STEM and literature are not two subjects that seemingly go hand-in-hand, like science and math, or history and reading. Yet, STEM within literature is a beautiful combination of cross-curricular magic. At Obsessed with Learning, we believe that STEM within literature is a gateway for students to dive into the shoes of the characters and to experience authentic learning, all while exploring imagination, problem-solving, and discovery. Let’s dive more into how to integrate STEM into novel studies and literature units.
When a novel presents itself with opportunities for STEM projects, students can live out a character’s story and adventures, connect to their struggles and challenges, and dive deeply into comprehension in a way that just reading the words doesn’t do. Students can unlock critical thinking, a deeper connection, and creativity by exploring STEM within the stories they’re reading.
STEM Background
STEM education is an integrated approach to learning that emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world application. Instead of teaching these subjects in isolation, STEM connects them so students can explore how they work together. For example, students can use math and science to design a bridge (engineering) or apply technology to study ecosystems. In classrooms, STEM often looks like hands-on projects, experiments, and challenges where students build, test, design, and reflect.
In the 1980s-1990s, the U.S. began emphasizing math and science education in response to global competition and rapid advances in technology. Then, in 2001, the National Science Foundation (NSF) coined the acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Schools, policymakers, and educators embraced STEM to prepare students for careers in science, technology, and engineering fields.
STEM education has evolved over the years to become STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. It has also expanded to STREAM, which is Science, Technology, Reading (or Religion), Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
We love the idea of including literacy and creativity alongside STEM. Where STEM emphasizes problem-solving and innovation through science and math, STREAM reminds us that reading, writing, and the creative arts are just as important in developing critical thinkers and well-rounded learners.
How to Include STEM Within Literature?
How is it possible to even successfully merge STEM within literature, to create STREAM? If your goal is to incorporate STEM into your literature class, it’s first a matter of book choice.
We, at Obsessed with Learning, have created numerous project-based literature units that incorporate STEM or STREAM, and it all comes down to the plotline of the book. Does the book lend itself to various STEM opportunities? Books that have themes of adventure, the outdoors, nature, survival, technology, and science are wonderful choices to integrate STREAM. These types of books encourage hands-on projects: building models, testing experiments, coding, exploring ecosystems, or designing survival plans, all while deepening comprehension of the story.
Not only should you choose books with themes that lend themselves to STEM, but also look at problems within the story that can be solved through STEM. Look for books that have conflicts that can be solved through thinking, experimenting, and inventing.
Futuristic or dystopian books also present various STEM opportunities, especially through technology, such as The City of Ember or The Giver.
STREAM Novel Examples
The following are our favorite novels that contain awesome STREAM opportunities.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
- Build a Robot STEM Project
- Design Roz’s Lodge STEM Project
- Design the inside of Roz’s Lodge
- Design Your Own Winter Lodge
Grab the STEM projects in our full Project-Based Learning Literature for The Wild Robot that includes research, writing, and nature exploration!
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
- Create a Crystal Radio STEM Project
- Write a Whale Song using Technology
- Whale Art Project and Writing
Grab our full Project-Based Learning Literature Unit for Song for a Whale that includes the above STEM projects. (16 total projects and activities).
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- Build a Bush Plane Project
- River Adventure-Design a Raft
- Design a Hatchet Board Game
Grab our full Project-Based Learning Literature Unit for Hatchet that includes the above projects.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- Tree House Diorama
- Design Your Own Shelter
- Bando’s STEM Challenge: Create a Raft
- Bando’s STEM Challenge: Clay Jam Jars
Grab our full 15-Project/Activities My Side of the Mountain Literature Unit:
STREAM or STEM can also work really well with particular picture books. We especially love Owl Moon by Jane Yolen for this. Our Project-Based Learning Owl Moon Unit contains STEM projects in which students build an owl box and design and create an owl prosthetic.
Conclusion
Integrating STEM or STREAM into literature turns reading into a hands-on, creative experience. By choosing books with adventure, nature, technology, or problem-solving themes, students can explore characters’ challenges, design solutions, and apply science and math in meaningful ways.
Our project-based units, like The Wild Robot and My Side of the Mountain, make it easy to blend reading with STEM, arts, and critical thinking. When STEM meets storytelling, learning becomes an adventure that engages students and builds skills they carry beyond the classroom.
