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summer STEM projects for kids

3 Summer STEM Projects for Kids [ep.161]

3 Summer STEM Projects for Kids [ep.161]

summer STEM projects for kids

Check out the full episode on 3 Summer STEM Projects for Kids:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

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

Episode Summary

With the days getting warmer and the end of the school year here, you and your students are most likely in summer mode. Or maybe the school year has ended for you, but you’re gearing up to teach summer camp. If you’re looking to keep your kids engaged, I have three summer STEM projects for kids that will help you do just that. The projects are also super low prep, making them perfect for summer.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 3 summer STEM projects for kids that you can do at the end of the school year or during summer camp
  • An overview of each summer STEM project

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

The days are getting warmer, and you are finally finishing up the school year. What are some STEM activities that you can do with your students during these warm days? Or maybe you are hosting a summer camp, or maybe you're even looking for something to do with your own children. In this episode, I'm gonna be sharing with you 3 STEM activities that you can do during the summertime. Some of you out there are fortunate enough to have beautiful days all year long. So, really, these activities that I'm going to describe, you can do at any time of year. And you don't necessarily have to be outside, but I will be sharing some outside options for you. So if you do wanna take the learning outdoors, by all means, go for it. I'm not stopping you.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:03]:

I live in Colorado, and the weather is definitely up and down, and unpredictable. We can have very beautiful days, but in an instant, it can change to something else. So like I said, you could do these activities anywhere. The first STEM activity or theme of activities is all about STEM survival camp. STEM survival camp, if you haven't heard about it, is one of my favorite units that I have ever created from scratch, and I actually had it in mind for the outdoors. A little bit of background if you haven't listened to episode 4 where I explain every single challenge and what we do during this experience. I created STEM survival camp as a way to get my kids outdoors during COVID. It was the back to school time, so for me, the weather was really warm and nice, but I wasn't allowed to have my students share all of the supplies.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:02]:

I still wanted them to build and use the engineering design process, but I didn't have enough funds to supply everybody with their own items for their unique projects. So, during the summer, I actually developed this unit where students will use elements from the outdoors and minimal supplies from your Makerspace to solve various challenges that would happen if you were to survive in the outdoors. This is really great because if you're looking for a stem lesson that is camping-themed or you do want to build with those outside items, STEM survival camp is perfect for you. There are 6 unique challenges that go along with different ways that you would survive in the wilderness. I did this based on these challenges from the show alone. A loan does not fund them or anything like that or affiliated, but that's where I got the inspiration. But there are lots of different things that students have to do, like create a fishing pole and catch the fish. I had different fish templates for them.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:11]:

In one grade level, they actually learned how to sew, so they sewed a hiking backpack prototype, and sewing is a survival skill. That actually is a great thing to learn how to do. Funny enough, I learned how to sew at around 4th grade, but I still use that skill, maybe not so much surviving in the wilderness. But I did buy a dress the other day. And there was something like the dress didn't close the way that I wanted to at the top. So I actually sewed the dress while I was wearing it, and I was a little bit nervous I wouldn't be able to take it off. I was able to. I could take it on and off.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:48]:

I'm, like, alright. There we go. There's a survival skill. My cute dress that I was wearing, I fixed it, and it was good to go. But I also have had kids in that unit where they actually learned how to sew with me, and then they were able to sew things in their real lives, like sewing the patches on their boy scouts or girl scouts jackets, which was super exciting. So this is a really fun, exciting unit. You can do a new lesson each day. You can take this throughout the week.


Naomi Meredith [00:04:21]:

You can shorten it. You can lengthen it. It really is a great, great unit to take outdoors. I highly recommend it, and the summertime is a great time to teach it. The second summer STEM activities that you can do are quick one day challenges, and I call them STEM Career Quest Kits. Now, the reason for this name is that a lot of these kits connect with the episodes that I have recorded on my STEM Career Quest podcast or will be recording, and they are in the process of being renamed. So, if you already have these lessons, they're one day challenges. Like, you can complete them within an hour. They are pretty low prep.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:07]:

They might actually be things that you have at home, but I'm transferring the name from what used to be STEM snack packs to STEM career quest kits because a lot of kids and even parents thought that you eat them. I had a whole idea in mind, but it wasn't perceived how I thought. So they're in the process of getting named STEM Career Quest Kits, and currently, they are digital only activities. So I actually created these during the time kind of the same year. It's funny because I actually got really creative during that 2020-2021 year. I had a lot more time to think about things, which, funny enough openly, me working remotely was the same kind of thing. I'm always coming up with more ideas than I ever have before. Anyway, I created 6 different units, so 4 units in each, that had these STEM activities that were centered around the same theme.


