February 3, 2017 Over the last few days we spent sometime going through the piles of tools saved in our archive and managed to select the ones that fit perfectly for STEAM (Science, Technology,... ..
Hey there,
Hi friends!
Add construction makerspaces to your library with these simple ideas I found on Pinterest!
Use materials from around the house to create a shape geoboard. This simple shape geoboard activity is great for STEAM. Encourage learn through play.
It is really so great to offer your students (or children) opportunities for STEM learning. Here are the best STEM teaching tools for your little learners.
Discover the possibilities Botley brings to your early coding curriculum. Aligned to CSTA standards, these printable classroom activities will help your little learners discover coding without any screens or apps. Just power on Botley, and you’re rea
Grab this FREE printable sign for your library centers and makerspaces. Show your stakeholders that your instruction is AASL standards-based!
Make a straw rocket with a free printable file! This STEM activity is for kids of all ages and they will love playing with their creation!
Hello everyone! I am back to write about my recently uploaded December STEAM Activities resource. The November STEAM Activities have been...
I teach at an International Baccalaureate school which follows a PYP program. We do a lot of inquiry and trans-disciplinary teaching. Here ...
6 simple STEM activities for little learners. Hands-on exploration for kids ages four to six.
ELLs need to have access to diverse books. Here is a collections of Diverse Books for ELLs. Come find some great books to share with your students.
Stop getting frustrated by projects that rely on specialty materials. Inspire your kids' curiosity with STEAM projects at home using common household items.
Schools with a strong school library program - and a certified school librarian - ensure their students have the best chance to succeed.
Welcome to All Things STEAM, a resource for offering library programming in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. When it comes to developing my STEAM programming, I have turned to a number of go-to resources that for inspiration and concept knowledge support. I've gathered links to those resources, my program how-tos, and other STEAM and maker resources for your convenience. I'm not updating this page very frequently anymore, but I still use it as a repository for my STEAM programs past and present as well as my favorite resources. Bookmark this page and get programming! My STEAM Programs Preschool Science Series: Strength and Materials with the Three Little Pigs Weather with Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain Color with White Rabbit's Color Book Body Science with Parts Water Science with Asch's Water Gravity Science with Cosmo Zooms Chemistry Science with Whopper Cake Science Skills: Observation with Pond Walk and In the Tall, Tall Grass Shadow Science with The Dark, Dark Night and What Makes a Shadow? Science Skills: Counting & Measuring with Pizza at Sally's Magnet Science with Stuck Excellent Explosions Science Club, Jr. Series: Exploring Colors Exploring Bubbles Exploring Gravity Exploring Water & Dissolving School-Age Science Series: Food Science Slime Science Sink or Float: Titanic Edition Airplane Science Volcano Science Speed Racer Science Bridge Science Parachute Science Egg Drop Science Boat Race Science Geyser Science Balloon Science The Science of Slimy Things Meteorites! Tools and the Brain Planet Hoppers STEAM Programs: Lego Club (a monthly program at our library), also recapped on the STAR_net Libraries blog Aliens Invade!, also recapped on The Library as Incubator Project Gingerbread House Workshop Angry Birds Shoe Box Cities Marble Run Mania Attack on the Fort! Playground Adventures Marshmallow Engineering Lost in Space! Art Market Camouflage! Computer Gaming with MaKey MaKey and Scratch Constellation Guidebooks Pop-Up STEAM Programs BristleBot Challenge Library Landmarks Highlights Map (teens) Vegetable (& Fruit) Prints Tabletop Coding Robot Dance Boot Camp Scratch Jr. Code Camp STEAM Story Time Crafts: Mini Marshmallow Shooters Painting with Forces STEAM Videos: Finger Puppets (textiles) Milk Planets (chemistry) All Ages: Stargazer Nights Family Science Expo Other STEAM Program Plans, Ideas, & Spaces Check out the School Library Journal STEAM Pinterest page, where I pin all sorts of STEAM programs for all ages from across the blogosphere. Explore the BOOMbox, Skokie Public Library's outstanding STEAM space that is flexible (i.e., changing themes) and involves hands-on learning for all ages. I've written about the take-home activity sheets I made for Preschool Science programs at my former job in Missouri. I've also answered some questions about the planning and implementation of Preschool Science programs. Other Libraries & Librarians Doing STEAM Preschool Programs: Erin of Falling Flannelboards's