Category: DIY

3 Easy Holiday STEM Decorations

Let's get festive for the holidays with these easy STEM decorations! All of these ideas are low-prep and have a nice STEM-twist. Whether you are teaching in the classroom or want a fun virtual background, these ideas will get you into the holiday spirit!

This video originally aired LIVE on my Facebook Page; Naomi Meredith: The STEMTech Co.

Come and join in on the fun on Facebook, or watch the recording of this episode.

STEM Decorations | Watch the recording down below:

Here are the key takeaways from this episode:

Cut & Hang Bulletin Board

It always seems like that during the holidays, there is a bulletin board or door decoration competition to compete in. Or maybe, it's been awhile since the Halloween decorations have been switched out.

Working virtually? These also make for a fun, festive background while teaching.

I've saved you creative-time with this idea. Print, cut out, and hang these decorative pieces for your next bulletin board or door. They can be printed in color or onto colored paper. Of course laminating the pieces so they can be used year after year is also helpful!

Click here for the Let It Code bulletin board kit.

Larger Than Life STEM Characters

Make sure to have ample floor space for this project (and no furry friends or kids running around!). Think about the STEM tools that are used the most in your classroom and ones that kids love. Some ideas might include: LEGO Mini Figures, robots and technology-tools. Create life-sized versions of these to hang in your room for the holidays. Or even year round!

Head on over to your favorite craft store to grab colored poster board to make your creation. Scared of messing up? Sketch what you want each of the pieces to look like on a scratch piece of paper. Notice how each piece is a simple shape that can be cut out, then put together to make the larger design.

See how I created the Dash Robot and a large LEGO Mini-Figure of myself HERE!

Cardboard Maker Tree

Create a makerspace themed tree for your classroom by using this free template. All the materials you need are:

cardboard tube
thin cardboard (think: cereal boxes, pasta boxes, soda can boxes…)
recycled container (for the tree to stand up in)
scissors
razor
tape and/or hot glue gun
(optional) clear plastic ornaments found at craft stores
(optional) small makerspace/STEM type items to fill the ornaments with

To add another layer of the holidays into your room, gift wrap STEM & Winter themed books and place them under the tree. Every day leading up to winter break, unwrap a book each day to count down. It's your own book advent calendar!

Want to find the perfect way to wrap a gift? Try this Gift Wrap STEM Challenge with your class!

Have a great holiday season with a bit of STEM Style!

How to Change Outlook Email Signature

Finally have an email signature created but not sure how to add it in your email? Once added correctly into Outlook, the signature will be automatically added after the body of the email. Follow these easy steps on how to do this in Outlook.

How to Change Outlook Email Signature Video Tutorial

Having an email signature is essential. This allows your audience to know exactly who you are and other ways to contact you in the future. It’s also an opportunity to add a face to the name. With your email signature, you want to make sure people know who you are when it’s best to reach you and other qualifications that make you stand-out and be memorable.

After changing the size dimensions of the Google Slide and editing, this can then be downloaded and inserted into your email platform. If for some reason the image turns out blurry after downloading, screenshot the image. This can sometimes get a more clear image for your email.

Email signatures can be added at the end of all of the message automatically. This isn’t something you need to do manually every single time.

Unsure how to do this?

Click here for the steps on how to create your photo email signature

Not an Outlook user? Click here for the steps on how to add a photo email signature to Gmail

Don’t feel like formatting the dimensions of the Google Slide on your own? I’ve saved you time with my Photo Email Signature Template. Just open, edit, download, and add!

Click here to grab this template for your email signature creation!

DIY: Paper Dash Robot Instructions

DIY paper Dash robot instructions that guide you through making a cute decoration for your class. The larger than life robot is a crowd pleaser and can be made at any time of the year.

Dash Robot Instructions

This robots is one of my most favorites to use with kids in my K-5 STEM classroom. It's durable, easy to code and can be integrated into any content. Check out more in detail what I think of Dash and other awesome robots that can be used in the classroom.

This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the link, no extra cost to you, but I receive a kickback from purchases.

To make Dash, you'll need:

Teal poster board
Black poster board/construction paper
Bright orange poster board/construction paper
White poster board/construction paper
scissors
tape
pencil
3 bowls of various sizes (large, medium, small)

Dash Robot Instructions

First, using the largest bowl, trace 3 circles onto the teal poster board. Then, cut out the circles. I was able to get three on the same sheet, so play around with different bowls in your kitchen to find the perfect size.

There should be some teal poster board left. Cut off a corner to make a large triangle. This will go in the center of dash to connect all of the circle together.

To connect the circles, tape the triangle in the middle of the group. Flip Dash over so you can't see the tape and where everything is connected.

Next, using the medium bowl, trace one orange circle. Cut out.

Then, using a medium bowl, slightly smaller than the first, trace and cut out a white circle.

Finally, using the smallest bowl, trace and cut out a black circle.

Stack all of the circles that were traced and cut out, center and tape together. Tape on the top circle of the Dash outline to create its cute little face.

