LibGuides: STEM: Kids STEM

Exploring; STEM for Kids

Kids don't lose their curiosity and creativity once they reach school age, and it's important to allow them to keep exploring their world. There are lots of activities, experiments, and design projects to help kids better understand their world and how STEM fits into it.

Kids STEM Books

	The 5Es of inquiry-based science / Lakenna Chitman-Booker; Kathleen Kopp. Huntington Beach, Calif. : Shell Education, 2013. ISBN:9781425895907		The cool hot rod and other electrifying experiments on energy and matter / Paul Doherty; Don Rathjen; Exploratorium Teacher Institute (San Francisco, Calif.) New York : John Wiley, 1996. ISBN: 9780471115182
	Parent's crash course. Elementary school science fair projects / Faith Hickman Brynie. Hoboken, N.J. ; Chichester : Wiley, 2005. ISBN: 9780764599347		Light & Sound (Science Everywhere!) / Clint Twist. Newforest Press. 2010. ISBN: 9781848982970
	46 science fair projects for the evil genius / Robert L Bonnet; Dan Keen. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2009. ISBN: 9780071600279		Backyard ballistics : build potato cannons, paper match rockets, Cincinnati fire kites, tennis ball mortars, and more dynamite devices / William Gurstelle. Chicago : Chicago Review Press, 2001. ISBN: 9781556523755

Websites for Kids STEM

All Things STEAM
Look under the section called School-Age Science Series to get some great library programs from the Show Me Librarian that can be modified for at-home use.
Funology: Science Experiments
An eye-catching page full of science experiments for parents to do with kids (and some for kids to try on their own), both indoors and outdoors, you're bound to find an activity to do here!
NASA for Kids
This site from NASA offers games and information specifically tailored to kids K-4. Play games, explore space, and find out how space exploration has changed the world.
School Library Journal's STEAM Activity Pinterest Page
Lots of activities aimed at school aged children. Crafts, activities, and experiments range from messy to clean, and from Kindergarten to High School.
Zoom! Science Activities
From PBS, this website ties into the show, but don't worry if you haven't seen it. The activities can be standalone, and come with experiments, printables, and even parent and teacher guides.
Anastasia Suen: Booktalking
Suen, an author and children's book expert, offers STEM & STEAM titles for young readers with appropriate crafts and activities.

Kids STEM Activity Example

Squishy Circuits

This activity helps kids learn about how circuits work, using conductive and insulating playdoughs you can make in school or at home. You'll need a few supplies for this one, so be sure to read through the whole post.

http://stephaniereinhardt.com/2014/01/16/squishy-circuits/

Meet Super Awesome Sylvia (and Her Maker Show!)

Sylvia is a 12-year-old that makes all sorts of projects. She's been making videos of them since she was 8, and both this series of minis (created for Make Magazine) and her full-length episodes are full of projects to try at home. Some of them require an adult's help, so be sure to double check!