programs Kendra of Read Sing Play's "Explore!" Preschool STEAM Programs Kelsey of Library Bonanza's programs "Math Minute" and "Science Spot" at Deschutes (OR) Public Library "Math And Science Story Time" series from EC STEM Lab School-Age Programs: "Gizmos, Gadgets, and Goo (G3): The Mad Scientists Club" at Cheshire (CT) Public Library WisCode Literati, a collaborative project started through ILEAD-USA "Fairy Tale STEAM" for early elementary kids from Heather All Ages: Abby the Librarian's STEAM programs at New Albany-Floyd County (IN) Public Library Kim of Literary Commentary's programs "Library Makers" in Madison, WI S.M.Art Kids at Radnor Memorial Library (PA) Preschool STEAM Resources Bedtime Math Pre-K Science from PreKinders Science and Nature ideas from Teach Preschool The Science Explorer from Exploratorium Science Sparks School-Age STEAM Resources Curiosity Machine Easy Science for Kids Explorabox Explore from Exploratorium Family Engineering How to Smile: All the Best Science & Math Activities Make It @ Your Library Mixing in Math from TERC PLUM LANDING from PBS Kids Science Bob Science Buddies Science Experiments for Kids from Science Kids Science Sparks Steve Spangler Science TinkerLab Wonderopolis Resources for Explaining STEAM Concepts How Stuff Works The Story Behind the Science Understanding Science from UC Berkeley Why STEAM? "What is STEAM?" from STEM to STEAM "STEM to STEAM: Art in K-12 is Key to Building a Strong Economy" from Edutopia "From STEM to STEAM: Science and Art Go Hand-in-Hand" from Scientific American "STEAM: Experts Make Case for Adding Arts to STEM" from Education Week "Monet in Science Class?" from Scholastic Instructor "To Attract More Girls to STEM, Bring More Storytelling to Science" from Scientific American "Every Child is Born a Scientist" from NPR "What does STEM look like in preschool and what is STEM anyway?" from Teach Preschool "Why We Need the 'A' in STEM: Q&A with David Cole" from Graphite NSTA Position Statement: Each Childhood Science Education "Can Project-Based Learning Close Gaps in Science Education?" from KQED Why Maker Activities? "Why Kids Need to Tinker to Learn" from KQED "Can the Maker Movement Infiltrate Mainstream Classrooms?" from KQED "How Minecraft and Duct Tape Wallets Prepare Our Kids for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet" from EdSurge Updated 8/4/2019 SaveSave
Bring STEM to your classroom with this hand picked list of STEM Kindergarten Books! They are great for science in the classroom and nonfiction unit study.
For young children, learning activities help them develop early literacy skills, executive function abilities and early math knowledge. Below are resources to help you engage early learners at the library with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.These handouts
Hi friends!
Although I know it already, it never ceases to surprise me just how true it is. Learners of all ages need the opportunity to experiment ...
This hands-on bitmap coding activity explores algorithms and features a free bitmap art unplugged coding workbook for kids!
Coding with Kindergarteners. Three ways to code with our youngest learners.
This innovative infographic shows clearly how classroom design including classroom layout and ergonomic furniture affects student learning.
We are looking at the top 5 big trends in e-learning and education technology that can change the teaching-learning in 2016 and beyond. Below are some key ideas for online educators as well as for teach-preneurs in E-learning and educational technology. Discover how internet of things connected classroom, Open Educational Resources, Microlearning, MakerSpaces and Coding in Classroom will disrupt classrooms of 2016
"The concept was pretty straightforward, but the logistics were a bit complicated. We wanted to create four mobile maker space carts that could rotate among four middle school libraries in the Knox County School district of Knoxville, TN. It all started when our director of instructional technology, Theresa Nixon, encouraged us to apply for a TeacherPreneur Grant to fund a traveling maker space program. Our funding goal was approximately $50,000. Requesting this much money meant that we needed a an idea that dazzled. As we prepared the grant application, the librarians representing the middle schools (Farragut, Vine, Carter, and Karns) discussed rotating maker space carts that would dock in each library for nine weeks. We hoped to optimize accessibility to high-ticket items such as 3-D printers and keep our libraries dynamic with new projects."
I am sure by now you know that STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Now we are throwing something else in the mix... art. After all, isn't art centered around creative thinking? Adding art to all of these subjects creates a wonderful way for kids to learn even more. These must
Boost fluency and comprehension in young learners with this hands-on STEAM challenge!
Next time you read The Three Little Pigs, ask you child to make their own house out of straw ... well, rather, straws - drinking straws to be precise! This activity will really bring out your child's inner engineer. Supplies Plastic drinking straws (bendy ones work but others would be better) Chenille stems (aka pipe cleaners) Scissors Prep Cut several pipe cleaners into 2-3 inch long lengths. Design. Build. Play. Create. Challenge your child to build a house ... or anything really. By inserting half of a pipe cleaner in the end of one straw, bending it, and inserting another straw, you can start to make shapes, sculptures, and whatever your heart desires. Note: You can add multiple pipe cleaners into the end of one straw! Our six year old son, who loves to create paper sculptures and build with scrap wood, absolutely LOVED this. It was hard to tear him away at bed time, and I was told multiple times that we would continue to work on our house tomorrow. Who am I to argue?
Encourage your children to be independent and curious by having these playroom essentials in their uncluttered learning spaces. Less is more!
Let's explore a variety of tools (technology!) that help us to move air or at least focus the stream of air more effectively. Today's Topic: Air Movers (and the Bernoulli Principle!) Supplies: plastic drinking straws hair dryers (make sure they have a cool setting or at least a "cool shot" button that can be taped down) round, lightweight balls (ping-pong, styrofoam, even plastic eggs work in a pinch) a variety of things that can (and can't) be pushed around by air blown through a straw (we used pom-poms, rubberbands, toy cars, drink bottle caps, shapes cut out of foam sheets, bouncy balls, feathers, wooden blocks, buttons, packing peanuts) buckets (optional, but as you'll see later, they can be lots of fun!) Book: One winter's day / Butler, M. Christina What I thought they might do (or where I found inspiration): Can the wind move it? Discover the Bernoulli Principle with hair dryers What kids actually did: blow through the straw to see what items can be moved with air. Try stacking multiple things to see if they can be moved. This young scientist quickly realized that just pushing things with the end of the straw was a MUCH more effective way to ensure that the item in question actually moved. These experimenters had fun balancing the balls in the bottle caps... and then seeing if they could blow them across the table. Oh. My. Goodness. A bucket full of feathers MIGHT be the most fun thing to blow air into. Try it for yourself. I think you'll agree. Then there were the hair dryers... Styrofoam balls worked better than the eggs, but this explorer also tried out a bouncy ball (didn't work as well). And these explorers figured out that if you blow air at a ball inside a bucket, it will spin round and round and round the edges! This action was just too fun to limit to a still shot, so here's a short video: This young scientist wanted to combine the two stations and try blowing on her styrofoam ball. And THIS young scientist combined her knowledge from our Straw Flyers class two weeks ago and made a different kind of straw flyer. Love it! I also introduced them to my favorite new app, Inventioneers, because it actually includes a hair dryer! (click the link to read my review of the app.) Adult Challenge of the week: Don't tell your child their ideas are wrong. Allow them to try out their ideas and find out for themselves if the results are what they were expecting.... or not! Hindsight Tips: --I used styrofoam balls because it was what I had on hand, but there ended up being a lot of styrofoam shredding action and at least one ball that got stepped on and smashed into an interesting shape. Neither are big deals to me, but if you're trying to decide between purchasing styrofoam balls or ping-pong, I'd probably choose the latter. --If you don't own multiple hair dryers, you can either ask parents to bring in a hair dryer from home or do like I did and pick up a few at your local thrift shop. Later, you can use them for making melted crayon art! --Straws collect, um.... condensation when you blow through them long enough. I'll leave it at that. Variations to try: The kids had some great ideas for variations. Try holding a handful of feathers over the hairdryer, then letting go. Even a single feather is fun and can float almost all the way to the ceiling! The packing peanuts were lots of fun with the hair dryer too (they don't balance like the balls, but they do pop up really fast and high!). Try making a maze with masking tape and asking the kids to use the straws or the hairdryers to blow an object through the maze (or down the path). Try having the kids blow a drop of water on a piece of wax paper (with the straw). Or wiggle eyes might be fun to blow on too? Air pressure experiment with sponges Make a pom-pom air cannon! Related Apps: Inventioneers by Filimundus. Free with a generous preview portion of the game. Buy the full version if you fall in love with it (we did) for only $1.99 (price at time of publication). Be sure to check out the "create" section!
These Halloween inspired coding games combines STEAM storytime (one of our favorite ways to integrate read-aloud books) with a fun coding STEAM challenge.
I decided to take on my own challenge of incorporating a STEM activity every day for a week. It turned out to be a huge success where both my students and I had a blast. Here were the various …
Learn all about sound in this super-fun science twist on the classic tin can telephone activity. This version is even more kid-friendly because it uses Styrofoam cups. After making your string telephone, read the string telephone explanation with your kids to discover why it works! String Telephone Explanation: How Sound Waves Travel Learn how sound waves
Learn more about the science of sound with these sound experiments and musical crafts.