Naomi Meredith [00:06:04]:

So at the time, the STEM Career Quest podcast didn't exist, but I did plan these activities with a theme, and I wasn't allowed to do after school club. So, instead, I had these paid take home stem kits. And so you're thinking, okay, but I'm not doing paid take take home stem kits. That's fine. I'm just kinda giving you a background about this, but the actual activities are activities actually I'm teaching currently in my STEM community events. So what's really great is they're one off lessons. So if you are short on time, you only see kids for 1 hour, You have only, like, a 45-minute session with them. You see the whole school.


Naomi Meredith [00:06:48]:

These are really quick and good activities for that. They do have some open-ended creativity. Some are a little bit more guided where they are creating a model, but they might add their own spin onto it. But I really love creating these because it's those quick one day challenges where all of the directions for basic things that you need to know are laid out for you in order. There is a video to give inspiration that needs to show how to do it. There are some extra challenges, the science behind the project, related stem careers, and additional resources to learn about the topic. So this is a growing collection I'm really diving into. As I said, I am beta testing them in the teaching side of things where I already know they work as a kit, but I'm also teaching them now in smaller groups and then hopefully in other ways as well.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:44]:

But these are really great because some of them actually lend themselves to the outdoors. There is a paddle boat challenge where there is water involved and kids can notice the kinetic and potential energy of the rubber band used. There are some other ones that will be popping up that involve water. So, if you do want very specific water challenges, that's really great as well. As I said, these are in the process of getting renamed, but some of the ones that are not in my TPT shop are actually in the STEM Career Quest club. So, every episode has its own listening comprehension guide and paired STEM activity, and they're usually things that I already have that pair well with that lesson. So there are some of these STEM career quest kit challenges that are in the membership already that I don't have anywhere else. Because at the time, again, I was testing these and pushing out this content where, they're not all beautiful and ready to be in my shop yet, but there are some things that I can put in the club.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:49]:

So, if you want exclusive access, make sure to join that. And there are a lot of other fun things as well, including my monthly virtual field trips. This is a bonus sim activity, but there is a virtual field trip with me teaching the lesson all about bugs. So that's a great connection to your outdoor learning. And the 3rd summer STEM activity that you can try is my engineer inspiration boards. Again, these are quick and easy to prep. They are a one pager. You can print in color or in bat black and white, and they are centered around various themes.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:27]:

I have them set up for the whole entire year. So I actually have seen a lot of teachers who purchase all of the themes, and then they put them in as a station. So maybe they always have this one building station, but they change out the inspiration board that they are using. So it's always changing up what the kids are creating, but the kids are used to that format. Some good summer themes that I have on these boards are pool, garden, and camping. I kinda feel like I'm saying, you know, in the Barbie movie, and they ask Ken, what's your job? And he says, beach. I kinda feel like just now, when I said the topics, that's what I was just saying. But, anyway, there are 9 different images that go along with that theme.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:16]:

I don't think the beach is a theme, but the pool is. But they go along with that theme, and then kids can build the items on those boards with anything they have on hand. And this could even be things from the outdoors. So maybe you have these boards printed out and ready to go. You have them in a binder or one of those 3 binder rings, 3-inch binder rings. And you have them on the go, and kids are building what you already have or things from the outdoors. So these are really, really fun. They're great for fast finishers as well.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:49]:

I actually bring these along to my community events, so I have some building materials on hand, some like hashtag blocks and some Lego bricks. And if I have kids who come in early or if they're finishing up fast, I have these as a fast finisher option. It just gives them some good ideas, some talking points to help build something that they see or remind them of something else that they already have thought of and seen before. One thing that I like to do as well, so I told you about the binders, is I also have those cool containers that are all colorful, and then they go in that carrying case or those photo containers, but teachers love them. I love them. I have a couple of them, actually. But I actually will print out the engineer inspiration board smaller and laminate and have the different options in those buckets. So when I actually create them, I create the smaller versions anyway.


