It’s well known that studying science, technology engineering and math (STEM) helps students build lifelong learning skills like problem solving and critical thinking. For elementary school students who are in the early stages of their education, STEM activities can be part of that journey.
There are plenty of online resources for simple, hands-on experiences using everyday materials found at home, from creating paper airplanes to making tornados in a water bottle. We also share some off-the-shelf kits, as well as books and local places to visit to explore STEM activities.
STEM Books
Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species
By Alison Pearce Stevens
Meet Fenton and Frost; Fagen and Dia; Hilo, Diesel and Seuss. These intrepid environmental detectives are on the frontlines of the fight to stop the spread of invasive species — and all of them are dogs.
Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe
By Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced, and illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college, she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn’t see? Wanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.
The Iguanodon’s Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again – An ALA Notable Book About Mysterious Bones and Evolving Science
By Sean Rubin
Ever since mysterious bones were found in 1822, scientists and artists have tried to figure out what the creature they came from looked like. But it seems that every time they’ve made up their minds, someone makes a new discovery, and they have to start all over.
The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World
By Dean Robbins and illustrated by Matt Tavares
Join history’s first mapmakers as they explore the wonders of the world. Find the tools ancient people used to depict their surroundings, methods different cartographers developed to survey new lands, and how we’ve arrived at modern mapmaking today.
Giraffe Math
By Stephen Swinburne
Twiga the giraffe introduces young readers to fascinating facts about giraffes and their relationship to other creatures — all by using math concepts such as measurements, graphs, shapes, word problems and more.
The Amazing World of Video Game Development
By Denis Galanin
Award-winning video game developer Denis Galanin dives deep into the world of video game development, from the art team to the music, from pre-development to release.
Break Down: Explosions, Implosions, Crashes, Crunches, Cracks and More … a How Things Work Look at How Things Don’t
By Mara Grunbaum
This book explores how things break down, crack, explode, crumple and shatter. This fun, unique take on a how-things-work book explores the world through the lens of what it takes for things to, well, not work.
Games and Fun Kits
Critter Creator Metallic Bug Fossil Kit for Kids
Bug-loving kids will have hours of fun with the Crayola Critter Creator Fossil Kit. This craft kit for kids lets them build, paint and fossilize more than 10 different types of bugs. Use the light modeling clay and bug molds to create super-detailed dragonflies, spiders, hornets, lady bugs and more. $33.58, ages 7+, crayola.com
GeoSafari Jr. Rocknoculars
Rocknoculars are a unique science toy that combines binoculars with rock collection storage to introduce geology to kids and encourage exploration, observation and discovery. $19.99, Ages 4+, educationalinsights.com
Walk the Dogs
Enjoy a fun, engaging and interactive math experience with SimplyFun Walk the Dogs, a kids math game that combines strategy, arithmetic and counting skills. $36, Ages 8+, simplyfun.com
Source: National Parenting Product Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 34 years; visit nappaawards.com
Places in Northeast Ohio to Experience STEM
There are plenty of nature centers across Northeast Ohio through your park systems that offer free events and activities to learn and interact with science and nature. Also, check with your library for more programming opportunities. In addition, both zoos — Akron Zoo (akronzoo.org) and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo) — provide a way for children to understand conservation and science concepts as they relate to animals in nature.
Here are a few other locations to consider if you want to help your child further explore STEM activities and experiences.
Akron Children’s Museum, akronkids.org
Children’s Museum of Cleveland, cmcleveland.org
Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum, holdenfg.org
Cleveland History Center, wrhs.org
Cleveland Museum of Art, clevelandart.org
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, cmnh.org
Greater Cleveland Aquarium, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
Great Lakes Science Center, greatscience.com
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, lensc.org
Mad Science, northeastohio.madscience.org
Museum of Illusions, moicleveland.com
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, shakerlakes.org
Snapology, snapology.com