STEM and/or STEAM seem to be the popular trends in schools now! It was actually a little over a year and a half ago that several awesome colleagues from my school presented our whole staff with the term STEM. Sure I had been doing aspects of STEM for many years in my classroom, but I loved the way that the whole STEM approach pulled everything together and gave opportunities for students to problem-solve, collaborate, create, and more in an engaging, structured, meaningful way! Since learning more about it, I've been trying to incorporate it on a more regular basis with my second graders...and they LOVE it! As a grade level team we immediately saw the value in STEM, and we found many free STEM lessons and activities on-line, but we knew that we would need to get our hands on a lot of supplies! So, we built a STEM lab in our workroom, through donations of supplies from our classroom families! Here's a FREEBIE copy of a sample STEM supply list to give you an idea of how to start building up your supplies at school too! Download a Copy of a STEM Supply List As a team, we then decided to host a STEM Day last year, to introduce the process to our students and parents! Each teacher took on planning 1 STEM project, and our classes traveled from room to room throughout the day to participate in 4 different projects! The kids ENJOYED every minute! This year, my team has taken on STEM through planning together and participating in our own classrooms independently. My class has already worked on a Georgia Regions and Settlement STEM, marshmallow shooters STEM, and a few other projects. However, my kids and I agree, that our favorite STEM project thus far has been creating Marble Tracks to demonstrate what we learned about force & motion! My kids truly blew me away with their designs this year and as a teacher, I can't think of a better victory than a collective "NOOOOOO!", when telling a class they need to stop learning, working, and talking to go to recess! Another reason I love this particular STEM project, is that you probably have almost everything on hand to put this into place immediately! Check out the pictures of our STEM Tracks below! If you are at all thinking about incorporating STEM into your classroom--DO IT! Take on one small STEM project and get it into the hands of your kids! They will grow, learn, and be engaged and you will reap the rewards of having planned a truly "hands-on" experience for your kids! Here's the link to my How Slow Can You Go? Marble Track STEM project in my TPT Store! Hootfully Yours, Lindsay
Help children hone their creativity and critical thinking skills while providing hands-on experience with design planning, reflection, and writing process.
***INCLUDES PRINTABLE, GOOGLE SLIDES, AND SEESAW VERSIONS!*** ***NOW INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD VERSION WITH PICTURES!*** Maker Mats are simple, creative choice boards that promote divergent thinking and creative expression. They are the perfect enrichment option for students and complement to a Makerspace or creative learning area in any classroom or media center. Simple, open-ended tasks guide imaginations and are appropriate for even the youngest learners. Students may use any creative materials available to them to complete tasks! Maker Mats may also be used as an alternative form of homework for families to take part in at home. Students may cross off or color in squares for the tasks as they complete them, and you may choose to require students to complete a certain number of tasks each month. You may also choose to enlarge Maker Mats in poster size form to display in your Makerspace for students to choose from. Includes the following: *Seesaw and Google Slides versions of all monthly Maker Mats* p. 3: Maker Mat Instructions and Management p. 4-6: Makerspace information and suggested supplies p. 7-16: Monthly Maker Mats p. 17-19: Blueprint and Planning forms (3 versions) p. 20: Parent Letter p. 21-29: Maker App Posters p. 30-32: Maker Website QR Code Posters p 33: Credits ****Separate Files: Maker Mat Badges for Student Incentives (Monthly and Yearly) EDITABLE Maker Mat EDITABLE Parent Letter EDITABLE App and QR Code Poster ⇒Feedback and Followers Click the Green ★ to follow my store and get notifications of new product launches and freebies! Did you know that you can receive credit toward future TpT purchases by reviewing this product? If you enjoy this product, please leave a review at the product page or through "My Purchases" under "My Account" at TpT. Ratings make the TpT world go round! :-) ⇒I'd LOVE to connect with you! ★Teach Outside the Box ★Facebook ★Instagram ★Pinterest ⇒Terms of Use ©Teach Outside the Box, LLC By purchasing and/or downloading this electronic file, you agree to the terms of use as stated below. For personal use/single classroom use only. No part of this document may be distributed, posted on the internet, copied, sold, or edited without direct permission from the author. Violations are subject to the penalties of the Digital Millennium Act. To purchase additional sharing licenses, please visit my store. All contents of this document are under copyright protection including all text, graphics, contents, and fonts. All graphics and fonts are also protected by copyright from their original author/artist. Thank you so much for visiting my store!
Studying the states of matter is so fun and easy with little learners. Read these stories to help your students learn about matter while having fun!
Bring STEM to your classroom with this hand picked list of STEM Kindergarten Books! They are great for science in the classroom and nonfiction unit study.
