The STEM Space: Recent Episodes
Vivify STEM
Two engineers turned educators discuss resources, tips, and current events within the scope of STEM education.
Show Summary:
Natasha and Claire return to unpack an essential question for STEM educators: Should you be using the Design Process or the Engineering Design Process in your classroom? With a mix of practical advice and personal stories, they explore how each approach supports creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. Whether you're a seasoned STEM teacher or just getting started, you'll hear thoughtful insights on when to emphasize open-ended design thinking versus structured problem-solving. Plus, the hosts dive into the importance of developing key “making” skills—like prototyping, tool use, and collaborative iteration—to empower students as confident creators and problem solvers. Tune in for a conversation that will help you make informed decisions to best support your students' growth as future innovators.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM vs. STEAM+
-
Would an Engineer Solve Your Problem?
-
Training Astronauts ft. NASA's Ike Theriot
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM Learning?
I Didn’t Always Want to be an Engineer | Claire
Vivify STEM Lessons
Eating in Space STEM Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Other STEM Resources
Food Truck Championship of Texas
The Facebook post that started this conversation!
Space Colony Competition
SEEC (Space Exploration Educators Conference)
NASA | Meet the Teams Leading Moonwalking Test Mission (ft. Ike Theriot)
Subscribe to the Vivify Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Have you used ST Math in your classroom? In today’s episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Ki Karou, Senior Director of Product at MIND Education, creators of this game-based math program. Their goal is to challenge students through active, visual learning and critical thinking that teaches students not only to learn math, but how to think. Tune in on a great conversation including how Ki believes we should shift from “real-world” problem solving to “meaningful” problem-solving.
About Ki Karou:Ki Karou, senior director of product at MIND Education, overseeing an entire team that is all about practical, low-lift strategies for sparking meaningful math conversations in any classroom—no extra prep, no fancy materials needed. It’s super actionable stuff for teachers who want to make math more collaborative and engaging without blowing up their lesson plans.
About Mind Education: MIND Education is transforming math learning with neuroscience-driven, game-based programs like ST Math, designed to make math visual, intuitive, and accessible. With over 25 years of research-backed solutions, they empower students to develop deep conceptual understanding and build confidence in problem-solving. Their mission is simple: help students think, not just memorize, creating meaningful learning experiences that change how math is taught and understood.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Secret to Loving Math ft. Nichole Austion of the National Math and Science Initiative
-
Seeing Students as Mathematicians ft. Cherelle McKnight of Illustrative Mathematics
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Claire: I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM - Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking
FREE! - Using Geometry to Build a Safe Shelter!
Paper Football Math Activity
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
FREE! - Add Math Practice to any Design Challenge using these Editable Budget Sheets
Other STEM Resources
Ki Karou | LinkedIn
MIND Education
The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter book
“And you think they’ll qualify for Bletchley because they’re good at crossword puzzles?” Imitation Game clip
Gain access to our 200+ Lessons (& growing) STEM Space Library!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
VIVIFY BLUESKY
Show Summary:
What happens when you bring physical education into the STEM classroom? In this episode of The STEM Space, we’re joined by Naomi Hartl, Education Strategist at School Specialty, who is excited about the possibilities of exactly that! With a teaching background that spans subjects such as biology, math, health, and PE, Naomi shares her passion for integrated learning that supports the whole child. She describes a favorite lesson that blends sports movement with physics and walks us through the surprising overlaps between PE and STEM standards. I think you will enjoy this energizing conversation that may spark ideas on how to bring health and wellness into your STEM classroom!
About Naomi Hartl:Naomi Hartl is on a mission to transform education. With a diverse background spanning biology, mathematics, health education, physical education, home economics, and career education, she brings a wealth of expertise to the table. A proud graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, Naomi began her teaching journey in her home province before taking her passion for learning to Oregon, USA. Since joining School Specialty in 2015, she has played a pivotal role in curriculum development and writing, ultimately stepping into her current role as Education Strategist for PE, Health & Wellness, and HS Science. Driven by a commitment to empowering educators and students, Naomi curates innovative solutions that foster safe, equitable, and impactful learning experiences. Her work is shaping the future of education—one inspired classroom at a time.
About School Specialty: School Specialty is a leading provider of educational products, services, and solutions designed to support student success. With a comprehensive portfolio that includes classroom supplies, furniture, curriculum resources, and professional development, they help schools create engaging and effective learning environments. Their mission is to empower educators and students by delivering innovative tools that enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM Overload: A STEM Space Q&A
-
AI Tips for Teachers ft. Lauren Kelly
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The Story Behind Heart Rate Math
Best Free AI Tools for Educators
Design A School Garden STEM Project
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Careers BINGO Game: Biosciences Version
Simple Machines Toy Factory STEM Challenge
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
Naomi Hartl | LinkedIn
School Specialty
PE Standards
Science Standards - NSTA and ISTE
Arduino
Raspberry Pi
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
How do we help kids make better decisions, such as in STEM challenges? In this episode of The STEM Space, we’re joined by Ramin Mohajer and Alison Stumacher from the Alliance for Decision Education. Ramin, a former corporate attorney turned nonprofit leader, is the Deputy Director of Organizational Development and believes students need cognitive tools—not just rules—to manage choices like screen time. Alison, a longtime educator, now works as the Deputy Director of Education to bring Decision Education into classrooms to help students navigate choices in school, relationships, and life.
Enjoy this thought-provoking conversation that may spark new ways to support your students as confident, capable decision-makers.
About Ramin Mohajer:Ramin, Deputy Director of Organizational Development at the nonprofit Alliance for Decision Education, believes that decision-making skills are the missing piece in this conversation. Rather than relying solely on school-wide cellphone bans, educators can equip students with the cognitive tools to regulate their own screen use—an essential skill for future scientists, engineers and problem-solvers.
About Alison Stumacher: Alison, Deputy Director of Education at the Alliance for Decision Education, is focused on ensuring that all students have access to the skills and tools they need to make better decisions. With over two decades in education across classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and leadership roles, she now works on developing solutions to bring Decision Education into classrooms—helping students build the skills they need to navigate choices in school, relationships, and life.
About the Alliance for Decision Education: The Alliance for Decision Education is a national nonprofit dedicated to making decision-making skills a core part of K-12 education. They believe that better decisions lead to better lives and work with educators and experts to equip students with essential cognitive tools, empowering them to navigate challenges both in and out of the classroom. Through innovative curricula and community initiatives, the Alliance is transforming education to foster confident, capable decision-makers for a better society.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Getting Kids to Think
-
How to Motivate Students
-
Think Like A Scientist
-
How to Motivate Students and Regulate Emotions in STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Thrilling STEM Activities for Kids: Roller Coaster Challenge
Catapult Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons
Upstairs Downstairs Brain Paper Circuit SEL STEM Activity
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 6-8
Catapult STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Alliance for Decision Education
Ramin Mohajer
Alison Stumacher
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha sits down with Jonathan Schor, visionary co-founder and CEO behind CodeMonkey. This award-winning, game-based platform isn’t just fun; it equips students with real-world coding skills in a way that makes computer science accessible and exciting for every classroom. Discover how Jonathan’s leadership has propelled CodeMonkey into a globally trusted tool for educators, and get inspired by his journey as he shares the impact of this groundbreaking platform and what the future holds for K-12 coding. Tune in now and get ready to re-imagine the possibilities in your classroom!
About Jonathan Schor, CEO of CodeMonkey: Jonathan Schor is the driving force behind CodeMonkey, an award-winning game-based platform that teaches real-world coding skills to students in a fun and engaging way. With a passion for making coding accessible to learners of all ages, Jonathan has helped shape CodeMonkey into a global tool for educators looking to bring computer science into their classrooms. Under his leadership, CodeMonkey has reached millions of students worldwide, empowering the next generation of problem-solvers and creators. We’re excited to dive into Jonathan’s journey, the impact of CodeMonkey, and what’s next for coding in STEM education.
About CodeMonkey: Write Code. Catch Bananas. Save the World. CodeMonkey was founded in 2014, based on Jonathan’s successful experiences in teaching young children to code through playful activities. Today, at CodeMonkey brings fun, knowledge and opportunity into the lives of millions of learners around the world. CodeMonkey envisions a global playful learning experience where the next generations of coders are born and raised. CodeMonkey aims to create an engaging platform where programming knowledge is acquired alongside 21st century skills through collaboratively playing and solving puzzles, inventing, creating and sharing.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Implement Game-Based Learning ft. André Thomas
-
How AI Will Transform Education ft. André Thomas
-
An AI Lesson Gone Awry
-
AI Tips for Teachers ft. Lauren Kelly
-
Making Tech Education Accessible ft. imagi Co-Founders
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Best Free AI Tools for Educators
Top 3 AI Tools for Educators
Hour of Code Resources + Unplugged Coding Activity
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Vivify STEM Lessons
Intro to Coding STEM Activity
Technology Choice Boards
Other STEM Resources
CodeMonkey
Code.org
Scratch, Jr.