Naomi Meredith [00:11:43]:

So when you get access to these boards, you have all those various sizes done for you. Just print the size that you want. This was a quick episode because I know that you are busy and on the go and you are looking for some quick solutions. So, as a quick recap, here are those 3 summer stem activities that you can try. First is the STEM survival camp. Next are those STEM Career Quest kits that are those quick one day challenges. Say that 5 times fast. And then 3rd are those engineer inspiration boards.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:20]:

What are some other cool summer STEM activities you like to try? Let me know. Send me a DM on Instagram at namiemeredith_. Or, if you are watching the video version of this, you can also add a comment below. Thank you so much. Hope you're doing well, and I'll see you in the next episode.

summer STEM projects for kids

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach 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!

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!

end of year science activities

3 End of Year Science Activities & STEM Challenges [ep.159]

3 End of Year Science Activities & STEM Challenges [ep.159]

end of year science activities

Check out the full episode on 3 End of Year Science Activities & STEM Challeges:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

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

Episode Summary

It’s the end of the school year, which means it can be a crazy and overwhelming time in your STEM classroom. Even with the kids excited about summer break, you can still keep them engaged and learning in your STEM classroom. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 3 end of year science activities that you can easily implement in your classroom. Even if your school year has ended, these are great activities to use if you’re teaching summer camp or have your own kids home with you for the summer. 

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 3 end of year science activities for your STEM classroom
  • Tips for easily implementing these STEM activities
  • Resources to make your end of year science activities easy to implement

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

The end of the school year can be crazy and overwhelming in any type of classroom. What are some STEM and science activities that you can do to keep kids engaged and still learning? I'm sharing with you lessons that are easy to prep and that your students will definitely enjoy. And if you are already done with school and you have kids of your own or you are gonna be teaching some summer camp opportunities, these also work well for summer learning. Okay. So, on to the activities. What are some fun things that you can still do at this crazy time of year? I know, like, I've been on both sides. So I was a classroom teacher for 6 years, and then k through 5 STEM. So, I understand the different ways that kids can respond in different spaces.


Naomi Meredith [00:00:54]:

But even as a classroom teacher, doing those hands on things actually are really, really good for kids, and they absolutely love it. And it's a great way to harness their energy and do something really productive. So, what are some kinds of things that you can plan for? First of all, think about some Makerspace challenges. And if you're in the classroom, like, nope. No Makerspace. I can't do it. Think really small. You can use things that you already have in your classroom.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:23]:

You can ask your kids for donations and maybe collect some things at home. You would be surprised how quickly things add up in your own home when it comes to cardboard or different cardboard tubes. They add up really, really fast. Another way I really liked collecting materials that added up very quickly as I put a box in our teacher's lounge, especially when you have no time to cook, you have no energy. There are so many things happening in school and also out of school at this time that freezer meals are a great staple. And so I would put a box in the teacher's lounge, and I wrote a little sign, like, put your empty boxes in here. I'll collect them. And those freezer meal boxes are perfect for building with, because kids can use their regular scissors to cut.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:13]:

And they are small, manageable size, and you didn't really have to do much, send another letter home or anything. This is also a really good way for kids to use up their school supplies before taking them home. So, when you are planning a Makerspace challenge, you can keep it very simple. They don't have to be overly complicated. One way to do this is to look at the standards that you have and the standards that lend themselves perfectly for building. So look for keywords that say create a model, demonstrate, and show the process. And it's okay if this is our review time of science concepts, or maybe there's something you did teach, but it wasn't very hands-on. There is so much to learn about science and look at it in a different way.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:03]:

I still taught with all of the standards in my STEM classroom, even though I knew the kids were learning it in their classroom, but they knew they weren't doing it in STEM ways. So don't feel like, oh, we already did it. No. There's so much to learn about science. Who knows if kids grasped it the first time? Do it again in a new way. You can also do this on the flip side, so we have that nonfiction way. Think about STEM and stories. This is a really great way where kids to build and solve a problem in the story or create an alternate ending.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:35]:

They can create a new solution. One way I know this isn't summer, but this is one that came off the top of my head. But think about the story of the gingerbread man. A traditional story where the gingerbread man goes in the water, and the wolf is like, oh, I'll, or the fox will help you. I'll help you. And, sadly, the gingerbread man didn't exist. So what if the gingerbread man was a little bit smart, had some engineering skills, and students could build a boat to help the gingerbread man get across? So, just a quick example there, pretty, pretty fun. Another way that you can do this Makerspace is I actually did this at the end of the year.


