Home » Blog

Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What Is Coding (and Why Does It Matter for Kids)?

Coding is the process of giving instructions to a computer so it knows what to do. For kids, coding usually looks less like typing complex text and more like dragging blocks, solving puzzles, and creating games or stories.

Learning to code helps kids:

  • Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills

  • Practice logic, sequencing, and cause-and-effect

  • Develop perseverance and confidence when things don’t work the first time

  • Create instead of just consuming technology

The best part? Kids can start learning coding concepts before they can even read, and many high-quality platforms are completely free and designed for home use.

You don’t have to be an expert at computer-programming to get started or teach your kids! Especially at the elementary age, this is a perfect time for parents to learn the basics with their kids.

How to Choose the Right Coding Resource for Your Child

When choosing a coding platform at home, consider:

  • Can your child read yet?

  • Do they prefer games, stories, or building?

  • Are they using an iPad or a computer?

  • Do they enjoy short challenges or longer creative projects?

There’s no “best” coding program—just the best fit for your child right now.

From my perspective and experience working for nearly a decade in Elementary STEM, below are my recommendations with some of the best free coding resources for kids at home, broken down by age, skill level, coding type, and device.

Scratch: Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Scratch is one of the most popular free coding websites for kids, created by MIT. Kids can design games, animations, and interactive stories using drag-and-drop code blocks. This is one of the first coding websites I ever used with kids!

Coding language:

  • Block-based coding (Scratch language)

Best for:

  • Beginner → Advanced

  • Ideal for kids who can read and want more creative control

Device needed:

  • Laptop or desktop computer

  • Works in a web browser

Why parents love it:
Kids can create, remix projects from others and grow with the platform over time. It’s open-ended, so it sparks creativity and building rather than going through a game or levels.

Make sure to check out the ‘Ideas’ tab on their website and it gives some step-by-step directions for starter projects. You may find some books online to support Scratch but take note of when it was published. I’ve found that anything older than 2020 are out dated since the platform has received updates since then. I just use the projects listed on the ‘Ideas’ page since those are the most current.

ScratchJr: Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
ScratchJr is a simplified version of Scratch made specifically for younger children who are still learning to read.

Coding language:

  • Block-based coding with symbols (no reading required)

Best for:

  • Pre-reader → Beginner

  • Ages ~5–7

Device needed:

  • iPad or tablet

Why parents love it:
Kids learn sequencing and logic through storytelling and characters—no screens full of text. It’s only accessible through the app, which can be a downside if you don’t have access to this technology. This is a great way to get started with coding! Make sure to check out their actual website because there are tips for navigating the app and also guides for projects to get started. If you purchase any supplemental books or the coding cards to go along with ScratchJr, that should be fine! This app hasn’t really been updated, so things have moved around much.

Make Wonder (by Wonder Workshop): Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Make Wonder is a creative coding platform designed to work with Wonder Workshop robots (like Dash), but it also includes screen-based coding activities that kids can explore at home.

It’s free to sign up for a Make Wonder account to play around with the block-based coding that connects to the Dash robot. However, if you want more capabilities and access to virtual Dash, where the programming interacts with the on-screen robot and a physical robot isn’t requred, I recommend upgrading. Especially if you are in a home-school setting, there are more lessons and resources that are standards-based that can level up your coding experience.

You can receive 10% off your Make Wonder Home subscription by using THIS LINK or using my code at checkout: 10NAOMI

Coding languages:

  • Block-based coding (visual programming)

  • JavaScript (paid tier, inside Blockly Pro)

  • Python (paid tier, inside Blockly Pro)

Best for:

  • Beginner → Advanced

  • Great for kids who already enjoy building, robotics, or STEM challenges

Device needed:

  • iPad or tablet

  • Some features work best with a Dash robot, but many coding concepts can be explored digitally

Why parents love it:
It feels like play, but kids are learning real sequencing, loops, and problem-solving skills. It’s also an ad-free, safe platform, so once your child is inside the app, they aren’t being linked out to other resources or an open-forum of other kids’ projects. You can receive 10% off your Make Wonder Home subscription by using THIS LINK or using my code at checkout: 10NAOMI

Hopster Coding Safari: Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Hopster Coding Safari introduces coding concepts through guided puzzles and animal adventures, making it perfect for young learners.

Coding language:

  • Visual, directional coding (arrows and sequences)

Best for:

  • Pre-reader

  • Preschool and early elementary

Device needed:

  • iPad or tablet

Why parents love it:
It feels like a game, but kids are learning early coding logic without realizing it. A login isn’t needed, making it easy to get started. It’s also really cute with the animal parents trying to get to their babies in each challenge.

Hour of AI: Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Hour of AI introduces kids to artificial intelligence concepts in a kid-friendly way, building on the popular Hour of Code activities. The name has switched in 2025 from ‘Hour of Code’ to ‘Hour of AI’. There are a variety of games and activities to choose from to explore different coding languages and AI.

Coding language:

  • Block-based coding

  • AI logic and decision-making concepts

Best for:

  • Beginner → Advanced

  • Upper elementary and middle school

Device needed:

  • Laptop or desktop computer

Why parents love it:
Kids learn how AI works—not just how to use it—which is a huge digital literacy skill. It may take some time to sift through all of the resources on the site, but once you find a few favorites, it’s a great resource to have in your back pocket. I recommend looking through them first, as the parent, and save the links to the ones that seem interesting. This website can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate on their own. This Mix & Move with AI is a great one to start with and the kids love it!

Kodable: Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Kodable is a game-based coding platform that grows with kids, starting with simple logic and moving into more complex programming ideas.

Coding language:

  • Visual block coding

  • Transitions toward text-based concepts later on

Best for:

  • Pre-reader → Beginner

  • Early elementary students

Device needed:

  • iPad or tablet

  • Laptop for some features

Why parents love it:
Short, engaging lessons that build skills step-by-step without overwhelming kids. If your kids loved Hopster Coding Safari, described above, then they’ll love Kodable. There are free and paid options, so start HERE for the ‘Play without Saving’ to check it out.

Tinkercad (Coding with Codeblocks): Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

What it is:
Tinkercad is a free, web-based design platform that includes a coding feature called Codeblocks. Instead of coding games or animations, kids use block-based code to create 3D objects. Each block represents an instruction—such as creating a shape, changing its size, or repeating a pattern—helping kids see how code directly controls design. This CAD software is used for 3D printing design, so definitely worth checking out overall!

Coding language:

  • Block-based coding (Codeblocks)

  • Introduces core concepts like sequencing, loops, variables, and parameters

Best for:

  • Beginner → Advanced

  • Upper elementary and middle school students

  • Great for kids who enjoy building, engineering, or design challenges

Device needed:

  • Laptop or desktop computer (runs in a web browser)

  • There is an app version, but the coding feature works best on a laptop/desktop

Why parents love it:
Tinkercad shows kids that coding isn’t just for games; it’s a powerful tool for creating real-world objects. It’s especially motivating for kids who like hands-on projects and want to see their code turn into something tangible, like a 3D model that could be printed.

Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home — Comparison Table

Coding Resource What It’s Best For Coding Language Type Skill Level Device Needed
Make Wonder (Wonder Workshop) Creative coding, problem-solving, and robotics-style challenges Block-based (visual coding)

Java Script & Python in paid versions

Beginner → Advanced iPad, tablet, or laptop
Scratch Open-ended workspace. Creating games, animations, and interactive stories Block-based (Scratch language) Beginner → Advanced Laptop or desktop
ScratchJr Introduction to coding through storytelling Symbol-based block coding (no reading required) Pre-reader → Beginner iPad or tablet
Hopster Coding Safari Learning sequencing through guided puzzles Visual directional coding (arrows & sequences) Pre-reader iPad or tablet
Hour of AI Understanding how artificial intelligence works. Variety of websites. Block-based coding + AI concepts Beginner → Advanced Laptop or desktop
Kodable Building foundational coding skills step-by-step Visual block coding (intro to text concepts later) Pre-reader → Beginner iPad, tablet, or laptop
Tinkercad Coding connected to 3D design and real-world problem solving Block-based (Codeblocks) and basic text-based options Beginner → Advanced Laptop or desktop

 

Coding doesn’t have to be intimidating, expensive, or screen-heavy. With the right tools, kids can learn to code at home through play, creativity, and problem-solving—often without even realizing they’re learning a future-ready skill.

 

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there.

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

First Day Back from Winter Break Activities for K-5 STEM

First Day Back from Winter Break Activities for K-5 STEM

The first day back from winter break can be a lot—excited kids, big feelings, nonstop stories, and very little stamina for long instructions. If you teach STEM (or any special area), you may also see every class in the building that day, which makes planning even trickier.

That’s why I rely on this no-prep, whole-group winter STEM activity every single year with my K–5 STEM classes.

It’s hands-on, quick to explain, and gets every student involved—without worksheets, devices, or complicated setup.

The No-Prep First Day Back from Winter Break Activities

On the first day back, I project a set of winter-themed questions on the board.

Here’s how it works:

  • I read each question out loud

  • If the statement is true for the student, they grab the matching LEGO® brick

  • If it’s not true, they simply sit and wait for the next question

  • We repeat this for each question

That’s it. No directions overload. No worksheets. Just instant engagement.