Tynker
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire is back — and she’s taking us to the edge of space!Listen in as she shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching a weather balloon nearly 89,000 feet into the atmosphere! Despite flooding in Texas, a helium tank mix-up, and a few unmotivated students, her class pulled off one of the ultimate STEM challenges: a high-altitude balloon mission with a successful recovery! Tune in to hear what happened to the onboard science experiment, and get all the details on how to plan your own stratospheric STEM adventure.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Previously, with Claire: 178. Getting Kids to Think
- We Launched a Weather Balloon
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Launching Weather Balloons
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
The Importance of Failure
I Didn’t Always Want to be an Engineer | Claire Meschkat
Vivify STEM Lessons
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Technology Choice Board Bundle - STEM Careers, Field Trip, & Types of Tech
FREE! - Interview Questions to ask STEM Professionals
Other STEM Resources
High Altitude Science
Air Tractor
Rounds of severe thunderstorms bring giant hail, torrential rain and tornadoes (24-26 April 2025) | NWS
Vivify STEM YouTube: How to Launch a Weather Balloon to the Edge of Space: STEM Project Guide
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with UCLA researchers Dr. Jean Ryoo and Dr. Jane Margolis—leaders on the frontlines of broadening K–12 computer science education. Their research inspired Power On!, a graphic novel that follows four high school students confronting technology’s harmful impact, urging young readers to evolve into critical creators rather than passive users. Dr. Ryoo champions culturally responsive computing by amplifying minoritized student voices, while Dr. Margolis—an advocate for equity since 1994 and a White House Champion of Change honoree—brings decades of experience to the conversation. Tune in for a dynamic discussion on empowering students to thoughtfully navigate and shape the future of technology.
About Dr. Ryoo: Dr. Jean Ryoo is the Director of Research at UCLA’s Computer Science Equity Project, championing equity in STEM by amplifying minoritized voices. Her work transforms research into action—highlighted by Power On!, a graphic novel published by MIT Press—and she collaborates with initiatives like Girls Who Code and the Exploratorium’s Tinkering Studio. An AERA Jan Hawkins Early Career Award honoree with support from NSF, the Gates Foundation, and others, she earned her Ph.D. from UCLA, her Master’s in Teaching from Hawai’i, and her Bachelor’s from Harvard.
About Dr. Margolis: Dr. Jane Margolis is a transformative leader in equitable computer science education. As a Senior Researcher Emerita at UCLA, she’s been challenging the status quo since 1994 by championing the inclusion of women and students of color. Co-author of Power On! and the groundbreaking texts Unlocking the Clubhouse and Stuck in the Shallow End, she helped launch the UCLA CS Equity Project and build a lasting partnership with LAUSD. Named a White House Champion of Change in 2016, Margolis’s work continues to redefine who gets to shape our digital future.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Secret to Loving Math ft. Nichole Austion of the National Math and Science Initiative
-
Getting Kids to Think
-
STEM Overload: A STEM Space Q&A
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Host a Debate in Your Science Classroom
10 Simple Summer STEM Activities
Engineer a New Fruit! Genetics STEM Lab Activity
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE! - Grocery Store STEM Scavenger Hunt
Manipulating Genetics: GMO STEM Unit + Classroom Debate (5E Model)
Other STEM Resources
NGS Magnified
Science in the Wild: 52 Fun Projects and Activities to Explore, Discover, and Learn from Nature | Book by Dr. Erica Colón
The STEM Space at Home Series | Vivify YouTube
Access 200+ STEM Lessons when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha sits down with Dr. Erica Colón, the visionary behind NGS Magnified—formerly known as Nitty Gritty Science—to explore the profound impact of science education. Erica shares her journey of sparking curiosity in students and how that passion evolved into equipping educators with the tools to deliver engaging and accessible science instruction. She emphasizes that science doesn’t have to be complex to be meaningful—simple, hands-on activities can foster a deep appreciation for the natural world and inspire lifelong discovery. Throughout the conversation, Erica offers valuable insights on making science both fun and approachable, ensuring students and educators alike feel empowered in their learning journey.
About Erica: Dr. Erica Colón is a National Board Certified Teacher with over twelve years of teaching experience in 6th-12th grade secondary science, including Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Marine Science. In 2008 Erica earned her Master’s in Educational Administration but quickly realized her passion was working with science teachers. Erica returned to earn her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in science and technology, and in 2012, she founded Nitty Gritty Science, LLC, where she continues to design and publish science curriculum which can be found in thousands of classrooms around the globe!
Dr. Colón also organizes and hosts the Champions For Science Virtual Conference Series for science educators, where extraordinary leaders, creators, and innovators in science education come together to focus on the most important matter – our students –the future CHAMPIONS FOR SCIENCE!
About NGS Magnified: NGS Magnified, formerly Nitty Gritty Science, is dedicated to making science engaging and accessible for both students and educators. With a focus on simplifying complex concepts, they provide interactive lessons, curriculum support, and professional development to empower teachers in the classroom. Their mission is to spark curiosity and deepen scientific understanding through creative teaching strategies and hands-on learning experiences.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Secret to Loving Math ft. Nichole Austion of the National Math and Science Initiative
-
Getting Kids to Think
-
STEM Overload: A STEM Space Q&A
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Host a Debate in Your Science Classroom
10 Simple Summer STEM Activities
Engineer a New Fruit! Genetics STEM Lab Activity
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE! - Grocery Store STEM Scavenger Hunt
Manipulating Genetics: GMO STEM Unit + Classroom Debate (5E Model)
Other STEM Resources
NGS Magnified
Science in the Wild: 52 Fun Projects and Activities to Explore, Discover, and Learn from Nature | Book by Dr. Erica Colón
The STEM Space at Home Series | Vivify YouTube
Access 200+ STEM Lessons when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha sits down with Nichole Austion — children’s book author and Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Nichole shares the story behind her book Miles and the Math Monsters, inspired by her son’s journey to overcome struggles with math, where the character discovers math to be a helpful companion intertwined in their everyday environment. Listen in as she shares an excerpt of her book and practical advice on fostering a positive math identity in children.
About Nichole Austion, VP of Public Affairs at NMSI: Nichole Austion is the Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), where she leads marketing and government relations. With a focus on STEM advancement, Nichole orchestrates strategic initiatives, bridging marketing and government relations to amplify NMSI’s impact nationwide. Her expertise stems from her work with global technology firms like Sabre Holdings and Teradata, where she drove multimillion-dollar revenue through innovative marketing strategies. She is the author of “Miles and the Math Monsters,” a children’s book that transforms math into a friendly presence, encouraging children to see it as a helpful companion intertwined with their everyday environment. She holds an engineering degree from Howard University and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.
About National Math and Science Initiative: The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving STEM education in the U.S. It focuses on expanding access to high-quality math and science programs, particularly for students who face barriers to educational opportunities. Since its founding in 2007, NMSI has worked with schools, teachers, and policymakers to enhance STEM learning and prepare students for careers in STEM fields.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Why Math Matters ft. CEO of NMSI
-
Seeing Students as Mathematicians ft. Cherelle McKnight of Illustrative Mathematics
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2
- Why Does Belonging Matter in STEM Education?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE! - Add Math Practice to any Design Challenge using these Editable Budget Sheets
Catapult Challenge
Stomp Rocket Challenge
FREE! - Space for You in STEM Inspirational Posters
Break Down Stereotypes! Who is a STEM Professional? Game
FREE! - Women in STEM Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
Nichole Austion | LinkedIn
National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
Miles and the Math Monsters book
NMSI Professional Development Services
Webinar | Breaking Boundaries: Celebrating Black Excellence in STEM (ft. Nichole Austion, Joan Higginbotham, and Dr. Ciara Sivels)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Cherelle McKnight on all things math, including building a positive math identity, the systematic barriers in math education, and the challenges teachers face in the math classroom. Cherelle is a former mathematics teacher who now works as the director of PK–5 content development at Illustrative Mathematics, a non-profit organization that offers free K-12 math curriculum with a mission to create a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics.
About Cherelle McKnight, Director of PK-5 Content Development at Illustrative Mathematics: Cherelle McKnight received a BA in audio production and a minor in human development from Howard University. Cherelle went on to complete her MA, specializing in PK–5, at Mercer University.
Cherelle has served as a mathematics teacher, coach, curriculum and instruction specialist, and consultant. She is passionate about supporting students, teachers, and parents and helping them develop positive mathematical identities. Cherelle is currently the director of PK–5 content development at Illustrative Mathematics.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Cherelle is a Formula 1 driver. (Cherelle loves to play Mario Kart.) She and her wife are the proud pawrents of a Frenchie.
About Illustrative Mathematics: Illustrative Mathematics (IM) has created research-backed, standards-aligned K–12 mathematics curricula since its founding in 2011. Thoughtfully designed and expert-authored, IM’s comprehensive suite of math curricula is designed to encourage inclusive, engaging mathematical discussions supported by tasks, lesson plans, professional learning, and community.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2
-
Why Math Matters ft. CEO of NMSI
-
Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Claire: I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE! - Using Geometry to Build a Safe Shelter!