Finally, ddd the triangle embellishment underneath Dash's head. Like the center triangle, cut a corner off the black poster board to form a triangle. Next, cut a corner off the white poster board to create a smaller triangle.

Again, stack and tape these triangle right below Dash's head.

To secure all the pieces, add any additional tape on the back. If allowed, laminate your giant Dash so it can be used year after year without getting destroyed!

My paper Dash made its first appearance at our 5th grade parade. I taped him on the back of my car (along with my LEGO MiniFig creation, sorry no tutorials for her yet!) When school starts, Dash will fit perfectly in my K-5 classroom with my large bulletin board letters.

For the real robots in your classroom, these fun signs help teach students the rules when using robots during lessons. They also give the robots a “voice” while adding another fun decorating element to your classroom.

DIY Classroom Teleprompters

I love the creativity and rawness when students record their own videos. For most, it takes a lot of practice to be comfortable on camera. {Of course, you have those students are a complete natural and you know they are going to be on TV one day.}

To help students be confident in what they are trying to say and not hide behind their script, here is how you can create your own teleprompter in your classroom.

For items you see in this post, these are my Amazon affiliate links. When you purchase through my link, it's no added cost to you and I get a little kickback in return. Win-win!

Step 1: Beforehand, students can type their script. Have script displayed on computer in a Google Doc. Make the screen fairly large so it’s easier for them to read.

**If the script isn't typed, that's ok! We have just taped the script right onto the iPad stand as close to the camera as possible so their eyes are looking up for the video.

Step 2: If there is more than one person talking, highlight each person’s lines in a different color.

Step 3: Connect a wireless mouse (USB or Bluetooth) and have one of the students scroll down on their script as they are reading so they can control their pace.

Step 4: Practice, practice, practice! I had them practice without recording first, then record a round. They then watched and decide on what changes to make for their final recording.

Bonus Steps! Record in front of a green screen. Use an iPad stand to keep the filming steady. Place your “Teleprompter” directly in front of the iPad stand. The best app that is easy for students to use and is worth the money is Green Screen by Do Ink.

How have you used a teleprompter in your classroom? Let me know and send me a message on Instagram @marvelousmsm

Stay marvelous!

Naomi from Marvelous Ms. Meredith

P.S. Love the iPad stand in the pictures? You can grab it here and also see it in my {free} downloadable list of Top 20 STEM Station Must Haves.

Gmail Email Signature | Adding an Image

Finally have an email signature created but not sure how to add it in your email? Once added correctly into GMail, the signature will be automatically added after the body of the email. Follow these easy steps on how to do this in GMail.

Gmail Email Signature Video Tutorial

Email signatures can be added at the end of all of the message automatically. This isn’t something you need to do manually every single time.

Unsure how to do this?

Click here for the steps on how to create your photo email signature

Not a Gmail user? Click here for the steps on how to add a photo email signature to Outlook.

Don’t feel like formatting the dimensions of the Google Slide on your own? I’ve saved you time with my Photo Email Signature Template. Just open, edit, download, and add!

Click here to grab this template for your email signature creation!

Email Signature Picture Tutorial for Teachers

Having an email signature is essential. This allows your audience to know exactly who you are and other ways to contact you in the future. It's also an opportunity to add a face to the name. With your email signature, you want to make sure people know who you are when it’s best to reach you and other qualifications that make you stand-out and be memorable.

In this video tutorial, the steps for creating an email signature with an image will be shown. All creation is done within Google Slides and then exported as an image.

Email Signature Picture Tutorial Video

Email signatures can be added at the end of all of the message automatically. This isn't something you need to do manually every single time.

Unsure how to do this?

Click here for the steps on how to add a photo email signature to GMail.

Click here for the steps on how to add a photo email signature to Outlook.

Don't feel like formatting the dimensions of the Google Slide on your own? I've saved you time with my Photo Email Signature Template. Just open, edit, download, and add!

Click here to grab this template for your email signature creation!

Category: DIY

3 Easy Holiday STEM Decorations

3 Easy Holiday STEM Decorations

STEM Decorations | Watch the recording down below:

Cut & Hang Bulletin Board

Larger Than Life STEM Characters

Cardboard Maker Tree

Other blog posts you might enjoy:

How to Change Outlook Email Signature

How to Change Outlook Email Signature

How to Change Outlook Email Signature Video Tutorial

Unsure how to do this?

Other blog posts you might enjoy:

DIY: Paper Dash Robot Instructions

Dash Robot Instructions

To make Dash, you'll need:

Dash Robot Instructions

Other blog posts you might enjoy:

DIY Classroom Teleprompters

Gmail Email Signature | Adding an Image

Gmail Email Signature | Adding an Image

Gmail Email Signature Video Tutorial

Unsure how to do this?

Other blog posts you might enjoy:

Email Signature Picture Tutorial for Teachers

Email Signature Picture Tutorial for Teachers

Email Signature Picture Tutorial Video

Unsure how to do this?

Other Blog Posts You Might Enjoy: