair that is both visually engaging and functionally compelling. This integrated approach mirrors real-world design challenges, where designers must use multiple disciplines simultaneously to create a useful and beautiful product.

6. What Role Does Mathematics Play in Real Life?

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:32:07 UTC

This lesson illustrates multidisciplinary teaching by combining mathematics, language arts, technology, and art in complementary but distinct activities. Students investigate how professionals, from baseball players to pipefitters, use math in practical, real-world ways. They then engage with peers to create a commercial, including props and visuals, that reflects these applications of math and promote math in the real world. The disciplines align side by side. Each area showcases itself, yet they are separate in this lesson plan. They maintain a clear connection across domains without blending them fully, which leads to a multidisciplinary approach.

7. A Flower for Every Pollinator

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:38:53 UTC

This lesson is an example of interdisciplinary teaching because it combines science, art, engineering, and language arts into a cohesive learning experience centered on the theme of pollination. Students engage in scientific observation by studying the structures of flowers and the behaviors of pollinators, applying biological knowledge to inform their designs. They then use artistic and engineering skills to sketch, construct, and refine their own flower models, experimenting with shape, size, and color to meet the needs of multiple pollinators. The lesson extends further by inviting students into creative storytelling, where they describe their new species of plant and imagine its discovery and habitat. In this way, disciplines naturally intersect and reinforce one another, helping students understand both the science of pollination and the creativity involved in designing solutions.

8. Braille Alphabet

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:43:33 UTC

This lesson is an example of interdisciplinary teaching because it integrates concepts and skills from multiple subject areas to help students explore a real-world problem, how people who cannot see printed letters can read. Students engage with science and engineering by understanding the tactile mechanics of braille and creating a 3D tactile alphabet using glue and paper. They practice mathematics and pattern recognition when learning to identify dot configurations and arrange letters in order. Art and design come into play as they construct their braille sheets with attention to layout and touch accessibility. At the same time, students develop empathy and social awareness through learning about the experiences of visually impaired individuals, linking human-centered thinking to their hands-on project. This integration encourages students to make connections across disciplines rather than learning each subject in isolation, demonstrating how STEAM can address both technical skills and human experiences simultaneously. This could easily be turned into a transdisciplinary lesson with the development of a problem to solve, maybe finding a place in your community that doesn't have braille or one that has faded over time.

9. Casting Seeds to the Wind

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 15:50:02 UTC

This lesson exemplifies interdisciplinary teaching because it connects science, engineering, math, and design in a hands-on exploration of seed dispersal. Students apply scientific concepts by learning how seed structures influence falling speed and wind travel, while engineering and design thinking are used to create and test prototypes that mimic these natural adaptations. Mathematics is integrated as students measure fall time, calculate distances, and determine averages, fostering data analysis skills. Art and creativity are involved in designing prototypes that vary in shape, material, and function, encouraging experimentation and problem-solving. Students also develop a deeper understanding of biology and ecology by connecting their experiments to the survival strategies of plants. By combining observation, measurement, and design, the activity allows learners to see the real-world applications of multiple disciplines at once.

10. Ikezasso

cweiss2_1 — 2025-09-08 16:07:40 UTC

This lesson showcases interdisciplinary teaching by integrating science, art, and environmental studies to explore plant characteristics and classification. Students engage in hands-on activities, such as creating Ikebana-style floral arrangements using weeds, which encourages them to observe and classify plant structures. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of plant biology and taxonomy. By incorporating artistic expression through floral arrangement, students develop creativity and fine motor skills. The lesson also emphasizes environmental awareness, as students work with local plant materials, promoting a connection to their natural surroundings.