How I Differentiate for K–5

One thing I love about this activity is how easy it is to differentiate without extra planning:

  • First set of questions: Perfect for all grade levels (K–5)

  • Second set of questions: Designed for grades 3–5

I run the activity whole-group with younger grades, then extend it with the older students. Everyone feels successful, and I don’t have to prep multiple lessons for the same day.

Why This Works So Well on the First Day Back

This activity checks so many boxes for January:

  • Low pressure – Students can participate without speaking

  • Hands-on – LEGO bricks keep hands busy and focused

  • Community-building – Kids naturally start talking about their break

  • All voices are included – Even quiet students can participate

  • No prep – Just project and go

It’s the perfect balance between easing students back into routines while still keeping things fun and meaningful.

Grab the Winter All About Me Brick Build

If you want to use this exact activity with your students, you can grab it from my TpT Shop, Naomi Meredith, HERE

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there.

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

Easy Pumpkin Patch Craft Ideas

Easy Pumpkin Patch Craft Ideas

Learn where pumpkins grow and create a pumpkin patch with vines for a pumpkin to roll through.

Materials Needed for this Paper Plate Roller Coaster Project:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Watch the video on how to make this Easy Pumpkin Patch Craft Ideas

 

Let’s slow it down with step-by-step directions on how to make this easy pumpkin patch craft ideas.

Step 1:

Color and cut the pumpkin patch images.

Step 2:

Cut the green paper into 1-inch strips

Step 3:

Using one paper at a time, glue one end of a paper strip to the plate. Make a loop, curl, or other shape with the paper strip, to make a vine. Glue down the other end of the strip.

Step 4:

Continue to add more paper strips on the plate to create the pumpkin patch maze.

Step 5:

Glue the pumpkin images to the pumpkin patch maze.

Tip: Want the pumpkins to stand up? Cut a small square of cardboard and fold in half to make an “L” shape. Glue the pumpkin to one side of the cardboard, and the other side of the cardboard onto the plate to make the pumpkin stand.

Step 6:

When finished, tilt the plate to roll the pom pom, which represents a pumpkin, through the vines.

\

 

Want the templates seen here? You can grab them here in my TpT shop!

If you are looking for…

  • A Low-prep STEM lesson & easy-to-find materials
  • An engaging, hands-on activity that has guided directions
  • Opportunities for students to add their creativity
  • A quick, one-day STEM lesson for after-school clubs, homework extensions, station rotation (and more!)

Then this lesson is PERFECT FOR YOU!

 

This product includes:

  • Easy project with simple materials
  • Digital & Printable
  • Written & video directions
  • Content-specific vocabulary
  • Science behind the project
  • Resources to explore the topic more
  • Experiment to test the design

 

Grab the full lesson HERE!

 

 

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there.

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

Elementary Lesson Plans to Teach Each Letter of STEM in a Week

If you wanted to dedicate a week to teaching students what each letter of STEM was, where do you even begin? You want the lessons to be simple enough to last for one class session, but still engaging.

I’ve put together tried and true lessons that work well during the Back to School Season where you can teach each letter of STEM in a Week! All of these lessons and resources can be found here in my TpT shop, and also linked in this post.

 

To make navigating this week of STEM easier, grab THIS free printable PDF that has all of the lessons linked below on one easy-to-read sheet!

 

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Day 1: STEM Overview

Grades K-2

  1. Watch video “What is STEM”
  2. Go over STEM Classroom Rules & Behavior Blast Off Class Game
  3. Play All About Me Brick Build (Color Questions Only)

Grades 3-5

  1. Watch video “What is STEM”
  2. Go over STEM Classroom Rules & Behavior Blast Off Class Game
  3. Play All About Me Brick Build (Color & Size Questions)

What is STEM?

 .  

Day 2: Science

Grades K-2

  1. Watch video “What is Science?”
  2. Color and cut out the ‘Science’ page from these STEM Posters to start creating a STEM book. If finished early, draw on the back your favorite things about science
  3. Read the story “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend” by Dan Santat, and complete this STEM & Stories activity 
  4. If you need an additional activity, students can use this Science-themed Engineer Inspiration Board to build what is shown using any items you have on hand (blocks, LEGO bricks, simple Makerspace materials…)

Grades 3-5

  1. Watch video “What is Science?”
  2. Students can fill out the printed or digital version of these STEM Get to Know You Slides of what their favorite things in science are
  3. Complete this fun Cardboard Straw Maze activity with reflection questions and additional tests to extend the lesson

What is Science?

   

Day 3: Technology

Grades K-2

  1. Watch video “What is Technology?”
  2. Color and cut out the ‘Technology’ page from these STEM Posters to start creating a STEM book. If finished early, draw on the back your favorite things about technology
  3. Read the story “Tek, The Modern Cave Boy” by Patrick McDonnell 
  4. If you need an additional activity, students can use this Technology-themed Engineer Inspiration Board to build what is shown using any items you have on hand (blocks, LEGO bricks, simple Makerspace materials…)

Grades 3-5

  1. Watch video “What is Technology?”
  2. Students can fill out the printed or digital version of these STEM Get to Know You Slides of what their favorite things in technology are
  3. Complete all or a few pages of the Apps About Me activity. This can be assigned digitally or printed. If assigned digitally, it really works on basic computer skills in Google Slides/Power Point/Seesaw. No coding skills required. However, the printable version is still fun!

What is Technology?

   

Day 4: Engineering

Grades K-2

  1. Watch video “What is Engineering?”
  2. Color and cut out the ‘Engineering’ page from these STEM Posters to start creating a STEM book. If finished early, draw on the back your favorite things about engineering.
  3. Read the story “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beatty and complete this STEM & Stories activity
  4. If you need an additional activity, students can use this Back to School-themed Engineer Inspiration Board to build what is shown using any items you have on hand (blocks, LEGO bricks, simple Makerspace materials…)

Grades 3-5

  1. Watch video “What is Engineering?”
  2. Students can fill out the printed or digital version of these STEM Get to Know You Slides of what their favorite things in technology are
  3. Complete this fun Marble Maze Roller Coaster activity with reflection questions and additional tests to extend the lesson

What is Engineering?

Day 5: Math

Grades K-2

  1. Watch video “What is Math?”
  2. Color and cut out the ‘Math’ page from these STEM Posters to start creating a STEM book. If finished early, draw on the back your favorite things about math.
  3. Read the story “There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books” by Lucille Colandro  and complete this STEM & Stories activity
  4. If you need an additional activity, students can use this Alphabet Cube station, where students can build each letter of the alphabet or even their name, then count and write how many cubes they used

Grades 3-5

  1. Watch video “What is Math?”
  2. Students can fill out the printed or digital version of these STEM Get to Know You Slides of what their favorite things in math are
  3. Complete this fun Boat Float activity with reflection questions and additional tests to extend the lesson. I recommend having smaller buckets of water already filled so students can test your designs. This is a great outside activity too if that works for where you are at!

What is Math?

 

 

Don’t forget to download your FREE PDF here that has an easy to read outline of all of these lessons so you can keep track throughout the week!

 

 

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

What Should a Word Wall Look Like in a STEM Classroom? [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.201]

What Should a Word Wall Look Like in a STEM Classroom? [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.201]

Check out the full episode on what should a word wall look like in a STEM classroom:  

 

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:

Coming soon!

Episode Summary

As you are setting up your STEM classroom, what are things you can decorate with but still connect with what you are teaching? A word wall, or vocabulary wall, can be a great asset to your units to help students make connections across content themes. I’ll be sharing practical ways you can set up a word wall that you can use throughout the school year and with all grade levels, K-5.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

(0:00) Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I’m your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom (0:06) teacher turned K-5 STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master’s (0:12) degree in STEM leadership, I’m here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back (0:16) more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

When you are setting up your STEM (0:22) classroom for back to school, have you thought about adding in a word wall? If so, where are (0:29) you going to put it? And if you haven’t, how does this even connect to your STEM classroom? And should (0:34) you even have one? Let’s chat about it. With anything that I have set up in my classroom spaces, (0:41) whether it is my STEM trailer that I am putting together or my K-5 STEM classroom, I am very (0:48) purposeful about the things that I hang up on my wall. Yes, I like things to look cute and cohesive (0:55) and go together.

But also, I always want to make sure, are the things that I’m hanging up, (1:00) are they purposeful or helpful for students? Can this be something that is a good teaching point (1:06) for them? And every single thing that I’ve hung up has a dual purpose. So of course, like I said, (1:12) it might look cute, but also there is a purpose behind it. One thing that can be really helpful (1:18) in your classroom is having your own type of word wall.

And you can do this a couple of ways. One (1:25) way you could do this is you can have an alphabet that you hang up all year long, and each letter (1:31) on the alphabet has a different STEM connection. For example, Y could be for YouTube, S could be (1:38) for file, like a digital file, and so on.

And it helps kids think about the world in a different (1:44) way and with the alphabet. I have a few different options and different colors of this you could (1:49) print and hang up in your space. That’s super easy.

It has a really cute update. So I’m excited to (1:56) choose what color scheme I want to hang up in my STEM trailer. So stay tuned for that.

And another (2:02) way that I have done this as well is you have the alphabet, you hang this up, but also leave space (2:08) underneath each letter. And this is something that you can add to all year long, or you could (2:16) just do this for every unit. Now when you’re teaching K through 5 STEM, that’s six different (2:22) classes, some of you even teach pre-K in there, and all the way up to eighth grade.

