Planning for STEAM Lessons: 5E, Differentiation, and Learning Theories

Planning for STEAM Lessons: 5E, Differentiation, and Learning Theories

The 5E learning cycle is an instructional model based on the Constructivist and Constructionist theoretical approaches to learning. Constructivism identifies that learners build or construct new ideas on top of their old ideas by interacting with the world, ideas, and others (Ackermann, 2012; Piaget, 1954; Polin, 2018; Tucker, 2021).

Through Constructionism, learning is not only transmitted (Piaget, 1954;Polin, 2018) but reconstructed by the learner in activity – specifically the active construction of a meaningful product (Papert, 1987; Papert & Harel, 1991). Through the reconstructing process, both the Constructivist and Constructionist learning theory are especially relevant to STEAM learning (Papert, 1987; Wiggins, 2015).

The 5E approach to lesson planning, developed by Rodger Bybee in 1987, allows learners to interact with and experience ideas to build their knowledge of phenomena (International Science Teaching Foundation, 2024; Tucker, 2020; Zusy, 2025).

What is your Prior Knowledge of the 5E model, either as an Instructional Framework or a Lesson Planning approach?

                                                                        References

Ackermann, E. (2012). Construction and transference of meaning through form. In Constructivism in education (pp. 341-354). Routledge.

International Science Teaching Foundation, (2024). The Cognitive Principles of Learning Underlying the 5E Model of Instruction. https://science-teaching.org/research/the-cognitive-principles-of-learning-underlying-the-5e-model-of-instruction

Papert, S. A. (1987). Constructionism: A new opportunity for elementary science education. NSF Award Number 8751190. Directorate for STEM Education, 87(8751190), 51190.

Papert, S., & Harel, I. (1991). Situating Constructionism. Constructionism, 36(2), 1-11. http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html.

Piaget, J. (1954). The Construction of Reality in the Child. Ballantine Books.

Polin, L. G. (2018). A constructivist perspective on games in education. In Constructivist education in an age of accountability (pp. 163-188). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Tucker, C. (2020). Tips for designing an online learning experience using the 5E instructional model. https://catlintucker.com/2020/03/designing-an-online-lesson/

Tucker, C. (2021). Universally Designed Blended Learning. https://catlintucker.com/2021/05/universally-designed-blended-learning/

Wiggins, J. (2015). Constructivism, policy, and arts education. Arts Education Policy Review, 116(3), 115-117.

Zusy, S. (2025). The 5E Model: 5 steps to motivate student learning. Gale Publishing Blog. https://blog.gale.com/the-5e-model-5-steps-to-motivate-student-learning/