Paper Football Math Activity
FREE! - Add Math Practice to any Design Challenge using these Editable Budget Sheets
Other STEM Resources
Illustrative Mathematics
Inviting Students to the Math Party: Creating an Inclusive and Engaging Math Community blog by Cherelle McKnight
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire is in survival mode as she juggles multiple big STEM projects, including a weather balloon launch to the stratosphere! Claire and Natasha also chat about something we’ve both noticed in our classrooms: how students don’t know how to think through a problem. Instead of pausing to figure things out, they immediately ask for help. So in this episode, we’re talking about ways to encourage our students to slow down, think critically, and build those problem-solving muscles.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Motivate Students
-
Think Like A Scientist (mystery box)
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 STEM Activities for Spring
Weather Balloon
7 Ideas for Teaching Social Studies with STEM
Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Plant Device (Botany STEM Challenge)
Weather Balloon Project Guide
STEM Explorers: Ancient Egypt Chariot Challenge or Chile Solar Car Challenge
Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge - K-3 or 4-10
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM
Other STEM Resources
TikTok | Weather Balloon and STEM Explorers (ft. Chariot Challenge)
Instagram | STEM Explorers (ft. Chariot Challenge) and Weather Balloon
YouTube | Weather Balloon
Rosie Revere, Engineer book
More Vivify Recommended STEM Books
Rube Goldberg Contests
Teacher Talk: STEM Career Chats (YouTube playlist)
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of the Two Bit Circus Foundation, a nonprofit transforming STEAM education through hands-on, student-driven learning. Dr. Hanes highlights the power of makerspaces and how her organization upcycles industrial materials into creative classroom tools. She also advocates for embracing AI in education. While some fear student use of AI, she encourages AI as a tool to level the playing field, providing personalized support for students and helping teachers enhance learning for all.
About Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of Two Bit Circus Foundation: Dr. Leah Hanes blends creativity, leadership, and a passion for education in her work at Two Bit Circus Foundation. From award-winning TV production in Toronto to talent representation in Hollywood, she has built a career driven by storytelling and innovation.
Her early life on a Canadian farm shaped her commitment to sustainability, while her studies in Early Childhood Education fueled her dedication to hands-on learning. With a Master’s in Organizational Management and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, she continues to champion student-driven, experiential education that prepares learners for the future.
About Two Bit Circus Foundation: Two Bit Circus Foundation is a Los Angeles based 501(c)3 nonprofit that creates STEAM learning experiences for kids that inspire innovation and entrepreneurship by building games, telling stories with technology, and challenging kids to make what they imagine using sustainable materials and STEAM.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Design a Makerspace
-
Think Like a Scientist
-
AI Tips for Teachers ft. Lauren Kelly
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Qweebi: Transforming STEM Education with a Virtual Makerspace
Top 3 AI Tools for Educators
Best Free AI Tools for Educators
How to Host a Debate in Your Science Classroom
How to Launch Model Rockets & Amaze Your Students!
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities (Find Your Student Sparks)
Vivify STEM Lessons
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
Manipulating Genetics: GMO STEM Unit + Classroom Debate (5E Model)
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge - K-3 or 4-10
Other STEM Resources
Two Bit Circus Foundation
Dr. Leah Hanes | LinkedIn
How MIT’s fab labs scaled around the world
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of the STEM Space, Claire and Natasha discuss how to build an entrepreneurial mindset in the classroom, why free isn’t always a good thing (especially when it comes to materials in a STEM challenge!), and why constraints spark creativity.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
-
How to Make Space for STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 STEM Activities for Spring
Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE - STEM Challenge Budget Sheets
Botany STEM Challenge
FREE - Brick by Brick: Introduction to Criteria & Constraints
Candy Grabber STEM Challenge
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Instagram | Mary Anderson (reel)
National Inventors Hall of Fame© | Teaching Kids About Patents
Become a member of The STEM Space today to access our entire lesson library!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, we bring you a special live-recorded conversation with Jason McKenna from VEX Robotics! Broadcasting straight from the VEX Classroom, Jason showcases an incredible lineup of robotic solutions designed to transform learning environments. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Jason shares his personal journey—including a pivotal moment when he almost walked away from education due to burnout. But everything changed when he saw firsthand how a robotics lesson could transform his classroom. Join us as we explore why robotics and STEM education are for every student, and how they can empower both learners and educators to embrace creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on discovery.
About Jason McKenna, VP of Global Education Strategy for VEX Robotics: Jason McKenna is an educator, author, and advocate for innovative and equitable learning practices. As Vice President of Global Educational Strategy at VEX Robotics, Jason helms the strategic direction of educational platforms within the VEX Continuum. With a focus on integrating STEM, technology, and creative thinking into education, Jason is passionate about empowering teachers and preparing students for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Screw the Standards! Or Should We? ft. Dr. Pedersen
-
How to Scaffold Engineering Design in K-12
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM
15 Ways to Teach Robotics Virtually
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE - Robotics Programming Maze Challenge
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking)
Intro to Coding STEM Activity
Technology Choice Boards
Other STEM Resources
VEX Robotics
LinkedIn Profiles: Jason McKenna | VEX Robotics
X Profiles: Jason McKenna (@MckennaJ72) | VEX Robotics (@VEXRobotics)
Book: What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement by Jason McKenna
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
As a mom to two daughters, Natasha is always on the lookout for STEM-inspired clothing that’s both stylish and empowering. If you can relate or are interested in the story of two passionate entrepreneurs, then this episode is for you! Join Claire and Natasha as they sit down with Margarita (Maty) and Ana—the creative co-founders behind Prisma Kiddos. Frustrated by the lack of options in kids’ fashion, these passionate moms took matters into their own hands, launching a brand that blends STEM inspiration, gender empowerment, and sustainability into every unique outfit. In this conversation, we explore their journey as entrepreneurs, the challenges they’ve faced, and the passion that drives their mission. (Plus, Remi makes a special appearance to show off one of her favorite Prisma Kiddos looks!)
About Prisma Kiddos:
Prisma Kiddos is driven by the vision of two incredible moms, Ana and Maty, who saw a need to break free from traditional gender norms and promote equality through fashion. Their mission is to inspire the next generation of kids to embrace their curiosity, creativity, and passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
With designs that go beyond stereotypes, Prisma Kiddos offers non-traditional clothing options that empower girls and introduce boys to sensitive and thoughtful themes. Their eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing practices reflect their commitment to sustainability, making sure that their products are not only stylish but also kind to the planet.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
-
Don't Tell Your Kid to be an Engineer
-
Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Break Down Stereotypes! Who is a STEM Professional? game & activities
STEM Classroom Posters - Inspirational or Careers!
Building Bricks STEM: STEM Careers - K-5 Challenge Mats or 3-5 Building Challenges
STEM Careers BINGO - K-5 or 5-12
Other STEM Resources
Prisma Kiddos
Rube Goldberg Competitions
Boston Children’s Museum
The Whiteside Museum of Natural History
International Dimetrodon Day - April 5
Natasha & Family go to Boston Children’s Museum (ft. Prisma Kiddos apparel)
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Share your Quick Tips with us!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Debra Hettleman, the CEO of Building STEPS, which stands for Science, Technology And Education Partnerships. This nonprofit is dedicated to fostering college and career success through a multi-year program in Baltimore’s most underserved public high schools. From college prep workshops to summer internships at local STEM companies, Building STEPS helps students navigate the path to college success including applying, attending, and graduating. Debra also shares her journey in growing the organization, insights on scaling it to other cities, and surprising lessons learned from expanding the program to younger grades.
About Debra Hettleman, CEO of Building STEPS: Debra launched Building STEPS in 1999 with the purpose of creating a college pathway for underrepresented students to become STEM professionals. Today, she oversees all aspects of this Baltimore nonprofit from developing and maintaining corporate and institutional partners to advising the Board on creating and implementing growth strategies. She is a graduate of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s The Leadership and has been honored by the Baltimore Business Journal as Maryland’s Top 100 Women. She earned her Project Management Professional certification in 2020. Outside of work, Debra can be found hiking the trails of Maryland’s parks.
Building STEPS (Science, Technology and Education Partnerships, Inc.) is a nonprofit that equips Baltimore's brightest students with the tools to propel them to college and career success. The multi-year program, currently available in fifteen of Baltimore's more challenged public high schools, includes seminars, a paid summer internship, college counseling and alumni services.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
-
How to Motivate Students
-
How to Rock it with Rockets
-
Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
How to Launch Model Rockets & Amaze Your Students!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Break Down Stereotypes! Who is a STEM Professional? game & activities
STEM Careers BINGO - K-5 or 5-12
STEM Careers or Inspirational STEM Classroom Posters
STEM Tech Choice Boards - Career, Field Trip, and Types of Tech
FREE - Interview Questions to Ask STEM Professionals
Other STEM Resources
Building STEPS - Baltimore
Towson University
Communities in Schools (CIS)
Step Into STEM - VelocityTX
University of Maryland, College Park
Texas A&M University Young Scholars PATHS-UP Program
US Naval Academy
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Do you use a 3D printer in your classroom? In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha dive into the reality of owning and using 3D printers in the classroom. These machines definitely bring the ‘wow’ factor, but are they really worth the hype? From bridges to weather balloons, we share our experiences incorporating 3D printing into our design challenges. But these projects also came with a lot of headaches including an overwhelming time commitment and ultimately unclear learning outcomes. Join us as we discuss why it might be time to hit pause on the 3D printer craze and rethink their role in your curriculum.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- How to Design a Makerspace
Prototyping:
-
- From Miniatures to Mariners: The Power of Prototyping
-
- Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM
-
Another Year of Smashing STEM (bridging classroom objects)
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Must Have STEM Tools
Launching Weather Balloons
Vivify STEM Lessons
Australia Safety Capsule STEM Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Semester STEM Units (includes Space Colony!): choose from Moon or Mars themes!