So it really (2:28) depends on how you want to do this. Like I said, you could change it out every unit. And if you’re (2:32) teaching in cohesive themes, there is going to be some overlap with how you’re going to use this (2:37) alphabet slash word wall.

So for every unit, you probably have some key vocabulary and concepts (2:44) that you want kids to know about. For example, if you’re teaching your second graders about erosion, (2:50) you probably want the kids to know what the word erosion means while they are creating an invention (2:56) that will help slow down or stop erosion. So with all of those units that go together, (3:02) you can print out that vocabulary that is content specific for that unit.

And then you can add that (3:10) to your word wall. So it makes it very interactive if you are changing it out where the alphabet (3:16) letters can always stay there. But then you are changing out the words.

And you might say, well, (3:22) all of the words are going to be mixed up. Do I have to change it out for have a separate word (3:27) wall for every single grade? You could. But like I said, if you’re teaching in units, everything can (3:33) kind of go together.

And the kids can actually start seeing those connections. So what’s really (3:37) cool when I have done this is the kids will see the words and the vocabulary where has the pictures, (3:43) the word and the definition with them, which all of my lessons that are in my K-5 STEM year-long (3:50) plan, any of those by separately or in the plan, I have all the vocabulary out there for you. So (3:56) you could print them at various sizes.

But what’s really cool when you have all of these words (4:01) hanging up for the unit, the kids might remember what they learned the past year and get really (4:07) excited about it. Like, oh, yeah, I remember that. And that can actually help me with this project.

(4:12) Or even kids who haven’t seen those projects where they weren’t there the year before or (4:17) they are younger, they might get excited and ask more questions. Oh, what does this word mean? (4:21) So having that interactive word wall with your alphabet can really build those connections (4:29) and also help them see that content in a different way. So you might be teaching those (4:35) same standards they’re learning in class, but you are giving it that STEM twist.

So as you are (4:41) setting up your classroom, think about how you can integrate a STEM alphabet and quite possibly (4:48) make it a word wall. And that could be a really cool thing to add into your instruction and (4:53) continue to build up that science vocabulary for your students. If you’re interested in the alphabet (4:59) that I use and hang up in my STEM spaces, you can grab that in my TPT shop, Teachers Pay Teachers (5:05) shop, Naomi Meredith, and you can print the color options I have for you.

Or there’s a version where (5:10) you can just print your own color version to make it match your classroom theme. Thank you so much (5:16) for listening to today’s episode of the elementary STEM coach podcast. I would love to connect with (5:21) you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, or send me an email to elementary STEM coach (5:27) podcast at gmail.com. Also, make sure to check out my website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all (5:33) the show notes from today’s episode and shop my K through five STEM resources.

Any questions you (5:38) have needs for resources or ideas for episodes, get in touch. I’ll talk to you soon.

Watch this video to see how I set up my vocabulary wall:

Grab the STEM Alphabet featured in the video here

 

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

How Do You Teach Your Students What STEM Means? [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.200]

How Do You Teach Your Students What STEM Means? [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.200]

Check out the full episode on how do you teach your students what STEM means:  

 

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:

Episode Summary

If you were to ask your students what the word “STEM” actually means, could they answer you correctly? And if they do know that “STEM” represents Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, do they know what THAT means?

In this episode, I’ll be sharing practical and easy ways you can explain what STEM means to your students that doesn’t take a lot of time, but will still build a foundation for all your STEM lessons to come!

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

(0:00) How do you teach your students what the word STEM actually means? In this podcast episode, (0:06) I’m going to give you some tips and lesson ideas of how you can do this with your students and (0:12) it doesn’t have to take a whole lot of time. In the end, hopefully your students understand (0:17) that STEM is an actual subject and not just the stem on a plant. When I first stepped into my (0:25) K through five STEM role at the school I was teaching at, I had just left the regular classroom.

(0:32) So I taught second grade for two years, third grade for four years. And then I was at a brand (0:38) new to me school with no curriculum. I didn’t know any of the students.

I didn’t know any of (0:44) the teachers. Likewise, they didn’t really have a STEM class. They called it technology.

(0:51) So for everybody in the building, this was new to them. Maybe you’re in a similar position or (0:58) they’ve had STEM before, but you just want to make sure all the kids have an understanding what STEM (1:02) actually means. So here’s what I did.

And also what I still continue to do in my STEM after (1:09) school clubs, because again, a lot of these schools that I teach my clubs at, they don’t have STEM. (1:15) And so I just want to make sure the kids understand what we are doing and how this all connects (1:20) together. So the first and easiest way to get started with this is how do you present this (1:27) in your classroom? I had up on my big whiteboard, there’s a big whiteboard wall, just big cut out (1:34) letters that said S-T-E-M, STEM.

And what I did is underneath those, I created these posters (1:42) that actually show examples of what that word means. So for example, and if you’re watching (1:49) the video, you could see this, but there is a circle that has the word science in it. And then (1:55) there’s different pictures that represent science.

So there’s a balance, there’s the sun, an x-ray, (2:02) weather, animals, just different examples that kids would probably know and understand what science (2:09) is. I did this for every single letter. So there’s one for technology so they can see those examples, (2:16) one for engineering.

If you teach STEAM, I have one for art as well. (2:21) But showing that visual of what those letters mean in STEM, just having it up all year long (2:28) was extremely helpful. Not only did I refer to these at back to school, but I actually referred (2:34) to them all year long.

It’s okay if you don’t go super in depth right now. If you’re continually (2:40) referring to this and what STEM means and how it connects to the learning, then you’re set up (2:47) already. Then I created some slides that I would put on my screen and the kids could see it as (2:53) soon as they walked into the room and sat down at our group meeting area.

Each slide represents, (2:59) again, each letter of STEM. So there is a slide that goes along for science, technology, (3:04) engineering, and math. And there are empty circles that you can fill in.

I’ve also done this with (3:10) kids where they can actually fill out these pages or slides that I’m talking about where they could (3:15) fill them out digitally, or they could draw their responses. But if you want to even save some time, (3:21) I fill them out myself with my own examples. So back to that science example for that science (3:27) slide.

There are different things about science that I love and enjoy in my real life. On my (3:34) science slides, I have butterflies, I have rocks and minerals, I have space, and I have sea lions, (3:41) which I tell kids are like wet puppies of the ocean. They’re one of my favorite animals.

(3:45) So these things are on the slide. There’s visual representations of them. I even have a picture (3:51) of me.

I said, these are my favorite things. And just as a quick warm up before we get into (3:56) anything that day, I share with the kids something like this. Oh my goodness, everybody, these are (4:01) all the things about science that I enjoy.

And in STEM, in this class, S stands for science. (4:09) And these are all of my favorite things that I love about science. Thumbs up if you enjoy (4:15) butterflies.

Oh my goodness, we have some friends in here like the same thing. I like butterflies (4:21) because I think they’re beautiful. They’re so important to our earth and they help with (4:26) pollination.

And then I keep going through each of those things and explaining really quick, (4:31) takes about five minutes. And they really like those connections. And it’s a fun way, (4:36) especially when you see a lot of kids, you see all the kids in the school.

It’s a fun way to (4:41) share those real world things and help them see that you’re a real person too. And the last way (4:47) I like to share about what STEM actually means is showing a quick video clip of actual definition (4:54) of the word STEM. And in fact, I know it’s really hard to find these videos that are quick (5:01) and are appropriate for elementary age students.

So I just went ahead and created some for you. (5:07) They’re there for free all over on my YouTube channel, Naomi Meredith. And there is a video (5:13) that gives you an overview in a couple minutes of what STEM is.

And then if you want to go again, (5:19) in depth of every letter, the same day, multiple days, there is a video that goes along with (5:25) every letter. And there is one for art. And I do mention STEAM in the STEM video.

So if you think, (5:32) oh, you only have STEM, I have STEAM as well in all of these resources that I’m talking about. (5:37) So again, being explicit about what STEM is can be really helpful. You can do other activities (5:43) about it if you want.

But if you’re just looking for a quick introduction and making it meaningful (5:48) for kids before you do any of the other back to school stuff, those are my top tips for helping (5:54) you get started. If you’re interested in any of those resources, those printables, those posters, (6:00) those slides, you can grab them in the show notes for this episode. You can check this out in my (6:06) TPT shop, Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Naomi Meredith, and those are all there ready to go.

(6:11) If you have some other strategies of how to introduce the word STEM to your students, (6:15) let me know. Send me a DM my way on Instagram at Naomi Meredith or put them in the comments. (6:21) If you’re watching the YouTube version, I would love to hear your ideas.

Overview of how I teach kids what STEM means:

What slides do I use when I teach the word STEM?

I need kid-friendly videos that teach kids what STEM means!

 

What is STEM?

What is Science?

What is Technology?

What is Engineering?

What is Art?

Coming soon!

What is Math?

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

Exploring 3D Modeling & Design with SelfCAD: Guest Interview with Kara Houston [ep.198]

Exploring 3D Modeling & Design with SelfCAD: Guest Interview with Kara Houston [ep.198]

Check out the full episode on modeling and design with SelfCAD:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Episode Summary

We are back at it with some fun interviews this summer! I took a little break from interviewing, but missed it, and I had so much fun with who I talked with for today’s interview. 