Naomi Meredith [00:04:16]:

I purposely tried it out brand new at the end of the year because I wanted to do Makerspace, and it was a great success. I did a whole STEMUSEMENT PARK theme, so every grade level was exploring force and motion, and had a different Makerspace challenge of a different area of the park, and they were building to solve that problem. It was amazing. Kids were engaged. It was a great way to clean out my supplies and get it all restocked and cleaned out and ready to go for the next year. So, I'm telling you, Makerspace is so much fun at the end of the year. Another way that you can keep kids engaged during this busy time is to take them outside. Yes, to play.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:00]:

We know that. We want to enjoy the air, fresh air. Here in Colorado, our weather is so crazy in the spring, it's hit or miss. But there is so much science outside. Maybe you do something, they have a nature journal where they're making observations, and you go out at the same time every day and see if there are things that they notice. And it could even be tracking the weather. I recently just got a bird feeder at my house and, that could be something, too. You could build a bird feeder in Makerspace.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:30]:

Bonus lesson for you. I just got a bird feeder at my house, and I actually had to move the bird feeder because in the first location, all the squirrels thought it was their own buffet, and they were fighting over the food. So I had to move it where the squirrels can't get it. And I got so excited when I've got my first two birds in my little feeder, and I could even I'm really trying to figure out what kind of birds they are. I need that look a little bit closer. So you could do the same thing with your kids. Also, along with that, if you're making observations, you can explore shadows and bring some chalk out there. Again, go out at different times of day and have kids trace each other, or maybe you have an object that they have to find the shadow and notice where how the shadow changes at different types of day, kinda like a sundial.


Naomi Meredith [00:06:20]:

You could notice bugs safely. Maybe, depending on where you live, you might know where to look for. Something that I've done I do this actually at the beginning of the year, but it would work very well at the end of the year. It's having a whole STEM survival camp theme where part of their building challenges, they actually have to go outside and find their materials. So you can even think about combining that Makerspace idea. Is there a way can they get materials from the outdoors to build their projects? And lastly, another way to keep students engaged, but you also would like a calm transition activity that is still learning. I did this all the time when I taught 3rd grade. Is and this is also really good too.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:03]:

If you come back from a field trip, it's not as stimulating as a show. But podcasts for kids are really, really great and a good use of having them practice their listening comprehension. You probably are doing read alouds in your classroom already, and podcasts are very similar, but even they can have more audio elements where it's kinda like watching a show, but you're listening and really comprehending what is happening. A great way to get started with a podcast is to have students draw what they visualize. They can do this on paper. I actually like to do this on Seesaw. It's free to get started. This is not an ad.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:45]:

I just love using it. But I would link in Seesaw 3 different episodes that were related to weather. That's what we were studying. Students got to choose their episode and then draw what they were visualizing. They could turn in multiple pages as they listened, but it was really, really cool and helped them think about the weather in a different way. You can also have guided comprehension questions that are related to the episode. So maybe you already pre listened to it. You can come up with some questions you guys are answering along the way.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:16]:

And then if it's your first time too with podcast, it is something to help students learn how to listen. And so you can even break up the podcast into chunks if it's their first time, so you could listen to a little bit each day. My favorite ones to use with kids are science-based, is brains on, super fun, tumble science, similar, similar vibes, different people. And then, I'm very biased, but my podcast for kids the STEM Career Quest podcast, where I interview people in STEM careers. So as a recap, the 3 ways that we talked about ways to keep kids engaged is trying out Makerspace challenges, taking your kids outside by making it a learning experience, and trying out podcasts. If you really want something low prep and you were really interested in that podcast idea, for my STEM Career Quest podcast, I've been really focusing on it from the beginning to make it very educational. And so, for every single episode, there are listening comprehension guides that are specific to that episode. So there are career quests where kids actually have to listen for the answer, and then I reveal the answers at the end.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:32]:

