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Make a Bug Hotel from Recycled Materials

by Naomi Meredith

Make a Bug Hotel from Recycled Materials

Help the important pollinators in your area by building a bug hotel. This hands-on lesson will help kids learn more about insects, pollinators and decomposers and how helping these bugs are important by using these templates and worksheets to guide the activity. 

Materials Needed for this Bug Hotel 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 Bug Hotel from Recycled Materials:

 

Let’s slow it down with step-by-step directions on how to make this bug hotel from recycled materials. For more detailed teaching instructions using the Engineering Design Process, you can get that here. 

Step 1:

Trace and cut two rectangle pieces of cardboard that fit inside your container.

Step 2:

Cut halfway down the middle of each piece of cardboard. Stack each piece by criss-crossing them in the slot to form a letter ‘X’

Step 3:

Place the cardboard ‘X’ inside the container.

 

Fill each side of the ‘X’ shape with recycled materials. Make sure to leave room for natural materials. Fold the cardboard tube to create sections.

Step 5:

Cut the straws in half and wrap them together in a bundle using a pipe cleaner.

Step 6:

Cut small rectangles out of thin cardboard and roll into cinnamon roll shapes.

Step 7:

Fill the rest of the bug hotel with natural items from outside. If you’re not adding things from nature right away, print this label on sticker paper and attach to the side of the container. 

 

Need a full lesson for this activity? You can grab that 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:

 

How to Make a Paper Circuit with Copper Tape

by Naomi Meredith

How to Make a Paper Circuit with Copper Tape

 

Learn how to make a paper circuit with copper tape that is powered by a coin cell battery and turn on a small LED diode.

Materials Needed for this Paper Circuit 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 paper circuit with copper tape

 

Let’s slow it down with step-by-step directions on how to make this paper circuit with copper tape.

 

Related Podcast Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

More About The Author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a K-5 STEM educator and business owner in Colorado. She 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 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:

 

Teaching Students How to Use Doodle 3D Transform

by Naomi Meredith

Teaching Students How to Use Doodle 3D Transform

Even if you don’t have a background in CAD (computer aided design), Doodle 3D Transform is a great platform for younger students to get started with designing 3D prints. What I like most about this platform is that kids design on the left-hand side with their drawing, and simultaneously, the 3D version appears on the right. There is a paid app that works best on tablets (highly recommended getting this version if you can), but you can also use the web version on a laptop/desktop as well. There is no need to create an account; just start designing as soon as you. open up the app!

Below are tutorial videos that you can use with kids to help them get started with the basics when creating their designs.

 

Teaching Students How to Use Doodle 3D Transform: Basic Tutorial

Learn more about how to use the CAD software, Doodle 3D Transform. All the creating happens on the left side of the screen (the green side) and simultaneously, your creation will appear on the right side (the pink side) in a 3D view.

 

Teaching Students How to Use Doodle 3D Transform: Saving & Sharing Files

Learn more about how to save files and share files from the CAD software, Doodle 3D Transform.

 

 

Want to learn more about 3D printing?

Join me inside my 2-hour on-demand 3D Printing 101 Workshop for teachers. There is even a great starter lesson you can use right away with your students!

 

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:

 

 

Teaching Students How to Use Tinkercad

by Naomi Meredith

Teaching Students How to Use Tinkercad

how-to-use-tinkercad

Even if you don’t have a background in CAD (computer aided design), Tinkercad is a great platform to get started with designing 3D prints. With my years of experience teaching elementary STEM and 3D printing to kids, Tinkercad has been my number one platform from the start. Below are tutorial videos that you can use with kids to help them get started with the basics when creating their designs.

 

How to use Tinkercad: Tinkercad Basics for Kids

After creating an account, learn how to navigate the basic tools in Tinkercad. Understand how to view the work plane from multiple angles and where to choose different shapes.

 

How to use Tinkercad: Creating and Changing Shapes

Understand how to: add a shape, changing the size, moving shapes, duplicating, stacking shapes and deleting.

How to use Tinkercad: Solids, Shapes and Holes

Learn how to use solid shapes and create holes within shapes.

 

How to use Tinkercad: Adding Words to Designs

Learn how to easily add 3D printed words to your design in Tinkercad.

How to use Tinkercad: How to Download and Prep Student Prints from Tinkercad

This video is created for teachers to watch on how to download the students’ files from Tinkercad and prep them for print in your slicing software. I also share a little tip on what I like to do to share students’ files with their families before their design is even printed!

 

Want to learn more about 3D printing?

Join me inside my 2-hour on-demand 3D Printing 101 Workshop for teachers. There is even a great starter lesson you can use right away with your students!

 

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:

 

Free Coding Resources for Kids at Home

by Naomi Meredith

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

by Naomi Meredith

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

by Naomi Meredith

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.

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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

by Naomi Meredith

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]

by Naomi Meredith

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]

by Naomi Meredith

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!