Other STEM Resources
CAD Software:
-
SOLIDWORKS
-
Tinkercad
-
CATIA
-
Revit (for students)
Rube Goldberg contests
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Carlos Romero, a STEM professional who is passionate about making STEM more inclusive and accessible for all students. With a background in chemical engineering and a career in product development and project management, Carlos shares his experiences in the STEM industry to highlight how educators can prepare students for future careers. He also shares ideas for the STEM classroom including ways to integrate entrepreneurship, market research, and patents into an engineering lesson.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
-
Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Lessons About Communication:
-
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM
-
Intro to Coding STEM Activity
-
Manipulating Genetics: GMO STEM Unit + Classroom Debate (5E Model)
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
STEM Careers:
-
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (Break down stereotypes!)
-
STEM Career Classroom Posters
-
STEM Careers BINGO: K-5, 5-12, or Women in STEM
-
Interview Questions to ask STEM Professionals
-
FREE Women in STEM Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
LinkedIn | Carlos Romero
74Million.org | Encouraging Latino Students to Pursue STEM Careers
National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
National Inventors Hall of Fame | Teaching Kids About Patents
Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Welcome back to the second part of Natasha and Claire’s conversation with the co-founders of Qweebi! In this episode, they shift gears to explore the story behind Qweebi’s creation by diving into the partnership of Aman and Vivek. They’ll uncover how these two visionaries met, what brought them together, and what it’s like to collaborate as co-founders on a mission to transform STEM education. And stay tuned to the end when Aman and Vivek turn the tables to ask Claire and Natasha about their journey as co-founders of Vivify STEM.
Qweebi is the first-ever online makerspace that lets teachers run STEM projects across engineering, electronics, and robotics without needing any supplies. All projects are aligned to NGSS standards and designed to hit learning outcomes for grades 3-8. Want to learn more about Qweebi?Try out the Roller Coaster project for FREE!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
A Virtual STEM Makerspace ft. Qweebi (Part 1)
-
Why You Should Teach Space
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
I Didn’t Always Want to be an Engineer
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
How to Start an After School STEM Club
Vivify STEM Lessons
Vivify Space Curriculum:
-
Mission to Moon: K-5, 6-8, or try our 6-8 Semester-Long STEM Unit
-
Mission to Mars: K-5, 6-8, or Mars also has a 6-8 Semester-Long STEM Unit
-
Orbital Mission STEM Curriculum Unit (5-8)
Other STEM Resources
Qweebi
Qweebi - Try the Roller Coaster project for FREE!
Aman’s Favorite Book: The Beginning of Infinity
Vivify Research & Publications
Meet the Vivify Team
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Are you a STEM teacher feeling overwhelmed by limited time, storage, and funding? Then this episode of The STEM Space is for you! Claire and Natasha sit down with the visionary co-founders of Qweebi, a tech company on a mission to revolutionize STEM education. Qweebi is a virtual makerspace where students design, build, and test everything from rovers to rollercoasters in an online environment that mimics real-world physics. This hands-on, engaging experience eliminates the need for physical supplies while fostering creativity and authentic engineering learning. As the first of a two-part series, this episode explores the inspiration behind Qweebi, its innovative features, and how it aligns with STEM learning goals.
Want to learn more about Qweebi? Try out the Roller Coaster project for FREE!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM Overload: A STEM Space Q&A
-
How to Design a Makerspace
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astro-Rover Space Science & Engineering Design Unit
Roller Coaster STEM Activity - K-5 or 5-8
Other STEM Resources
Qweebi
Qweebi - Try the Roller Coaster project for FREE!
The Beginning of Infinity
Rube Goldberg Contests (challenges)
Vivify STEM Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire is on a mission to rescue her Mission to Mars plant (yes, it's a real plant!), while Natasha rants about the relentless fire alarms in the dorm and the frigid New England winter. Along the way, we find connections to STEM everywhere - from a freaky football pass that seems to defy physics to Claire’s plant that drips blood! We also chat about our resolutions for the New Year, sharing strategies for building positive routines and behaviors for our kids and classrooms as the new semester kicks off.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- How to Make Space for STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
5 Tips for Teaching STEM With Robots
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons (*no plants included, sadly)
Plants in Space*
Mission to Mars STEM Curriculum*
Sphero Robotic Programming Maze Challenge - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
Mission to Mars plant
America's Public Lands Explained
Hot Springs - National Park Service
BYU - Idaho | The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon Trains Penny (2:45)
Sphero Global Challenge | STEM & Robotics Competitions
SEEC: Space Exploration Educators Conference
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with a former STEM educator turned founder and CEO of WhyMaker, Liz Gallo. Liz is on a mission to design the future of education, where teachers act as learning engineers, equipping their students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
Listen in as they chat about her decade-long experience as a technology and engineering educator and her transition to being the leader of WhyMaker, which has made a tangible impact on over 15,000 educators worldwide, inspiring a new generation of innovators and problem-solvers. She also shares her vision for STEM education, not just as an elective, but as a transformative approach to school. Part of this vision is bringing the real-world into the classroom, such as her work in partnering with companies in the sustainability sector to engage students with cutting-edge technologies, explore career pathways in clean energy, and contribute to solutions for global sustainability challenges. They also discuss her book, Educators Guide to Design Thinking, a practical workbook to implement project-based design experiences with your students.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
How to Motivate Students
-
Why Math Matters ft. CEO of NMSI
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not All STEM is Equal: The 3 Stages of STEM
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Brick by Brick: Intro to Criteria and Constraints
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Back to School STEM Activities)
Growth Mindset Back to School Rocket About Me Activity
Tower STEM Challenges: 5 Icebreaker Activities
Brick by Brick: Intro to Criteria and Constraints - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!
Editable Budget Sheets - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!
Other STEM Resources
WhyMaker | Website, Facebook, Instagram, or X
LEGO Architecture Empire State Building
New York State Department of Education CTE requirements
Book | Educators Guide to Design Thinking
Arduino
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
This episode of The STEM Space is all about math! Math might be the M in STEM, but it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves in K-12 STEM education efforts. Yet, its role is critical—not just for academic success, but for preparing students to solve real-world problems.
To help us understand why math matters and how it can drive opportunity for students, Natasha speaks with Jeremy Anderson, CEO of the National Math + Science Initiative. Jeremy leads a dedicated team working to close opportunity gaps and expand college access through rigorous STEM programs. With over 25 years of experience in education policy, Jeremy brings deep insights into how math education can empower students and transform lives.
In their conversation, they’ll discuss NMSI’s mission, the importance of math education, and how connecting it to real-world challenges can boost student interest and engagement.
About Jeremy:
Before joining NMSI in August 2023, Jeremy served as the president of the Education Commission of the States (ECS), where he expanded the organization's policy presence and worked with state and federal leaders on various policy initiatives. Jeremy also has a background in strategic communications, political campaigns, public affairs, and government relations, which enables him to effectively advocate for NMSI's proven STEM solutions and partnerships. He is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in education, and is proud to work alongside NMSI's talented and diverse staff and partners.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
-
Why Does Belonging Matter in STEM Education?
-
Making Tech Education Accessible ft. imagi Co-Founders
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
7 Activities Featuring Women in STEM History
Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Incorporating Engineering Practices into Texas Science Classrooms
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Vivify STEM Lessons
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
Women in STEM History Engineering Challenges
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
STEM Careers BINGO Game: K-5 or 5-12
Other STEM Resources
LinkedIn | Jeremy Anderson
National Math + Science Initiative
- Get Involved
CNBC | The 10 most valuable college degrees—they're all in STEM
Texas Regional Pathways Network
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha catch up after a Thanksgiving holiday break filled with family, fun, and a little bit of chaos! They also share creative ways to STEMify your Elf on the Shelf before they pick back up on the last episode’s discussion of what they found to be their most valuable experiences to prepare for engineering. (Spoiler Alert: it wasn’t design challenges!)
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM Overload: A STEM Space Q&A
-
A Good & Bad Example of Phenomenon-Based Teaching
Is Teaching Engineering Bad?