There are some fun facts about the topic. There are there is a video and audio version, so you can choose your own adventure. There are, slides of the video version that where it is broken up into those chunks, so you don't have to keep track of where you are. You can listen to or watch that segment to really go through that process throughout the week. Also, these are all inside my STEM Career Quest club. You also get a paired comprehension guide or paired stem activities. Yes, you get comprehension guides, but paired stem activities that go along with each episode so you can make those connections. A new feature that we just added is on demand virtual field trips.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:14]:

So it's an hour-long experience where you get to have me in your classroom watch at any time. There are guided activities that are differentiated and leveled that you can print out, and it's a visual interactive experience where they're not sitting, but there's an activity to go along with it. If this sounds perfect for you, you can find out more about the club at my website, naomimeridith.com. Click on the little tab that says clubs and then STEM Career Quest Club. It is all laid out for you, and it's always linked in the episode show notes for every single episode. Thank you so much for joining me. I hope this gives you some inspiration and some fun ideas to make the end of the year not so overwhelming. You can always send me a DM on Instagram.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:58]:

You can find me at Naomi Meredith_. Mention my website, Naomi Meredith.com, and you can find all the links to the things. But I would love to hear from you if you have any questions, and enjoy the rest of your school year.

 

end of year science activities

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach 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!

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!

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids

end-of-year-stemThe weather is getting warmer and the students are bouncing off the walls. What are some end of the year STEM activities to help capture that energy? Check out these ideas that can be implemented in the elementary classroom. With minimal materials, many of these can even be taken outside. Enjoy the end of the school year with these hands-on activities that will also build memories.

 

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids | Not a Box Marble Maze

After reading the book, ‘Not a Box', students design a marble maze using Makerspace supplies. Dive in deeper by creating game rules, modify using a checklist and receive peer feedback.

This lesson can be worked on throughout the day as a long-term project. Or, only choose to plan and design. There are many different options with this lesson which makes it perfect for the end of year.

Materials needed: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, cardboard boxes, plastic straws, masking tape and marbles

Click here to grab this lesson for your class! 

end-of-year-stem

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids | Build a Shelter Challenge

How can you build a shelter that will withstand the elements? This STEM lesson follows the Engineering Design Process and can even be done outside! Students can use a combination of materials found outside, along with items found in the Makerspace to build a structure that can withstand rain, snow and wind.

Learning how to reiterate their designs is powerful for students in their growth mindset journey. This lesson tests those components. Read more in detail about how I taught this lesson HERE

Materials needed: items collected from outside, masking tape, plastic grocery bags, string, paper bags

Click here to grab this lesson for your class! 

end-of-year-stem-projects

end-of-year-stem

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids | STEM Get to Know You

Have students reflect on their favorite STEM activities and topics from throughout the year. This digital activity can also show off their design skills built from during the year. Even if this was completed at the beginning of the school year, it would be interesting to see how students' thoughts changed. 

Materials needed: can be printed, but any student device compatible with Google Slides, PowerPoint or Seesaw.

Click here to grab this lesson for your class! 

 

stem-get-to-know-you

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids | Insect Makerspace

After researching about their favorite insect, students can build it using various Makerspace supplies. Students can even invent their own insect and make sure they have all body parts that make and insect, well, an insect!

Materials needed: various Makerspace materials

Click here to grab this lesson for your class!


end-of-year-stem

End of Year STEM Activities for Kids | Kid-Safe Slime

Even if students have made slime many times before, add a twist to this lesson. By exploring this non-Newtonian fluid, students have many tests to determine which slime recipe is best. All three recipes are written in smaller proportions to keep material cost low and accessible for many classrooms. 

Materials needed:

  • Unicorn Slime {glue, water, food coloring, glitter, saline solution}
  • Smoothie Slime {glue, water, food coloring, Tide laundry detergent}
  • Fluffy Slime {Crayola model magic air dry clay, lotion}

Click here to grab this lesson for your class! end-of-year-stem-projects

 end-of-year-stem

I hope these ideas help to have a successful end of the school year!

 

Resources Mentioned in this post:

Other Blog Posts You Might Enjoy:

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end-of-year-stem

What questions do you have about STEM Survival Camp? Feel free to direct message me on Instagram, @naomimeredith_ and I would love to chat with you!