I chatted with Kara Houston, who is a proud member of SelfCAD. If you haven’t heard of SelfCAD before, it is a cloud-based CAD modeling (or computer-aided design) that allows students to model, sculpt, slice, and print online. You might know this most for 3D printing as you get started, but they have other forms of creation inside the platform that you should check out. 

Kara is passionate about what she does, and she loves that through her job, she can have a part in the future of STEM by bringing their ideas to life. 

This episode will help give you ideas on various ways you can start implementing 3D modeling in your classroom! 

Resources Mentioned:

Watch the video version of this interview here:

 

Episode Transcript: 

(0:00) Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I’m your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom (0:06) teacher turned K-5 STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching (0:11) and a master’s degree in STEM leadership, I’m here to coach you throughout the year (0:15) to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

(0:20) We are back at it with some fun interviews for the summer, and I am so excited for you to hear (0:27) from the fun guests that I have lined up for you. I took a little break from interviewing, (0:32) and I definitely missed it, and so it was so much fun talking with the guest that I’m going to be (0:38) introducing you to. She was so sweet, so warm, and so passionate about what she does, and she was (0:44) such a fun guest.

I chatted with Kara Houston, who is a proud member at the company, Selfcad. (0:52) If you haven’t heard of Selfcad before, they specialize in their cloud-based software for (0:56) CAD modeling or computer-aided design. You might know this best in your elementary STEM experience (1:03) for a platform that does 3D modeling, but they also specialize in other ways that you can create (1:09) inside of this platform, along with the 3D modeling.

So definitely check them out because (1:14) we talk about it within this episode, but poke around on their website. Try it with your students (1:19) because there’s a lot of different ways that students can create that are really important (1:24) for them to learn, and things that they’re probably already wondering about trying for (1:28) themselves. Kara is so passionate about what she does.

You can see it in her face if you’re (1:34) watching the video version. You can hear it in her voice and help others bring their ideas to life. (1:39) I am so excited for you to listen to this interview and get you excited to teach 3D (1:46) modeling to your students.

This is something both Kara and I are passionate about ourselves, (1:50) so we had a lot of fun chatting because we know how powerful that this type of creating can be (1:56) with kids. Even if you’re not an expert, none of us are born knowing how to do this. I wasn’t either, (2:02) but I do mention this in this episode that 3D modeling is actually one of my most favorite (2:07) things to teach.

I even have my 3D printers running right now. Maybe you hear it in the (2:12) background, but I think you’re really going to enjoy this interview. Soak it all in and (2:17) take some notes because there’s some good gems inside of here.

Well, thank you so much, Kara, (2:22) for being here today. I’m so excited to chat with you. Before I hit record, I was telling you I (2:28) haven’t done interviews in a little bit.

I just took a little break from interviews. No one’s (2:33) really asked where the interviews have gone, but I think they’re really excited for this. (2:38) This will come out this summer, so teachers will have a bit more time to listen in and (2:43) learn new things.

Thanks so much for being here. That’s awesome. Yeah, I am so happy to be here, (2:50) and I love that.

There’s always good to have some ideas in the summer to keep us all going. (2:55) Yes, I agree. It’s so good to just dive on in and have that mental space where (3:03) you feel like you can learn new things because the school year can get super, super busy.

(3:09) Right, yeah. Before we jump so deep into what we’re talking about today, (3:16) how did you get into 3D printing and interested in 3D printing? How did that interest start for you? (3:25) Okay, so for me, I’m a mom first, like probably a lot of your listeners. I was just juggling (3:32) motherhood and my other careers, and a friend of mine said, hey, this company needs some help.

(3:37) Would you like to? And as soon as I started getting involved with SelfCAD, I was so interested (3:41) just for their mission to give kids, empower kids with these tools and help young girls have access (3:49) to tools that they might not have been introduced to before. I took my daughter, I think the first (3:53) week I worked there, I took her to a STEM event where she met astronauts and engineers and (3:58) scientists, and I just thought this is so powerful. This is really cool.

It’s so cool. Did you have a (4:05) 3D printer before? How do you ever like played around with them yourself? Or was that kind of (4:11) just something you just like their mission? You’re like, let’s jump on in and learn as we go. (4:16) Yeah, I did not even have a 3D printer at that point.

I was just very, very interested in their (4:23) mission. And every person that I’ve worked with was so passionate. They were beyond the moon.

And (4:28) so that was really easy to just glide right in. And then I went from part time to full time to, (4:33) you know, working with nonprofits, and it just grew. And it was really beautiful.

(4:37) That’s really cool. What does your daughter think about like 3D printing? Like now that you have (4:42) like, firsthand experience and like had no more behind the scenes? Like what does she think about (4:47) all of it? (4:49) So interested. She’s so inspired.

She likes to create things like earrings, jewelry, (4:54) things like that. Definitely the fashion caught her eye. And yeah, she’s, she’s really inspired.

(5:00) I love how you say the fashion part. So I got 3D printer. Well, okay, so I had them in my classroom.

(5:06) And there’s some other podcast episodes I have about 3D printers. And then so for my I started a (5:12) new after school club, a 3D printing club. And I was long term subbing at the time and the school (5:18) didn’t have a 3D printer.

They still don’t. So I use mine for it. And I had the printer in the (5:24) classroom.

And I also was like, you know what, I should make some jewelry. And it was around (5:29) Valentine’s Day. So I designed these little candy hearts for earrings that I made them for my (5:35) friends.

And my girlfriends like loved them. And they was like wearing them to school and everything. (5:40) So it’s pretty cool.

Like I know, I like obviously 3D printings for everybody. But (5:45) I like how you connected. Like, I mean, it is a way to create jewelry and fashion.

And there’s (5:51) lots of ways to get girls excited. But that’s just a really cool example. I’m glad that you brought (5:56) that up.

Yeah, absolutely. And sometimes when I talk to junior hires, they also are using this (6:02) stuff in like sneaker design. So you’ll see people light up their ideas like, oh, I would love to (6:06) design a sneaker, you know.

So I mean, it’s just really cool the different industries that are (6:11) they’re using and incorporating and really relying on the 3D spatial design modeling process. (6:17) Yeah, I agree with them with that. So kind of going more into you mentioned a little bit, (6:23) but why do you think it is important for certain students to learn how to create 3D designs, (6:30) whether it gets printed or not? Or you’re just doing all the modeling on the computer? Like, (6:34) why is that important? Well, you think I think kids are naturally curious and creative.

So this (6:41) is real, just like putting the tools in their hands for what’s already going on in their mind. (6:46) I want to create something, but also giving them when they’re really young, that spatial (6:50) awareness. So really, how else can you understand a concept of a sphere, (6:54) as opposed to just a circle until you’re looking at it and you’re rotating it.

So when they’re (6:59) really young, they might not have to do a strict curriculum, but getting playful and getting to (7:04) see the shapes like enlarged or shrieking is just it’s really magical to see kids interact with it. (7:12) I agree. It does bring your geometry to life when I’m teaching 3D modeling.

And the kids are (7:19) actually way more adaptable when they see it than we think. It’s not as overwhelming. I think for (7:24) adults, we’re like, oh, it’s super overwhelming.

I don’t understand it. But it’s just like (7:29) building with blocks. And when I would teach it, I have these foam blocks that I will squish down (7:35) and kind of show them how things stack in the real world.

And so saying, oh, here’s what you (7:40) can do in a platform, same type of concept. It’s almost like using digital clay or digital blocks, (7:47) like you can’t physically touch it with your hands. But the kids grasp onto it really, (7:52) really quickly.

Would you say the same thing from what you’ve seen? (7:56) Yeah, absolutely. And they just light up getting to create stuff. It’s really (8:01) cool way to design something.

And then we also see when they get older, then reverse engineer. (8:06) So these middle schoolers can bring in a picture of an object, we can upload it, (8:11) and then we can play around with like critical thinking. Or how could we improve this object? (8:16) Or what if we change the texture? And then they, you know, their little creator minds, (8:21) innovators come out.

I love seeing that. You mentioned it a little bit, but is it the (8:26) same platform that you use with all kids like K through eight? Or is there like different variations (8:32) of what you have the kids design in? Who I work with is self CAD. And we are definitely (8:38) professional grade, but designed to ride with the student all the way from third grade.

Really, (8:43) we like to start out third grade. We talked about kindergarten, and there’s definitely stuff to do (8:47) younger too. But when we’re really implementing a full on program, I’d say third grade all the (8:51) way up until their career.

And so getting them to have the same software instead of jumping around (8:58) Tinkercad, AutoCAD, you know, this is like they can grow a portfolio. So that’s why I’m really (9:02) passionate about it. I saw that they saw the need, there’s something that this gap needs to be (9:08) filled.

Like what can carry kids through? What can they grow it? So our company has a lot of (9:13) interactive tutorials. So they can, you know, right off the bat, just not fail, I like to say, (9:19) because they’re gonna walk you through it. And you’re gonna have all this knowledge, like, (9:24) and it’ll walk you through step by step.

That’s really helpful, too, because I think it’s hard (9:29) from a teacher, or if you’re a parent wanting to do this with your kids, like understanding (9:35) what platform to choose. And there’s so many options out there. And especially when you’re (9:40) teaching STEM, just across the board, you typically might not have as much experience yourself.