-
Episode 137 (Part 1)
-
Episode 139 (Part 2)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Get Your Elf Off That Shelf with STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Elf STEM
-
Elf Sledding Adventure
-
Elf Zip Line
-
Elf Pendulum Adventure
Intro to Science & Engineering: STEM Critical Thinking Challenges
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Research & Publications
YouTube: SHARING HER PASSION | Tatiana Erukhimova Ph.D. (Texas A&M Physics Professor - videos went viral for physics phenomenon demonstrations)
Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha tackle your questions from The STEM Space Facebook group! Listen as they dive into everything—from seasoned teachers venting about how STEM feels watered down to newer teachers feeling totally overwhelmed or unsure about engineering— and chat through your comments, share their thoughts, and hopefully give you some tips and encouragement along the way!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2
- How to Create an Engineering Lesson
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
7 Ideas for Teaching Social Studies with STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity)
Drag Device
Scope & Sequence - FREE - K-5 or 6-8
Find Your Student Sparks - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!
Heavy Lift Rocket Challenge
Other STEM Resources
The STEM Space Facebook group
U.S. Department of Education | Gifted education and STEM: A Thematic Review (PDF)
Vivify STEM Recommendations
Need help? Email us at info@vivifystem.com
The STEM Space Explorer Library - FREE
Vivify STEM Research & Publications
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
From Sphero chariot races to a straw rocket challenge between engineers and educators, Claire and Natasha reflect on the K-12 Educator Institute, a workshop they facilitated as part of the Great Minds In STEM conference. They share ideas and big takeaways for facilitating STEM PD for teachers. Claire also tortures Natasha with questions from her students' “Brain Building Box!”
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Constraints in a STEM Classroom
-
Think Like A Scientist
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Pipe Cleaner STEM Challenge
Basics of Sphero Robotics + 3 Awesome Sphero STEM Activities (includes Sphero Chariots)
STEM Family Night Planning Guide
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Tower Challenges
STEM Space Lander Challenge - K-5 or 6-8
Lunar Crater STEM Challenge
Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, STEM Activity Instructions, Posters
Mission to Moon Semester STEM Unit + Moon Colony Project! (includes Roller Coaster Challenge and Moon Planning game)
Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit + Mars Colony Project! (includes Lander Challenge and Mars Planning game)
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge - K-2 or 3-10
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8
Brick by Brick: Introduction to Criteria and Constraints - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!
Other STEM Resources
Great Minds In STEM
Northrop Grumman
NASA Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Tara Tony, a high school student passionate about environmental advocacy. Tara serves as a student commissioner on the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Commission (EESC) in Milpitas, California. She shares her experiences from the EESC, where she became inspired to launch EcoInsight, an online platform aimed at raising awareness of biodiversity loss.
Tara also discusses the EcoInnovate Competition, a nationwide challenge for middle and high school students to submit innovative conservation projects. Learn more about this initiative and how to get involved at EcoInnovate. As of posting, current competition deadline is November 15th, 2024.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Focus of an Engineering Design Competition
-
A STEM Challenge with Earthquakes ft. Kristina Ohl
-
Eco-House Sustainable STEM with Kristina Ohl
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Exploring National Parks with a STEM Challenge!
Ocean STEM Activities
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project
Design A School Garden STEM Project
Vivify STEM Lessons
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project (Environmental Science 5E PBL)
Oil Spill STEM Challenge
Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
EcoInnovate
Milpitas Energy & Environmental Sustainability Commission
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha sits down for a chat with Dora Palfi and Beatrice Ionascu, co-founders of imagi, a Swedish EdTech startup dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech by sparking a passion for technology in all children through fun and inclusive computer science education.
Dora and Beatrice met while studying at NYU Abu Dhabi and went on to work in various large tech companies. Their experiences, often as the only women in male-dominated tech environments, fueled their desire to create imagi, with the vision of transforming the tech industry and broadening access to computer science education, particularly for underrepresented groups.
imagi's AI-powered Python programming platform equips educators—regardless of their coding background—with the tools to teach a dynamic, engaging curriculum to middle school students, promoting inclusivity across gender and race. After just one hour of coding with imagi, one in three girls and non-binary students report increased interest in coding, and 85% of all students find the experience "fun" after their first lesson. Having reached more than 300,000 students in 140 countries, cultivating a vibrant global community of young coders who have collectively generated over 19 million lines of Python code, imagi is making strides in reshaping the future of tech education globally.
For more details, visit imagi's website.
You can use the Vivify promo code for 15% off a purchase of imagiCharms! Just use vivifystem15 or this link.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
-
How to Motivate Students
-
The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
-
Strategies for a Teacherpreneur
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Motivation: How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (Break down stereotypes!)
Picture a STEM Professional Critical Thinking Worksheet
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity
Starter STEM Activities Engineering Challenges
Other STEM Resources
imagi
weSTEM @ NYUAD
Girls outperform boys at school, yet still shy away from STEM — Download the full study here: Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys
Give P's a Chance: Projects, Peers, Passion, Play by M Resnick (PDF)
Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire reflects on the success of her recent Star Party event. She also shares a Show and Tell activity with her STEM students, which is a great way to practice communication skills. Claire even participates by bringing a surprising object from home—something you use every day, but probably not what you're expecting! Tune in to find out what it is. Meanwhile, Natasha, as always, delves into the broader implications of integrating engineering into the classroom, exploring the challenges of teaching it as a profession versus as a subject.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
A Vision for K-12 Engineering Education
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
Would an Engineer Solve Your Problem?
-
Is Teaching Engineering Bad?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
Explore the Universe - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library
Simple Machines Toy Factory STEM Challenge
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
STEM Catapult Challenge
STEM Careers BINGO Game: K-5 or 5-12
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Other STEM Resources
Fort Worth Astronomical Society: Star Parties
NASA | Messier 57 (better known as the Ring Nebula)
Space.com | Draconid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it
Space Teams
wikiHow | How Does a Toilet Work? A Step-by-Step Breakdown
Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire is preparing for her first-ever Star Party family event, and Natasha gives her tips on everything from using a sky app to making constellation-themed hot chocolate! We also dive into a new Framework for Engineering Learning that the Vivify team is developing. What are the main learning goals of engineering? What does a year-long STEM program look like? Listen in for our vision for K-12 STEM education.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Star Parties & Thematic Classroom Attire
-
Would an Engineer Solve Your Problems?
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Vivify STEM Lessons
Explore the Universe - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library
Astronaut Training: 4 C’s of STEM
Heart Rate Ratios and Graphing Activity
STEM Tower Challenges
STEM Choice Boards Bundle: Career, Field Trip, & Space Missions
STEM Careers BINGO Game: K-5 or 5-12
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit
Other STEM Resources
SkyView® App - Google Play or Apple
Fort Worth Astronomical Society: Star Parties
Vivify STEM Research & Publications
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and Claire discuss a new framework for teaching STEM. Hear about resources for intentional and authentic learning experiences in STEM and advice on what to focus on when you are short on time.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Screw the Standards! Or Should We? ft. Dr. Pedersen
-
Rate My STEM Lesson
-
Cool Lessons on Heat Transfer
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Vivify STEM Lessons
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8
Drag Device STEM Challenge
Space Lander STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8
Heat Shield Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Research & Publications - includes parts of Dr. Natasha’s dissertation: Pre-College Engineering: Perspectives of Engineering Faculty as well as Learning Goals in Middle School Engineering: A Systematic Review and Comparison with NGSS and ASEE Frameworks
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire speaks with Ike Theriot, a NASA EVA Flight Controller and Astronaut Instructor, who highlights the power of curiosity and the importance of following your passions in the space industry. He shares personal experiences in working for NASA and training astronauts, showing how a love for exploration shaped his career. Tune in to discover how pursuing your interests can open unexpected doors in science, technology, and beyond.
Ike currently serves as an EVA Flight Controller and Astronaut Instructor in the Flight Operations Directorate at Johnson Space Center. He supports real-time ISS EVA operations by planning EVA’s, training astronauts to perform those EVA’s, and supporting execution from Mission Control as a flight controller. Ike also develops and trains Artemis EVA operational concepts for navigation, timeline management, and suit and tool use for lunar surface operations.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Don’t Tell Your Kid to be an Engineer
-
Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM
Intro to Coding: STEM Activity
Musical Instrument STEM Challenge
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Mission to Moon Middle School STEM Curriculum Unit
Other STEM Resources
NASA | Meet the Teams Leading Moonwalking Test Mission (ft. Ike Theriot)
NASA | Artemis
NASA | STEM Resources and Opportunities
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha and Claire discuss the importance of teaching engineering in the context of real-world engineering challenges. They work to define what constitutes a true engineering problem and highlight the significance of providing students with authentic engineering experiences that mimic the complexities and challenges of the real world.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- How is STEM More Than a Problem?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Vivify STEM Lessons
Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
STEM Space Lander Challenge | K-5 or 5-8
Space Capsule Heat Shield 5E Engineering Challenge (MS-PS3-3)
Other STEM Resources
MIT AeroAstro
MIT Residential Scholars FAQ
List of “Engineering Problems”
Strawberry DNA Experiment
Taco Party
News Article: Normal Fire Department Uses Tacos To Educate On Weather Lingo (And Go Viral)
The “Poop” Rule: Instead of asking "Does it spark joy?" try this.
