[[{“value”:” Task Cards Can Be Used a Variety of Ways Task cards have become a staple in the elementary classroom. They are so versatile for reinforcing learning; if you haven’t tried them yet, I highly recommend them. They reusable year after year, so after you prep them once you are good to go storing them for the next year. 1….
[[{“value”:” 5 Ways to Celebrate Before Winter Break that DON’T Include Christmas While I grew up celebrating Christmas both at home and in school, I also went to a Catholic school where almost everyone was also celebrating Christmas (and kids were there by parental choice). If you have a situation where every one of your students celebrates Christmas, or you…
[[{“value”:” Why You Should Photograph STEM Prototypes 1. They Work HARD on Their STEM Projects If you have ever tried a STEM challenge with your kids, you know that they are proud of their hard work (and rightly so). Sometimes, though, due to size, construction, or materials, a completed prototype just can’t stay assembled. You will no doubt hear, “But…
[[{“value”:” Christmas STEM Activities for Kids Ho, ho, ho! Try out these Christmas STEM activities this holiday season to keep students engaged all the way until holiday break. I have created twelve fun AND differentiated STEM and STEAM activities that range from simple towers to moving conveyors! Get started with Christmas STEM Jump right in with peppermint candy and have…
[[{“value”:” International Dot Day Activities The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, has turned into more than just a read aloud about overcoming frustrations and encouraging others. It’s an entire movement now! For any child who feels as if they are “not enough,” this story will hit home. Two quotes that came to mind when reading this book: “The best way…
[[{“value”:” Makerspace Name Ideas You have the space, you have the gear, now for the name! There are a lot of great name ideas out there, so I have compiled a list of some you may like, as well as a makerspace name generator of sorts! Unique Makerspace Names These names may combine words, utilize a play on words, or…
[[{“value”:” Practicing Blends with a Fun Game Who doesn’t love a fun game? My favorite way to engage learners of all ages is through play, and this game is fun for kids and adults alike! Over the years I have developed a number of these games, and now there is a set of pair stare games for blends! If you…
[[{“value”:” Fairy Tale STEM Activity for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Can you help Dorothy and the Munchkins use the bricks to rebuild a home for the Munchkins, since their homes are in disrepair? Materials Needed for this STEM Fairy Tale Activity bricks, blocks, dominoes, etc. that represent the yellow brick road. You can change the color to suit the…
[[{“value”:” Demystifying STEM with SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Let’s face it: sometimes, getting kids into STEM is hard. You can preach the gospel of science, technology, engineering, and math all day long, but if a kid feels like their creativity and imagination are being stifled by rules and numbers, “STEM” can quickly turn into “STOP.” SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids was…
[[{“value”:” Professional Development for STEM and STEAM Teachers There are increasingly more PD opportunities for STEM and STEAM educators, ranging from online courses and webinars to conferences or hands-on workshops. This is a list to get you started, which I will be updating as more opportunities are added. Please feel free to comment with any of your own recommendations so…