So (9:46) there’s probably a lot of teachers and parents out there who might be even be on the fence starting (9:51) this. And we know that it’s really beneficial. Are there any careers? Like, do you have any (9:57) career connections when it comes to like this modeling and creating online? Because we know (10:03) it’s important for kids, they’re excited.

This platform especially can carry on with them. But (10:09) connecting into what careers there might be? Have you seen anything with that? (10:13) Yes. And I love to talk about that, too, because we’re seeing it being used in way more than just (10:18) architecture.

But we’re seeing like the CAD software being used in designing, like I mentioned (10:24) earlier, the sneakers or fashion. It’s in health sciences. So when we talk about you want to see (10:29) the spine, and how can we put a stint in the spine? Or how can we work on the heart and the actual (10:35) shape of the heart is pretty intricate when you get into like the 3D world inside of the heart (10:40) and the arteries.

So when you talk about health sciences, that’s really so you might want to go (10:44) into a form of medicine, but it might be using like the software and using to create some type (10:52) of problem like solving a problem. So there’s different ways to be in medical field or in (10:57) fashion. That’s not necessarily what they might have been told.

So that is what I love connecting (11:02) those dots you I really think of this type of software self CAD as a life skill. You can call (11:08) for your own life if you want to redesign your bedroom. Like, okay, I’m gonna redesign.

What would (11:13) this chair look like? Like that? No, I agree. And it’s like, there it’s thinking about, okay, well, (11:20) how can I create that space or create that model where you can’t always do that with cardboard? (11:27) You can you can start that but it does give more options. And I think when you design digitally (11:32) like that, it’s so much easier to make mistakes and fix them because it’s endless.

And that was (11:41) something that is especially with my 3d printing club kids where I see them every week. They would (11:47) get frustrated at first and just knowing, hey, this is on an unlimited space. So if you mess up, (11:54) we can try it again or think about it in a different way.

Or when I would give them feedback (11:59) on their designs, we can easily go back and fix it. Or sometimes I would even and not everything (12:05) like you would print but the things that I would print, sometimes I would print them with mistakes (12:10) because I wanted them to see what had happened and why it didn’t work. So there are just like (12:16) those opportunities where, like STEM in general, there’s so many avenues and things to try.

But it (12:22) is with that 3d modeling, like it has a lot of different options that you can’t do in other (12:29) types of projects. And some kids will really, really connect with that in ways that like you (12:34) said, with the health sciences and the engineering or the fashion where you might not always have (12:39) those materials or ways to do that with other types of things. Yes, I love that.

I love what (12:46) you said that that club you have sounds so cool. Like when you think about, okay, you got to build (12:50) something each time you use materials, it costs money. But when you’re just, you know, and self (12:57) CAD is a cloud based.

So you know, you’ve got all kinds of options to just save and have all (13:02) build up a whole portfolio. Yeah, that’s super helpful. Because I even like parents will, (13:07) because I it sounds like with self CAD, you can 3d print, but you can also just do other types (13:12) of modeling.

Are there templates to use? You said there’s tutorials, but are there things that, (13:18) oh, you could try this avenue or try this template? Are there things that make it really stand out? (13:25) There is a whole library of tutorials and templates and lesson plans. And then whenever (13:30) we do work with the school, we actually we free training for the teachers and things like that. (13:35) So there, there’s monthly challenges, I believe they also do some kids get excited to participate (13:40) in those.

It’s just it’s being part of this whole community of people. So yeah, there’s a lot. (13:46) That’s really cool.

And even if like, let’s say, they wanted to a teacher wanted to focus on the (13:52) 3d printing side, could they still get into self CAD even if they don’t have 3d printers, (13:57) because I think a lot of teachers get wary of that they say, Oh, this is what I hear, (14:04) at least from teachers, I don’t have money for a 3d printer, my school can’t afford it. (14:08) We have too many kids, our printers broke, I can’t do the design. And I tell them they still can (14:18) would you guys say the same thing? Yes, you said so much there.

So they totally can design I mean, (14:25) part of I mean, a big part of our programs is the design and the design process. So you don’t (14:30) have to have a printer in the room, you can do these lessons, you want to show the layers of (14:34) the earth for these kids, and just have them look at it and design it and they can label it on there. (14:39) And they don’t ever have to print it.

But just getting to be able to conceptualize the space of (14:45) that is really, is really interesting for them and more hands on than just okay, here’s a picture (14:50) and I’m labeling a picture of paper, they’re actually moving it around and then labeling it. (14:56) So no, they do not definitely don’t need to actually print it. And I understand the concern (15:01) with it taking time.

But I do like to say that of course, kids like to print it. So (15:05) and the thing about the thing that self ads really trying to do is to help schools. So we (15:11) actually help schools apply for grants and technology grants.

I like to say it’s never (15:16) a closed door. If you still want a 3d printer, we are going to find a way that’s called we (15:21) actually donate them ourselves. Or we we help apply, we help the school apply for a tech grant.

(15:27) And of course, there’s a lot of great grants out there for STEM initiatives. So that’s something (15:33) if they’re a title in schools all over the place, we are working with them and we are trying so I (15:37) hope that they will reach out to us if they are if there’s somebody that wants a 3d printer but (15:41) can’t because if the desire is there, I’m ready to meet you halfway. Yeah, and that’s I agree with (15:46) STEM.

Typically, it’s a great space with those great opportunities. And you don’t have to be a (15:52) STEM teacher to apply for those like at all. Like I know a lot of programs, at least in my friends (15:58) in the area that are getting caught.

But that is an opportunity where after school programs, (16:03) there’s those options, you are a classroom teacher, and wanting to implement this. Parents, (16:10) maybe there’s options with that, too. You never know.

But I agree with you. Because (16:15) I, in my opinion, I mean, I have two printers going on right now. I don’t know if you can hear (16:19) them.

I have one of like right going right here. I’m actually making key chains. Yeah, my club.

(16:28) But a lot of it, honestly, is it can be the management when you’re an elementary teacher, (16:32) because I mean, you have your kids, you can teach them how to manage. But that’s a whole other thing. (16:37) Like you said, you can do all of the designing and the printing parts.

Great. But you can, (16:43) the kids are still going to be able to do all of the skills and keep practicing. And (16:47) it sounds like self CAD, like you even said it can grow with them.

So there’s endless (16:52) types of projects to do. Endless. It’s just wild.

And the tutorials that we have are so cool. (17:00) They’re so interactive. It’s just not like, you know, when I when I was in school, how things (17:05) you just click to the next page, but everything here is like highlighted where you go next.

(17:09) It’s just set up for you to succeed. They’re going to help you succeed. And then I do want (17:13) to say when they get to middle school, they can do industry based certifications.

And we love that (17:19) like a virtual badge and helps encourage them and give them the confidence to keep going. You know, (17:25) what are some of the industry badges that they can get? There’s two, it’s a professional one (17:31) and an actual self CAD one that they get once they’re reached. I believe it’s eighth grade.

(17:36) Oh, that’s cool. Very cool. Yeah.

We love we love to share that with educators because (17:41) yeah, that’s just another thing in their pocket. Another thing they can share when they go on to (17:46) whatever they go on to if they’re continuing education or they’re going right into a field. (17:50) Yeah.

I feel like coding, especially 3D design and even video editing, like all the (17:56) video behind the scenes are skills that can be under, I don’t know, under built up sometimes in (18:04) the elementary space, but they’re so needed because we see middle school and high schoolers (18:08) doing like elementary kids can do this too. I’ve done it. I’ve done all of the above with them (18:12) and I can confirm it can be done and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Absolutely. So speaking of those (18:21) projects, you talked about the badges, but are there, and you’ve popped in some really fun (18:25) projects. So thinking about those grade level bands, so like that elementary band, you said (18:30) mostly third through fifth, and then maybe it’s middle school and high school.

Are there certain (18:35) projects that stand out to you inside of the platform or even just ones that you’ve seen that (18:40) are really cool that have been done? So when, well, I do want to say when you’re talking (18:46) kinder to second, one thing that they really have loved doing is creating a cookie cutter. (18:51) So they get their 2D shape and then you’re, you know, expanding it to make the 3D cookie cutter, (18:56) and then they get to do a cookie cutter. So I think that’s cute.

It’s so fun. Of course you (19:00) could do it at one of the holidays. I love to see that one.

And then when we see, you know, (19:08) when kids get into science and they’re labeling the parts of the flower, that’s a really cool one (19:12) that they can do all the different, the petals and the in and out. Kids, like, I know you did (19:18) the, you were saying the key chains. All the kids love to do their name key chains.

It just is so (19:23) personal for them. And then they have a souvenir of their, you know, their name. We’ve seen high (19:30) school kids create, or middle schoolers do these pencil toppers, and then they have to, you know, (19:35) pencil stands.

And then we try to really get the engineering brain going where it’s like (19:40) problem solving. So that’s like the reverse engineering of getting an object and how can (19:45) you make it better? Or this one didn’t work, so what’s the next step? How long does it typically (19:49) take for projects to be created by kids? Are they usually semester long, or have they been like (19:55) really quick, like a couple day activities? There is all different types, but definitely I think a (20:01) lot of them are shorter. A couple days and they’ve created something, or they’ve labeled something.

(20:06) The teacher can also create something, and then the kids draw on it, or color it, or change it, (20:12) or it can go the other way that the kids actually have full range. Hey, can you create a set from (20:16) this time in history? So I mean, curricular engagement, you know, we’re seeing it in math, (20:22) and in science, and in biology, and it, you know, so yeah, they can actually build a set, (20:26) or a mixed reality of something. Yeah, cool.