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
What is your greatest challenge as a STEM educator? In this episode, Claire and Natasha respond to concerns from K-12 STEM teachers who posted their challenges in The STEM Space Facebook group. We tackle everything from getting kids to accept math is part of science, overcoming learned helplessness, and juggling hundreds of students a week. Listen in for this rapid-fire session!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
What Should Students Learn? (“pontificate” episode)
-
How to Motivate Students
-
Is It Squishy? How to Build Engineering Intuition
-
Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward (includes photos of Claire’s tower failure)
Football STEM Challenge!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (breaking stereotypes)
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
Math and Sports Activity Bundle: Ratios and Proportions
Brain Safety STEM Challenge: Design a Football Helmet
FREE Scope & Sequence - Elementary School | Middle School
FREE Interview Questions for STEM Professionals
Other STEM Resources
The STEM Space Facebook Group
“Pontificate” clip | Vivify TikTok
“If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen | Amazon Affiliate link
Wildlife Discovery Trunks (Texas Only, but you can check with your state’s wildlife association)
Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha answer a question from a listener: “For those of you who teach multiple grades in a day, how do you organize all your stuff that goes with each class?” Claire, a K-8 STEM teacher, gives us all her tips and tricks for managing the STEM supply chaos!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
-
How Do You Manage Your STEM Classroom?
-
Constraints in a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Top 10 Back to School STEM Tools!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities (includes pipeline challenge)
Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges (FREE in our TPT store or in our STEM Explorer Library)
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge (K-5 or 6-8)
Editable Teacher Slides for Engineering Design Challenges (FREE in our TPT store or in our STEM Explorer Library)
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Other STEM Resources
Don’t Wake the Dragon by Bianca Schulze
Space Club - FREE!
Communities in Schools - San Antonio (CISSA)
Facebook: The STEM Space
Claire’s STEM Organization finds:
-
Shelf brackets
-
Plastic bins
-
STEM composition notebook
-
More plastic bins
-
Makerspace bins
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire navigates the whirlwind of back-to-school season, sharing favorite moments from her K-8 STEM classroom, including a fun bar graph icebreaker that got her students engaged. Natasha reflects on her daughter's transition to 1st grade and how she loves to find math in everyday life. Together, they discuss how STEM classrooms can bring subjects like math and science to life, inspiring a love for learning. Many define STEM as preparing students for in-demand jobs, but we value the importance of nurturing students’ passions, using real-world connections in the STEM classroom to help them better understand the world around them, rather than focusing solely on job skills.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
motivate
-
Another Year of Smashing STEM
-
How to Motivate Students
does stem track
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities (includes Sparks!)
How to Teach STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Careers BINGO Game for K-5 or 6-8
Technology Choice Board Bundle
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Back to School STEM Activities)
Alphabet STEM - Introduce PreK-1 to STEM!
Other STEM Resources
Vivify TikTok: Claire’s STEM Classroom Tour (ft. the Nature Wall)
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha recounts a dramatic story from her trip to Greece, while Claire hopes she's finally learned a valuable lesson. We also discuss gearing up for the back-to-school season including some unique finds from Claire’s Amazon wish list for her STEM classroom!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
Back to School Icebreakers
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Get Your STEM Classroom Ready for Back to School!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
Desk Name Tags / Desk Name Plates STEM Activity for Back to School
Growth Mindset Back to School Rocket About Me Activity
FREE! STEM Scope & Sequence - K-5 or 6-8
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
Traditional Magiritsa recipe
-
Claire’s Finds! (Can also be found in Vivify’s Amazon Storefront)
-
Cutting mat
-
Knife pen
-
Water bottle holder
-
Hardware storage organizer
-
Space band-aids
-
Non-stick silicone mat for hot glue guns
-
Hot glue gun finger protectors
-
Raingutter Regatta inflatable raceway
-
One-way mirror window film
Vivify’s TikTok | Claire’s Classroom Moon DIY
Vivify’s TikTok | Weather Balloon Launch
Sphero Global Challenge
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha continue their discussions with Dr. Rachelle Pedersen on best practices in STEM education. Hear how she gets students to discover engineering design criteria and other ways you can engage your students in developing engineering skills. Accept the challenge with us to highlight the skills and stories of real engineers with our free interview questions and tune in to find out what we are doing with it!
Dr. Rachelle Pedersen is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University.
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha have another chat with Dr. Rachelle Pedersen on how STEM teachers should incorporate the engineering standards in NGSS and beyond. Gain insight from the perspective of three engineers with research-backed education philosophies on what your students need to know about engineering in K-12. The answer may surprise you! Tune in to hear strategies and ideas for providing engineering experiences and building intuition with your students.
Dr. Rachelle Pedersen is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Moving Beyond Design Challenges ft. Dr. Pedersen
-
Is Teaching Engineering Bad?
-
Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE STEM Scope & Sequence for K-5 or 6-8
Space Lander STEM Challenge (K-5 or 6-8)
Drag Device STEM Challenge
Ancient Greece Simple Machines STEM Challenge
Space Capsule Heat Shield Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Teaching Texas | Podcast on Spotify
YouTube | Vivify STEM - STEM Career Chats
Powell's Books | The World's Largest Independent Bookstore
Book: "How Things Work" by Michael Dahl seems to actually be out of print! :(
Book: How Nearly Everything Was Invented (Amazon affiliate link)
Equipped for Life: Gendered Technical Training and Consumerism in Home Economics, 1920-1980
About Lillian Gilbreth
HowStuffWorks NOW | Podcast on Spotify
Become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha is joined by her former classmate Dr. Rachelle Pedersen, an engineer turned educator who is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University. Natasha and Rachelle reflect on their time at the American Society of Engineering Education Conference, including how to move beyond repetitive engineering design challenges. Rachelle and Natasha are also founding board members of the Cosmic Leap Foundation which is now offering Space Club curriculum and training for FREE to any K-8 educator.
Learn more at https://www.stemspaceclub.com/
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Conferences You Should Attend in 2024
-
Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 STEM Space Activities
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
The Importance of Failure
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Intro to Science & Engineering: STEM Critical Thinking Challenges
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Space Lander Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Mission to Moon (K-5 or 6-8) or Mission to Mars (K-5 or 6-8) STEM Curriculum
Other STEM Resources
2024 ASEE Annual Conference
LEGO® Bank Activity
Texas Tech STEM Specialization
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha is joined by Vivify STEM Education Specialist Lauren Kelly who shares some exciting updates from a recent computer science conference in Fort Worth, Texas. She shares all about how to use AI in the classroom, an inexpensive technology tool called Micro:Bit, and a brief overview of the newly released technology application standards for Texas Teachers. Lauren is a STEM /GT specialist and instructional coach in Crowly ISD with over 12 years of education experience and loves learning the latest in STEM education to support teachers!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
An AI Lesson Gone Awry
-
How AI will Transform Education ft. André Thomas
-
How ChatGPT Will Transform Education
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Best Free AI Tools for Educators
Hour of Code Resources + Unplugged Coding Activity
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Vivify STEM Lessons
Intro to Coding STEM Activity
Welcome Tower Design Challenge
Mission to Moon Semester STEM Unit + Moon Colony Project!
Technology Choice Boards
Other STEM Resources
We Teach_CS Summit 2024
Technology Applications TEKS Changes Coming for 2024-25 School Year
Texas Advanced Computing Center - Professional Development
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Micro:Bit
MakeCode.org
Magic School AI
Code.org/AI
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Are you a teacher who has had an amazing experience? What about a lesson gone awry? Did it happen to be weather-related? Things have heated up in Texas as Natasha tells Claire all about an adventure in the summer heat with STEM and how teachers can adapt when things are not exactly going according to plan.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Organize a STEM Summer Camp
-
How to Motivate Students
-
What You Should Know About Failure
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Design A School Garden STEM Project
10 Simple Summer STEM Activities
Vivify STEM Lessons
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge: K-3 or 4-10
Space Lander STEM Challenge: K-5 or 6-8
Summer STEM Activity Calendar
Solar Oven STEM Challenge
STEM Family Night
Other STEM Resources
George Strait Makes History With Record-Setting Concert At Kyle Field
Air Tractor
TAMU Physics & Engineering Festival
Pitsco Straw Rocket Launcher
New Scouts Badge: Air of the Wolf Adventure for 2024
Camp Howdy
Space Teams
Estes Rockets: Alpha III Launch Set (affiliate link)
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha continue the conversation around how to build intuition for engineering design challenges. What should happen during the brainstorm phase of a design challenge? How do we intentionally support design decisions, especially around material selection? We also challenge the NGSS focus on design practices and propose a shift towards learning of engineering sciences.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Create an Engineering Lesson
-
A Good & Bad Example of Phenomenon-Based Teaching
-
Teaching Light & Breaking Misconceptions
-
Cool Lessons on Heat Transfer
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Engineering in the Science Classroom
The Importance of Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Density/Buoyancy STEM:
1) Ocean Study: 5E Science Unit (Sink/Float, Salinity, Ocean Layers)
2) STEM Pirate Ship Engineering Challenge (K-5)
3) STEM Sailboat Challenge (4-10)
Drag STEM:
1) Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter D (PreK - 1)
2) STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge (2-8)
Heat Transfer: Space Capsule Heat Shield 5E Engineering Challenge
STEM Space Lander Challenge
Other STEM Resources
NOAA | The Great Texas Freeze: February 11-20, 2021
University of Wisconsin-Madison | What keeps the water in the pail?
