Gardening with children is rewarding for adults and children alike. It can teach important science principles such as life cycles, botany, wildlife habitats, food webs and ecosystems. It is also full of character-building life lessons like a sense of place and responsibility, sustainability and self-sufficiency.  Planning and growing a themed garden is a great way to get children excited about their plants. In the past we have explored growing a Pizza or Taco garden, growing an Alphabet garden and growing a Rainbow or Pollinator garden. This time around we are going to give you some inspi ..read more

I'm excited to have Brains and Motion Education (BAM!) as a guest blogger. Read on to learn about the new STEM, arts, and sports enrichment after-school and summer camp programs they are offering nationwide.  After-School and Summer STEM, Arts and Sports Programs Today marks the launch of enrichment provider Brains & Motion Education (BAM!), a tech-enabled company unlocking the potential of students year-round through after-school, structured recess, and summer camp with STEM, arts, and sports programs. As the only nationwide provider with a focus on whole-child development, BAM! aims ..read more

On April 8th, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse viewable across North America, passing through the United States from Texas to Maine. A partial eclipse will be visible across all 48 contiguous states.  Will you be observing this awesome celestial event? Did you catch the "Great American Solar Eclipse" in 2017? These total eclipses have been such a fantastic opportunity to bring so many of us together to observe a scientific phenomenon. I love it when we all have something science-related to get excited about!  Find out here what happens during a solar eclipse, when and where ..read more

My kids and I love a good science joke or pun, and these funny science Valentine's cards deliver! Perfect for your science-loving kids to hand out at school, to give to your science students or send the scientist you admire. These are all downloadable Valentine's Day cards that you can print out at home over and over. You are sure to find something here to tickle your funny bone and make this Valentine's Day extra special.  Geology? Robotics? Biology? These cards cover all sorts of science and STEM topics. I bet there is even an idea for a science lesson in here. Let me know which is your ..read more

We have been enjoying playing with our new mBot Ultimate robot from Makeblock. I was fortunate to be asked to review this product, and the kids and adults in our house have had fun building and experimenting with our first build, the "Robotic Arm Tank" robot.    Makeblock creates products for STEAM education that help people turn their "ideas into reality". The mBot Ultimate 10-in-1 coding robot kit will certainly inspire teens and families who love to build and engineer to explore robotics and coding in depth. Read on to find out what we liked best about this robot building kit. &nb ..read more

Bring on the science this holiday season! Here are some affordable, unique and interesting ideas for stocking stuffers this year. Sure to please the young (or old) scientist on your list. Many of these would make great science-themed party favors as well. There is bound to be something here that will pique the interest of the people in your life this year. Really, who doesn't love science?    From miniature microscopes to temporary tattoos you will find something for every budget. I have also included links for several retailers, so that you can conveniently find what you are lookin ..read more

Kids love animals and have an innate desire want to categorize and sort things into groups. Why not combine these passions to build early observation skills in science? I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to review this year's Compare and Contrast books from Arbordale Publishing. I'd love to share this engaging book series with you along with resources and activity ideas for science class.    In this post you will find information about Compare and Contrast books, written by seasoned zoo and aquarium educators, as well as links to an infographic activity and how to use graphi ..read more

Looking for just the right print out to go along with your hands-on science lesson? Or maybe spruce up an old lesson or unit with something new? Here are 10 fun printable downloads you will find useful year after year during the fall term. We have seasonal and nature topics for early childhood and elementary school aged students covered with: Apples, Pumpkins, Trees and Leaves, Hibernation and Migration. Find some inspiration and discover something new for the new school year!  This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission from purchases made through these links ..read more

Each spring for the past 4 years we have seen a little bit of magic happen on our kitchen counter. Tiny caterpillars arrive in the mail and over the next week or so grow so quickly you can almost see it happening. One day they find a cozy place to hang and you blink and they are no longer caterpillars, but tiny chrysalides. The rest of the action takes place inside, and we wish we had x-ray vision to let us see. One day, out come butterflies!  Raising butterflies from an Insect Lore cup of caterpillars is a very easy and fairly fool-proof way to share this magical life cycle with kids at ..read more

I love adding a creative twist to lessons about Earth's cycles. Storytelling, writing, illustrating and comic-making are great ways for children to learn the water cycle and rock cycle. Whether you teach science, STEM or STEAM at the elementary or middle school level, homeschool or are the parent to a budding author/ illustrator you will definitely want to try this "Choose Your Own Story" writing activity. Participating in or organizing the "Imagine Your Story" summer 2020 reading program at your local library? You or your patrons will love imagining your own water cycle or rock cycle... Shar ..read more