It kind of reminds me, and I know it’s still around (20:32) with like augmented reality stuff, like I know the goggles are like, you still have them, (20:39) it’s, they get expensive to have in schools, but I just like remember doing some of that AR stuff (20:43) with students, and like they could touch it, and play with it, but it’s almost, it’s like (20:49) the same thing, but without the goggles, and they’re creating those things that maybe could (20:54) even be in augmented reality, that AR stuff. Yes, absolutely. So when we write STEM grants, (21:01) we include the AR, the VR goggles, and we do include curriculum for that kind of stuff, too.

So (21:08) kids can take a, an area, and they can add like, almost like a video game, like fruits, (21:14) or different things into the space. Yeah, making it really, it’s really fun stuff, animation. (21:19) Cool.

Oh, that’s so cool. So you could do that all in self CAD, and then use it with the goggles? (21:25) Yes. That’s awesome.

I mean, so yeah, any school out there that wants to apply for a STEM grant, (21:33) like, please contact us, because we love to see, or the summer camps. Let me think of, (21:37) there’s afterschool programs, there’s the summer camps, and you, like you said, you do not have to (21:42) be a STEM teacher. We do like you to be an established school.

Also, you don’t have to (21:46) have funding, like you can be any type of teacher that has the interest, that the interest is there, (21:51) and there’s two teachers to do the summer camp, or to do the afterschool, then we’re there. We’re (21:56) ready to train you, and we’re ready to, you know, go forward with that. And you know, you’re seeing (22:00) lots of cool, like you mentioned, there’s, there’s STEM for girls clubs, there’s coding clubs, (22:04) there’s robotics clubs, all these cool clubs are starting to get built, and then we want to give (22:07) them, you know, the curriculum to do more things.

What else can we do now, you know? I agree, and (22:13) it’s a great way with clubs. I’ve always said this about clubs. If you don’t know how to do (22:18) the thing, if you don’t know anything about 3D modeling, it’s actually great to do in a club, (22:24) because you only have a handful of kids, 25 kids, and they’re pretty forgiving.

For the most part, (22:30) those kids actually want to be there, and they’re super into it, so they’re going to find things (22:34) that you never even had thought about you’d be teaching. And I knew about 3D design to do my 3D (22:41) painting club, but my kids are so passionate and intense about it, that I’ve actually had to plan (22:47) more projects, because they’re actually pretty quick at stuff, and then I’m actually going to do (22:52) like a more advanced one next school year, but it’s pretty a great, great way if you’re a teacher and (22:59) want to get into this, or let’s say you’re a classroom teacher, and you want to be a STEM (23:04) teacher, run a STEM 3D modeling club, have that in your belt, and then you’ll just feel more confident (23:11) if you do become a STEM teacher, teaching more kids, because it’s, it’s one of my most favorite (23:17) things to teach. It’s like low-key one of my most favorite things.

It’s actually really clean. (23:23) I like that. It’s very clean, but it’s, I like how the kids are creating with technology and making (23:33) it meaningful, and really using it in a constructive way, and not just sitting there passively watching (23:38) videos or whatever.

Like you said, the tutorials are interactive, but they’re creating in meaningful (23:44) ways that could lead into who knows what for their jobs. Yeah, and it’s giving them the confidence to (23:50) also create stuff for their own. Like what ideas do you have? How do you want to make this shape, (23:55) or how do you want to, you know, change something in your world? It’s so giving them like, here, (23:59) you have power.

You’re, you have this whole world to create something, you know, and I, it’s really (24:03) cool for them, but I love that you’re doing that. I love after-school clubs. I’m like, (24:07) you join as many as you want to because, you know, it’s like access to things that you’re (24:12) passionate about.

It is. It is so, it’s fun. It’s really fun.

It’s a really cool way to interact (24:20) with kids that’s like academic, but not entirely, and they just see another side of kids. It’s (24:25) really, really sweet. Oh, yeah, absolutely.

I can tell you really love what you do. I just said it (24:32) like oozes from you, and I love it. Thank you.

I must, I think that should have been my middle name, (24:39) but it wasn’t really a thing when I was little, so anything else you want to share if teachers (24:45) are on the fence about getting stutter, anything else that they should know, anything you want to (24:50) share with them? I would say definitely just, if you’re even on the fence, just check out (24:55) selfcad.com and just take a look. Just play, and I think you’ll be, I think you’ll right off the bat (25:00) be intrigued, but I also, I don’t want anyone to be discouraged. I don’t care if you’re Title I. (25:04) I don’t care if you’re rural.

We’re working with like some places in Africa where they don’t have (25:08) internet, where they’re going to use the internet. They’re downloading our stuff, and then they’re (25:12) taking it back home, and so I mean there should be a closed door, and if you probably have students (25:17) that are interested, so yeah, and the tutorials are going to be there. The training is there.

(25:23) Support is there. It’s not like, here’s a CAD software. I mean, what I hear from teachers, (25:27) unfortunately, is like, we have a 3D printer, but I’m not sure what to do, or we don’t have, (25:33) they don’t have the guidance of the tools that they need to be able to empower the students, (25:37) so it’s not really fair.

They have the printer, but a lot of them don’t have the printer, too, (25:41) but like I said, there’s no reason that you can’t do this. It is for everyone. It’s professional (25:45) grade, but it is like, it’s just made to help you learn and make, help you create.

(25:52) I 100% agree with that. Like, don’t let the 3D printer you have on be a paperweight. (26:01) Like, kids, if you say 3D printing, all the kids are going to want to do it.

(26:04) I promise you, 1,000%. I’ve taught hundreds and hundreds of kids, and all of them, when they hear (26:12) the word 3D printer, they get so excited. Yeah.

I mean, think about, I mean, for me, (26:18) when I was growing up, I would have loved to see my stuff brought to life, and that’s why you get, (26:23) kids do love getting involved in those ones where they are in charge of making something, (26:27) you know, not just like being told what to make, but they’re getting to get their hearts out there. (26:33) Well, I am so excited about this platform, and I’m excited to dive in myself, since I am (26:38) continuing my 3D printing and 3D modeling journey. I did get approved for, to do two more clubs, (26:46) so like a 1.0, 2.0, so I’m really excited to play around with this with my students, (26:51) because I know that they want an extra challenge, and I’m excited.

I like learning new platforms (26:56) and seeing what’s out there, and this is definitely one that I’m going to explore (27:01) and add to my own STEM toolbox, so I am so glad that you popped in today and told us all about (27:07) it. So important for us to hear about all of these cool tools that are helpful for kids. (27:13) Thank you so much for having me.

This was really cool. It’s so fun. (27:17) Good.

Thank you. Well, thank you so much, and I can’t, I’m so glad that we have this connection. (27:22) Yes, me too.

You feel free to reach out anytime with anything. (27:26) And if other teachers want to reach out to you, where can they find you? (27:29) So selfguide.com, or they can find me on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to connect on (27:33) LinkedIn, Kara Houston.

And please check out selfguide.com. I think you’re going to just fall (27:38) in love. Well, thank you so much again, Kara, for coming in, and can’t wait to hear how teachers are (27:45) using this in their classrooms. My pleasure.

This is really fun. I loved connecting. This was cool.

(27:51) Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode of the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. (27:56) I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, (28:01) or send me an email to elementarystemcoachpodcast at gmail.com. Also make sure to check out my (28:07) website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all the show notes from today’s episode and shop my K-5 STEM (28:13) resources. Any questions you have, needs for resources or ideas for episodes, get in touch.

(28:18) I’ll talk to you soon.

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

Easy Behavior Management Systems for Makerspace Success [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.197]

Easy Behavior Management Systems for Makerspace Success [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.197]

Check out the full episode on easy behavior management systems for Makerspace:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Episode Summary

If the thought of managing behavior during STEM or Makerspace time makes you nervous—especially with all the back-to-school excitement—this mini-episode is for you. 

Yes, STEM can get loud, but that doesn’t mean it has to feel chaotic. In this clip from Episode 150, I’m breaking down how I kept things structured, even during open-ended building time. From how I grouped students to how I managed supplies like tape and glue, these practical tips can help you feel more confident heading into the new school year.

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

(0:00) Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I’m your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom (0:06) teacher turned K-5 STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master’s (0:12) degree in STEM leadership, I’m here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back (0:16) more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

If the thought of managing behavior (0:23) during STEM or Makerspace time makes you nervous, especially with all the back-to-school excitement (0:30) or the excitement that comes with brand new projects, this mini episode is for you. Yes, (0:37) STEM can get loud, but that doesn’t mean it has to feel chaotic. In this clip from episode 150, (0:46) I’m breaking down how I kept things structured even during open-ended building times.

I also (0:52) talk about how I group students a little bit and how I like to manage supplies like tape and glue, (0:59) which are very popular items in a Makerspace. I know that these practical tips will help you feel (1:05) more confident heading into the new school year or whenever you start your Makerspace. And these (1:11) are things that I have done year after year and continue to do.

And I think that you will (1:17) appreciate these tips. So you have an idea of how to organize your Makerspace. What about the (1:23) behavior management? Do you feel like your kids are getting a little too wild because they are (1:30) creating? It might get loud.

All of these lessons, the kids are going to get loud. I can’t tell you (1:36) that they’re not going to be loud because they are. That’s how it goes.

I got so used to it, (1:42) it is what it is. But being loud is different than not doing what you’re supposed to do. So (1:48) make sure you understand the difference with that and what’s happening in your class.

(1:54) When it comes to the behavior management, it also is about the way your lesson is formatted (2:01) and the systems and routines of that structure. When students would come in for my lessons, (2:07) and this is true for all of my lessons, and even when I teach after-school clubs, (2:12) I do not let kids get the supplies right away. That is not happening.

I am going to help them (2:18) with that transition time and teach them that mini lesson that is involved with the engineering (2:23) design process. Keep it really short, have that background knowledge, tell them anything they (2:29) need to know about supplies, and most of the time is work time. Also make sure you are leaving time (2:34) at the end to clean up.

A Makerspace project might take longer to clean up than a robotics lesson. (2:41) Keep that in mind. I would give kids about 10 minutes.

I would try 10 minutes to start, (2:48) and depending on the class, some classes could clean up in five. So play around with that time. (2:53) It might change with the class.

That is the overall structure of the lesson, but let’s break (2:59) it down throughout the days. At the beginning of your Makerspace lesson, you probably want kids to (3:07) be imagining different ideas and planning. If your kids are having a hard time planning and coming up (3:14) with ideas, especially if you have a newer program, you might need to give them more examples.

Those (3:21) examples can be things like things in real life, examples of pictures of things students have built (3:27) in the past. You might even have to build a few examples to get the ground running. (3:33) For Makerspace projects, I don’t typically teach students you have to do it this way, (3:39) step by step by step.

Now maybe for an after school program, that might be the case, (3:45) but in the classroom setting, I do have a challenge I want them to solve, but I’m not (3:50) going to show you step by step on how to do it. I might show them step by step in a mini lesson (3:55) on how to do a certain strategy. For example, with one of my STEM lessons, STEM Racecars in (4:03) STEMusement Park, there is a part in that project where students have to add a wheel and axle on (4:09) their car and allow it to move.

This is pretty tricky, and I would always get a ton of questions (4:16) on this strategy, so one of the days during the mini lesson, I just showed the kids how to do that. (4:21) It didn’t mean I was showing them how to build their car. I was just showing them that piece (4:27) of their car that everybody was going to need, and then the rest was up to them.

So those kinds (4:33) of strategies, just like if you’re teaching math, like we’re learning lots of strategies, (4:38) I would teach them those kinds of things as they would come up. It depends on the lesson, (4:43) and that was really helpful. When grouping students, this is up to you.

If you want students (4:49) to choose their groups, or you assign them for them. I did both. It actually depends on the class.

(4:57) Some groups do a great job choosing their partners, and some don’t. If you have classes that (5:03) get out of control really quick, you might need to keep them in groups of two. This is really rare.

(5:10) Some might need to be in just in groups of one. I’ve only had to do that a couple of times, (5:14) but it happens, and it is really sad, but at the same time, your job is also as the teacher to (5:21) keep kids safe and help them be successful, and if that’s where they’re at, that’s where they’re at. (5:25) I wouldn’t do more than four kids.

Three is my favorite because I feel like everybody can get (5:30) involved, but no more than four. It just gets too crazy, and at that point, you should just have (5:36) partnerships in any way. What’s also going to help them in that building process is really giving (5:42) students that time to plan.

This is going to help them in that creation. They may or may not (5:48) build everything exactly how they drew the picture, but this is going to help them get the ideas out (5:55) of their brain and have a starting point, and if you do add in maker space money, which again, (6:03) go back to episodes five and six. I explained that whole process, but if you use that system, (6:08) that’s also going to help students critically think more about what supplies they are using (6:13) and why they are using them.

The more you give specific tasks in these creative projects, (6:21) kids are going to stay on task a lot better. If there is a problem they are trying to solve, (6:27) that’s going to help a lot better, so if you are doing roller coasters and you are wanting them (6:32) to time how fast the marble goes through the track and keep track of the time, they’re going to be a (6:38) lot more motivated to do that project instead of just build a roller coaster, have a good time. (6:44) If you have those specific challenges they are trying to solve, that’s going to help (6:48) so much with behavior management, and that is going back to engagement.

Are they being engaged (6:54) in the project? Do they have a purpose? And so these things really blend together. You might (7:00) need to rethink the lessons you’re teaching. That sometimes can be a problem when it comes to the (7:05) behavior management.

For some specific supplies, I also have rules set in place. A big one is with (7:14) tape, and if you follow me on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, I talk about tape a lot (7:19) because I think it’s actually really funny, and it is a weird thing that STEM teachers (7:25) have in common. I’m very specific with tape.

Tape is not a free-for-all. You get one foot of tape, (7:32) I wrap it on a popsicle stick. I’ve also seen people put it on a ruler, and that is all the (7:37) tape you get.

And I do have part of the budget. You could buy unlimited tape, but it’s like more (7:42) than half of their budget. Most kids don’t actually buy that one.

And so I’m very specific about the (7:48) amount of tape. I am not very strict on glue sticks. They’re pretty cheap.

I am actually (7:54) trying to get more into glue sponges, and I’ve always seen it. I’ve never tried it, but I am (8:02) going to test out glue sponges with some makerspace clubs that I’m going to be running in my community. (8:08) And if you haven’t heard of glue sponges, I did ask my husband if he knew, but he teaches high (8:13) school Spanish.

He’s like, what are you talking about? So I don’t know. I just wanted to see if (8:17) all teachers knew. But a glue sponge is, you just have like a sandwich Ziploc container, (8:23) and you put a sponge in there, and you pour liquid glue on top.

And when kids are wanting to glue (8:31) pieces of paper and smaller things, you dab your paper on the sponge, and it gets it all sticky on (8:38) the back, and then you paste it where you want it. This is an older technique. I’ve never done it, (8:43) but I really want to try it because the one thing that really bothers me about glue sticks is the (8:48) kids won’t put the caps on.

And so I’m going to try it. I’m going to let you know. Follow me (8:53) on Instagram.

I’ll let you know what I think about them in a STEM space. But I actually don’t have (8:59) any limit on glue. I just, that wasn’t a battle I wanted to fight.

With hot glue guns, it depended (9:05) on the year if I wanted to use hot glue guns. I like to use the lower temperature hot glue guns. (9:13) One thing with that, sometimes they do get clogged over time, and it could be because you might have (9:18) the wrong glue sticks.

Some of the hot glue gun sticks are made for lower temperature. And so if (9:25) have a station for hot glue guns, I would use them second through fifth grade. Make sure that the (9:30) station is at waist height and they’re not on the ground because that can be a little bit of an issue.

(9:37) So I do have specific procedures in place for hot glue guns. I have some posters in my TBT shop you (9:44) can grab. I think it’s Kelly Hogan.

She actually has those in her classroom. She put them in frames, (9:49) which I thought was such a cute idea to hang up posters. So that is something I might do at a (9:55) maker space.

But again, it depends on my budget if I have enough money for the hot glue gun sticks. (10:02) And honestly, if I want to manage it or not. And it depends on the class.

Usually it’s just tape. (10:08) If I’m feeling nice, we’ll do hot glue guns. But it’s not very often that we did.

(10:12) When it comes to the projects, I make sure that their projects are smaller, that they can fit (10:18) in a grocery bag or a gallon size Ziploc bag. A few exceptions to some projects like rollercoasters, (10:25) those are going to be a little bit bigger. But I do make sure their projects are smaller because (10:29) they’re going to finish them a lot quicker.

When you have limited time, you want the projects to (10:34) be a little bit smaller. That’s definitely going to help. And then with that cleanup time, I have (10:39) seen teachers have specific jobs where you need to do certain things.

I don’t do that. Again, (10:45) I didn’t like managing all of that. So I would say, okay, here’s all the things you need to (10:51) do to get cleaned up.

When you’re cleaned up, you’re sitting at your clean table. (10:54) When everybody was sitting down, I would walk around, just make sure everything’s good to go (10:59) before they could line up. So it kind of maybe looked a little bit chaotic, but everybody is (11:04) putting things away.

Sometimes I would bribe them where whichever tables clean up first, (11:09) I’ll give you a prize or you get some sort of incentive. So that can really help too, (11:14) just to make sure everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to do. With those projects, (11:18) I would have them store them in those grocery bags or Ziploc bags.

And I had those big fabric (11:23) tubs and just binder clipped their teacher’s name on it. And they would put all of their plans and (11:29) their projects in that bucket. And then I had a shelf in my classroom.

If anything needed to stay (11:34) standing up, those could be sitting on the shelf. At the very, very, very end of the unit, (11:40) you can have students take a picture or take a video of their work. I loved using Seesaw for (11:45) this purpose.

So everybody gets to take it home. And then maybe one student can bring (11:50) the project home. And if nobody wanted to bring the project home, I would actually have them (11:55) destruct the project where any pieces that can be reused would actually go back in the makerspace (12:02) and have a new life.

I hope these tips help you with some common makerspace management systems (12:08) that definitely need to take place in the classroom. Whether you’ve started them, (12:13) or you had an idea, or you just need to start from scratch. If you want to grab the hot glue gun (12:18) safety posters that I mentioned, I’ll link those for you in the show notes, or you can find them (12:23) in my TPT shop, Naomi Meredith.