NASA | Newton's Laws of Motion - Glenn Research Center
University of Nevada-Reno | How many states of matter are there? Physics professor shares his thoughts on a surprisingly difficult question
YouTube | Toy Story: “Unidirectional bonding strip!” clip
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Are you needing to plan an engineering lesson for your K-12 classroom? In this episode of the STEM Space, Natasha and Claire unpack their approach to developing a Stage 2 lesson that centers around the engineering design process. They discuss how to be intentional with science concepts, including the difference between engineering sciences and natural sciences, how to support engineering practices, and ways to integrate real world connections.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
-
Teaching Fads: Should You Have A Makerspace?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
How to Teach STEM Through A Story
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Prosthetic Leg STEM Challenge
Earthquake STEM Challenge
Space Lander STEM Challenge: K-5 or 6-8
Bridge STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Popular Mechanics: Nugget Ice Has a Cult-Like Following. Its Engineering Can Explain Why
Bring Space Club to your school!
NGSS Standard HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of the STEM Space, Claire and Natasha have reached the final day of the 2023-2024 school year! From 3D printed bridges to literally smashing STEM projects, the final days of Claire’s STEM class were dramatic but filled with memorable learning moments. Natasha also celebrates her recent Ph.D. defense and shares some ideas for a summer STEM camp.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- A STEM Challenge with Earthquakes ft. Kristina Ohl
55: How to Teach STEM During Women's History Month
-
How to Motivate Students (ft. Claire’s Nature Wall)
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
-
How to Organize a STEM Summer Camp
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
7 Activities Featuring Women in STEM History
5 Life Science STEM Activities for Elementary
Launching Weather Balloons
Vivify STEM Lessons
Earthquake 5E STEM Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Biomimicry STEM Unit
Weather Balloon Project Guide
FREE Scope & Sequence: Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8)
Launchpad (K-5): Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars
Middle School (6-8): Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars
STEM Explorers
Pollinator Hotel STEM Challenge
Weather STEM Hail Protection Challenge
Summer STEM Activity Calendar
Summer Bucket List - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Lesson Library
Other STEM Resources
Congratulate Natasha on her Ph.D. on the Vivify Facebook or Instagram!
NPR: Meet The Geologists Mapping D.C. And All Of Its Faults
Vivify TikTok: Claire’s STEM Classroom Tour (ft. the Nature Wall)
Tinkercad
NASA Looks to Advance 3D Printing Construction Systems for the Moon and Mars
Vivify TikTok: Weather Balloon Launch
Sphero RVR [Vivify STEM Amazon Affiliate Link}
Sphero Global Challenge
FIRST® LEGO® League
Vex Robotics
Space Colony Competition
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
On this episode of The STEM Space, Claire has just returned from a field trip with her STEM students to NASA's Johnson Space Center. She shares stories of meeting an astronaut, origins of ice cream in space, and an amazing tour led by a NASA mission control engineer! While she was away, Natasha hosted the 10th annual Space Colony Competition, where teams from across the globe showcased innovative designs using recycled materials. Speaking of materials, they discuss the most unusual donations parents have contributed to a STEM classroom.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM
STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon (K-5 and 6-8 versions) or Mission to Mars (K-5 and 6-8 versions)
Summer STEM Calendar Activity
Other STEM Resources
NASA Astronaut Ken Cameron (NASA PDF)
Goosechase
Saturn V at George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park
Vivify STEM YouTube - Career Chat: Patrick Ream (NASA)
NASA Artemis Mission
Space Colony Competition
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
The STEM Space is back! Natasha and Claire have a quick chat between teaching, traveling, and finishing up a dissertation…it’s been a busy semester, but we have so much to talk about! This episode Claire shares her elaborate STEM sub plans, and Natasha discusses an AI lesson gone wrong.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
“Pontificating” Episode: 135. What Should Students Learn?
-
How AI will Transform Education ft. André Thomas
-
How ChatGPT Will Transform Education
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Sub Plans for a STEM Classroom
Lunar STEM Activities
Exploring National Parks with a STEM Challenge!
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Best Free AI Tools for Educators
Vivify STEM Lessons
Sub Lesson Templates for a STEM Classroom
Crater Catapults and Moon Science STEM
National Park Research & Design: 5E STEM Project
STEM Explorers: England Pinhole Camera STEM Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Harvard University: Formatting Your Dissertation - Length
Vivify on TikTok: "Pontificate"! Look it up! 😂
Tinkercad
STEM CON & Beyond
Microsoft Copilot in Bing
Code.org: AI for Oceans
How to make a Leonardo da Vinci bridge
The STEM Space Facebook Group
Bring Space Club to your school!
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
On today’s episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Luke Zollinger, the author of The Insider’s Guide to Engineering. Luke is a licensed professional engineer in mechanical and civil engineering. He is currently the chief engineer for a research and development company, which involves ballistic and blast testing, extreme forces, and other unconventional things. While working as an engineer, he decided to write this book because it is something he wished he had as a student. Listen in as we discuss Luke’s journey in engineering, how to best engage students in STEM, and insights about the engineering field that will be valuable for teachers and parents preparing engineers of the future.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
-
Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? Part 1, Part 2
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Roller Coaster STEM Activity
STEM Sailboat Challenge
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Other STEM Resources
DOD Acquisition Life Cycle
Order Luke’s book, The Insider’s Guide to Engineering
Make Magazine
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Maya Morales Garcia the Chief Program Officer at Beyond100K, an organization working to end the STEM teacher shortage by 2043, especially for those most excluded from STEM opportunities. The conversation covers her journey into STEM education and the importance of developing a positive STEM identity from a young age, especially for young girls. As a former science teacher, Maya also shares her experiences with teaching STEM including a focus of making instruction joyful, rigorous, and relevant. But they also acknowledge the barriers that restrict the best intentions of teachers and the work needed to to improve the cultivation and retention of quality K-12 STEM teachers.
About Maya: Maya Morales Garcia is the CFO at Beyond100K and has an extensive background in both STEM and education, having served as the Science and STEM education lead for Colorado Department of Education and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia. Her experience includes teaching 8th-grade science, overseeing standards implementation, leading strategic initiatives in STEM, and cultivating cross-sector stakeholder groups. She holds a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and behavior and an MAT, and is pursuing a doctorate in Education in Leadership for Educational Equity. Maya is dedicated to creating affirming, justice-centered learning environments in STEM.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Why Does Belonging Matter in STEM Education?
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
“There is space for you in STEM.” Inspirational STEM Classroom Posters
Women in STEM Classroom Posters FREE!!
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
Tower STEM Challenges
Other STEM Resources
Beyond 100K:
-
Facebook
-
Instagram
-
Twitter
-
LinkedIn (Maya's profile)
Tufts Early Education Programs
PBS Learning Media
NSTA
The STEM Space on Facebook
Become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha continue the discussion from episode 137 on the frustrations college professors expressed about the way engineering is taught in K-12 education. Many faculty complained that incoming engineering students are not prepared with basic math skills, and students have lots of misconceptions around professional engineering. How does this translate into improving K-12 STEM classrooms? What is the role of a STEM teacher?
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Is Teaching Engineering Bad? (Part 1)
-
Prepare for the Solar Eclipse
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
Cool Lessons on Heat Transfer
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Solar Eclipse Party and Activities
Teaching Space Inspires Youth
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning (including Engineering Habits of Mind)
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Vivify STEM Lessons
Simple Machines Toy Factory STEM Challenge
Design a Zoo! 5E STEM Project (Animal Habitats)
Design a Mars Habitat STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity
Tower STEM Challenges
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity
Other STEM Resources
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest®
Tinkercad
NASA, Intuitive Machines Share Images from the Moon, Provide Science Updates
Water & Ices on the Moon - NASA Science
Escape Velocity | Let's Talk Science
The Apollo 15 Hammer-Feather Drop | NASA
Bring Space Club to Your School with Cosmic Leap!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Listen in as Natasha and Claire provide essential tips for educators on preparing your students for the upcoming solar eclipse and organizing a memorable watch party. From understanding safety precautions to engaging lesson ideas, we explore how to effectively incorporate this rare celestial event into your classroom while ensuring students' safety. With insights on selecting viewing equipment, planning interactive activities, and fostering a sense of wonder, we hope to equip you to create an enriching experience for your students and their families.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Solar Eclipse Partying and World Space Week
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top Resources for the 2024 Solar Eclipse!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Solar Eclipse Pinhole Projector STEM Challenge
*FREE Solar Eclipse Paper Circuit Activity*
STEM Family Night Planning Guide
Solar Eclipse Explorer Kit
Ultraviolet Solar Light Shelter STEM Challenge (uses UV beads)
Chile Solar Car STEM Challenge
Astronaut Boot STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
NASA: Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse
Solar Eclipse Glasses (ISO 12312-2:2015E & CE Certified, Durable Plastic; Amazon affiliate link)
Why do shadows change during a solar eclipse?