If you’re looking for more support when setting up your entire STEM (12:29) space, systems and routines, and how to plan lessons, check out my STEM Teacher 101 course. (12:35) You will get all of the lessons, resources and checklists and can finish everything at your own (12:40) pace. There’s even a private podcast feature, which I think you will love.

For being a podcast (12:47) listener, you can get $30 off my signature STEM Teacher 101 course using this code podcast BFF, (12:55) all one word, no spaces, podcast BFF. And if you’re enjoying these bite sized episodes, (13:01) let me know. I’d love to keep creating quick wins that help support you in your STEM classroom and (13:07) help you get going on your way.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode of the (13:12) elementary STEM coach podcast. I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi (13:17) Meredith underscore, or send me an email to elementary STEM coach podcast at gmail.com. (13:23) Also make sure to check out my website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all the show notes from (13:28) today’s episode and shop my K through five STEM resources. Any questions you have, (13:32) needs for resources or ideas for episodes, get in touch.

I’ll talk to you soon.

 

Check out all of my supplies organized in this video classroom tour:

 

 

How I store students’ supplies and projects between classes

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

Moon Phases STEM Project

Moon Phases STEM Project

Learn more about how moon phases work with this orbit activity. Create a model to demonstrate how the moon orbits Earth and where it’s located for each moon phase using these templates and worksheets to guide the activity. 

Materials Needed for this Moon Phases STEM Project:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Watch the video on how to make this Moon Phases STEM Project

 

Let’s slow it down with step-by-step directions on how to make this easy moon phases STEM Project for kids.

Step 1:

1. [Ask a grown-up to help] Using the thumbtack, carefully punch a hole in the middle of each paper plate.

Tip: If you don’t have two different-sized paper plates, trace and cut out a big and small circle on thin cardboard.

Step 2:

Stack the plates with the smallest on top, and poke the brad fastener through the holes to secure

Step 3:

Cut out these Moon Phase images and glue them clockwise around the small plate in order of when they happen.

Step 4:

Using the air-dry clay, create an Earth and Moon model. Use the markers to color the clay while it’s wet or dry (both will work!)

Tip: Don’t have clay? Use these printable templates instead. 

Step 5:

When the clay dries, tape or glue the Earth in the center of the small plate. Attach the Moon to the edge of the large plate. Draw an arrow next to the Moon pointing counterclockwise. 

Step 6:

Rotate the outer plate counterclockwise to demonstrate the Moon orbiting the Earth and the sequence of moon phases throughout the month. Use this model to help you make observations at night and see which of the Moon Phases is happening. Draw your observations on this worksheet. 

 

Want the templates seen here? You can grab them here in my TpT shop!

If you are looking for…

  • A Low-prep STEM lesson & easy-to-find materials
  • An engaging, hands-on activity that has guided directions
  • Opportunities for students to add their creativity
  • A quick, one-day STEM lesson for after-school clubs, homework extensions, homeschool projects (and more!)

Then this resource is PERFECT FOR YOU!

 

This product includes:

  • Easy project with simple materials
  • Digital & Printable
  • Written & video directions
  • Content-specific vocabulary
  • Science behind the project
  • Resources to explore the topic more
  • Experiment to test the design

 

Grab the full lesson HERE!

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

Simple Supply Organization Tips for Your STEM Classroom [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.196]

Simple Supply Organization Tips for Your STEM Classroom [Back to School STEM Tips Series] [ep.196]

Check out the full episode on Simple Supply Organization Tips for Your STEM Classroom:  

 

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Episode Summary

If you’re in back-to-school mode and starting to set up your classroom, this quick tip will help you think through how to organize your Makerspace or STEM supplies for the year.

In this mini-episode is a clip from Episode 150, and I’m sharing how I set up my supplies to stay organized all year long—without constantly resetting things for every lesson. Whether you have a full Makerspace or just a few bins of supplies, these simple strategies can help make your space more functional and your students more independent.

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I’m your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned K-5 STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master’s degree in STEM leadership, I’m here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

If you’re in back-to-school mode and starting to set up your classroom, this quick tip will help you think through how to organize your makerspace or STEM supplies for the year. This mini episode is a clip from episode 150, and I’m sharing how I set up my supplies to stay organized all year long without constantly resetting things for every lesson. Whether you have a full makerspace or just a few bins of supplies, these simple strategies can help make your space more functional and your students more independent.

Let’s jump in. When it comes to the specific materials that you are setting up, I actually kept my makerspace supplies set up year round, and this was really helpful because if there were times I needed specific materials for certain projects, maybe they were makerspace, maybe they weren’t, I knew where they were at at all times. Now, I was really lucky the furniture in my room had wheels.

I could move them around if needed. I typically didn’t, but I kept all of my supplies out. Everything was labeled with pictures and with words to not only help students who are pre-readers, but all students.

It’s really awesome having everything labeled with pictures and words because you can find exactly where everything goes, and it helps the students be really independent. I already created these labels for you, and there’s an editable slide you can create your own that match. So again, that will also be linked in the show notes.

All these resources that I’m talking about will be linked for you to make it nice and easy. I also kept my staple supplies that are in high demand and are needed for all grade levels, my scissors, my crayons, my markers, and even a spot for pencils all in one location of the classroom. Those were there all of the time, and students knew that they could grab those as needed.

All of my markers were color-coded in drawers, in those paper drawers. If you know what I’m talking about, they’re the three stacked drawers, and you pull them out. I organized them by color because I thought it looked really nice.

It was easier to clean up, and we didn’t use markers all the time. I actually had the same markers for five years, and they were ready to go for probably another five. Markers weren’t used very often in my classroom.

With crayons, I tried a lot of different things. I tried individual supply boxes. I tried those supply caddies where you can have crayons and all sorts of things in one.

I tried big buckets. So what I ended up finding that worked best is I had small metal buckets that were for crayons. They had the little handle.

Those are in Dollar Tree spots all the time. You might even get some for gifts. I know I get those for little gifts all the time.

People give those to me with cool things in them, but I used those for crayons, and they were the perfect size because the crayons could stand up nicely. The kids could grab and go put them at their table, and so it made sharing a lot easier, and they looked really cute too. Scissors and glue sticks were in their own bigger plastic buckets, just some plastic buckets that I had when I first started teaching actually, and then I kept pencils in separate buckets as well.

Now you might be thinking, why did you keep this all separate? Okay, so I did put them all together before. I had the crayons, the pencils, the scissors. They kept getting mixed up, and when I used them with the younger kids, they were so excited that they had scissors and glue sticks all to themselves, and it became a distraction tool, and it really wasn’t organized.

Kids were throwing trash in there, and so if I kept everything separated for certain projects, especially for the younger students again, if they only needed crayons, I could pull out just the crayons. If we only needed scissors, I could pick out just the scissors. It really did make cleanup a lot easier when everything was separated, so think about those staple items.

That was really helpful, and students actually told me how they liked it was organized. I asked them, and they said they really liked it, and the kids would tell me all the time how organized I was, and that’s saying a lot in a STEM classroom where things are happening in projects all the time, and yes, we have projects everywhere, but I’m a very organized person. I’m not very clean.

I’m very organized. There is a difference. If you have your Makerspace set up all year, it doesn’t mean you are doing Makerspace projects all year.

However, I do recommend keeping stock of items year-round. Maybe you ask certain grade levels to help you collect items for a project that is coming up with their grade. You could send out an email to just that grade level, so if you need more pipe cleaners, maybe just that grade level helps you with pipe cleaners.

If you are needing more thin cardboard, I pretty much almost always use thin cardboard. I didn’t use big boxes of cardboard, but if you need thin cardboard, the Teacher’s Lounge is a treasure trove of thin cardboard. I put in a donation box in the Teacher’s Lounge.

I wrote a note on there, hey, any thin cardboard from your meals, put them in this box, and it would be full by the end of the week, and so if I was good on the cardboard, I would take the box away. If I was running low, I put the box back, and it was a really great way to collect cardboard that was going to get thrown away anyway. I hope these tips help you rethink how to store your supplies, whether you’re running a full makerspace or just want a more student-friendly system.

If you want to grab the labels I mentioned or see a few pictures of my setup, I’ve linked those resources for you in the show notes. If you’re looking for more support when setting up your entire STEM space, systems and routines, and how to plan lessons, check out my STEM Teacher 101 course. You will get all of the lessons, resources, and checklists and can finish everything at your own pace.

There’s even a private podcast feature, which I think you will love. For being a podcast listener, you can get $30 off my signature STEM Teacher 101 course using this code PODCASTBFF. All one word, no spaces, PODCASTBFF.

And if you’re enjoying these bite-sized episodes, let me know. I’d love to keep creating quick wins that help support you in your STEM classroom and help you get going on your way. Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode of the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast.

I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, or send me an email to elementarystemcoachpodcast at gmail.com. Also, make sure to check out my website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all the show notes from today’s episode and shop my K-5 STEM resources. Any questions you have, needs for resources, or ideas for episodes, get in touch. I’ll talk to you soon.

 

Check out all of my supplies organized in this video classroom tour:

 

How to Create Labels for your Makerspace Supplies

How to Store Crayons in your STEM Classroom

How I store students’ supplies and projects inbetween classes

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. She has over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate.

She offers a variety of resources to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!