NASA: Measuring Solar Energy During an Eclipse
GLOBE Eclipse: Only available when a solar eclipse is happening somewhere in the world, the GLOBE Eclipse tool will prompt users to record air temperature measurements in addition to observations of sky conditions and vegetation at the data collection site.
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Dive into the frustrations college professors express about the way engineering is taught in K-12 education that are leaving students ill-prepared for higher education. Tune in to hear about the disconnect between K-12 and college-level engineering education as well as some of our experiences from the Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC).
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Conferences You Should Attend in 2024
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
Teaching Light & Breaking Misconceptions
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
Asteroid Math Bundle: Real World Math (Fractions, Ratios, and Geometry)
FREE Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges
Roller Coaster STEM Activity: Middle School Engineering Design
Other STEM Resources
SEEC
Svaha USA
solar system necklace
Joseph M. Acaba - NASA Astronaut
TikTok: The Savannah Bananas
SNExplores: Mosquitoes see red, which may be why they find us so appealing
LiveScience: Loads of mammals — including cats — glow under UV light, but we don't know why
ASEE Annual Conference (June 23-26, 2024)
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Unravel the secrets of heat transfer and explore the science behind why your tumbler keeps your drink cold. In this episode, we delve into innovative teaching strategies to make the complexities of heat transfer engaging for students. Discover the fascinating principles that govern thermal energy movement and gain insights into the clever design of insulated tumblers. Whether you're a science enthusiast, an educator seeking inspiration, or simply curious about everyday science, tune in for a dynamic exploration where science meets fascination!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM
-
Teaching Light & Breaking Misconceptions
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Vivify STEM Lessons
Alphabet STEM Challenges Bundle - Kindergarten STEM Year-Long Curriculum
Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter J
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum + History Around the World
Stem Explorers: Antarctica Shelter STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
YouTube: What’s Inside a Hydro Flask?
STEMCON and Beyond 2024
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
“Here is an essential principle of education: to teach details is to bring confusion; to establish the relationship between things is to bring knowledge.”Maria Montessori
In this episode, Natasha and Claire delve into the subject of whether students should focus on acquiring specific knowledge or developing strong critical thinking skills built on discovering relationships. They explore the importance of equipping students with the ability to think independently and critically, weighing the balance between content knowledge and cognitive abilities. Additionally, they touch on the significance of public speaking skills, guidance on where to obtain effective scope and sequence resources, and other key aspects of fostering well-rounded and thoughtful learners in today's education landscape.
We would love to get to know you in person and that opportunity is coming soon! Come hang out with us in Houston, TX on Saturday February 10th, 2024 for a Friends of Vivify lunch. Let us know if you plan to join us by submitting your information here and we will send you all the details. Hope to see you there!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How ChatGPT Will Transform Education
-
How AI will Transform Education ft. André Thomas
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons
Catapults
Alphabet STEM Bundle
Other STEM Resources
Become a member of The STEM Space!
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
The Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Course
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Who is gifted and why does it matter? In this episode, Natasha and Claire reflect on their experiences of being rejected from an elementary gifted and talented program. They also discuss differences between motivation, exposure, and natural abilities and whether STEM education is only for those gifted students.
We would love to get to know you in person and that opportunity is coming soon! Come hang out with us in Houston, TX on Saturday February 10th, 2024 for a Friends of Vivify lunch. Let us know if you plan to join us by submitting your information here and we will send you all the details. Hope to see you there!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Rock It with Rockets
-
Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Launch Rockets blog posts
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Catapult
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
“There’s Space for You in STEM” Inspirational STEM Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
Department of Education:
-
Recognizing Gifted Students: A Practical Guide for Teachers (PDF)
-
Gifted Education and STEM: A Thematic Review (PDF)
EduTopia: Identifying and Supporting Gifted ELLs
Bring Space Club to your school!
Invention Convention
Are STEM Students Creative Thinkers? - PMC - NCBI
Submit a Quick Tip!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Are you in need of some CPE credit hours or just wanting to attend some great learning opportunities for educators? In this episode, Natasha and Claire share a list of their favorite conferences happening in 2024 and they want you to join them! The list includes SEEC, STEM Con & Beyond, STEM4Innovation, NSTA and more! Also, learn about a chance to meet up with Natasha and Claire in person to celebrate 10 years of Vivify!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Episodes ft. STEM Con & Beyond’s Kerry Tracy:
-
- Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
- Making Time for STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
How AI will Transform Education ft. André Thomas
-
How ChatGPT Will Transform Education
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
25 Year-Round STEM Task Cards for Building Bricks!
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Best Free AI Tools for Teachers
Vivify STEM Lessons
Semester STEM Units:
-
Mission to Moon
-
Mission to Mars
Year-Round STEM Task Cards for Building Bricks
Other STEM Resources
STEM4Innovation (Jan 20, 2024)
SEEC (Feb 8-10, 2024)
- Vivify Meet-up (February 10, 2024, 12:00PM near NASA in Houston, TX). Fill out interest form here.
STEM Con & Beyond (April 5-7, 2024)
NSTA (March 20-23, 2024)
ASEE Annual Conference (June 23-26, 2024)
Space Port Area Conference for Educators (SPACE) (June 26-28, 2024)
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha shares her experience with a high school design competition. A design competition and any engineering design challenge should adequately relate to the real world of engineering while appropriately incorporating students’ prior knowledge. Claire and Natasha discuss how to approach this task and what steps can be taken to prepare students for true engineering.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Scaffold Engineering Design in K-12
-
Constraints in a STEM Classroom
-
Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Vivify STEM Lessons
Design a Sustainable Eco-House (Environmental Science)
Design a Zoo! 5E STEM Project
Semester STEM Units:
-
Mission to Moon
-
Mission to Mars
Other STEM Resources
About Rube Goldberg
FIRST® LEGO® League
SA Smart Challenge
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and Claire answer a listener's question about how to differentiate engineering design practices for each grade level. You will learn different approaches to preparing your students to become expert problem solvers by slowly introducing them to the engineering design process all while making it accessible and engaging for young minds.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The 3 Stages of STEM
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Sub Plans for a STEM Classroom
25 Year-Round STEM Task Cards for Building Bricks!
Top 35 Amazing STEM Books for Kids
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Vivify STEM Lessons
Building Bricks STEM Task Cards
Building Bricks: STEM Careers Task Cards
STEM Scope & Sequence (Pacing Guide) - FREE!!
-
Elementary School (K-5)
-
Middle School (6-8)
Thanksgiving Turkey Nest Challenge Engineering Activity
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum Around the World
Design a Habitat STEM/STEAM Project Guide
-
Mars
-
Moon
Robot Hand STEM Activity
Other STEM Resources
The STEM Space Membership
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY X
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with a STEM teacher from Portugal, Juan Nolasco. We connected through Space Club, and after hearing about all the amazing space STEM projects he does with students, we invited him to join us on the podcast! He is an electrical engineer turned educator with over 18 years of teaching engineering and technology to middle and high school students. Juan was awarded the Space Teacher Excellence Certificate and the Teacher of the Year award. Listen in as we chat about his passion for space education, defining STEM in Portugal, and his advice for participating in NASA and European Space Agency projects like CanSat, MoonShot, and Mission X.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
Why You Should Teach Space
-
Show Me the Money for STEM
-
Constraints in a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Teaching Space Inspires Youth
5 Steps to Get STEM Funding
Vivify STEM Lessons
Design a Moon Habitat STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Mission to Moon - Middle School Semester STEM Unit
Space Exploration STEM
Other STEM Resources
Juan Nolasco (LinkedIn)
STEM Space Club (Teacher Grants Available!)
European Space Agency links:
-
CanSat
-
Teacher Training Opportunities
-
Training Like an Astronaut: Mission X
European Astro Pi Challenge
NASA Next Gen STEM For Educators
NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative
Email us your questions and more!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha delve into the topic of phenomenon-based science teaching as an engaging way to increase understanding of science concepts while improving science practices. However, we warn listeners that not all lessons labeled as phenomenon-based are equally effective! Natasha shares a simple but powerful lesson that starts with dropping cans of soda into water to enhance students' grasp of buoyancy and density concepts. On the flip side, we also critique a lesson on forces and motion that falls short, potentially reinforcing misconceptions and likely creating lots of confusion among students. Teaching science is hard, and writing curriculum for science teachers is equally difficult, so this is not meant to be a criticism towards a specific company but we want to support a more general conversation on how to promote effective science teaching!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Preparing for the New Science Standards in Texas
-
The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Teaching STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons
Density/Buoyancy STEM:
-
Ocean Study: 5E Science Unit (Sink/Float, Salinity, Ocean Layers)
-
STEM Pirate Ship Engineering Challenge (K-5)
-
STEM Sailboat Challenge (4-10)
Drag STEM:
-
Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter D (PreK - 1)
-
STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge (2-8)
Other STEM Resources
What is Phenomenon-Based Learning? by TechLearning
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers (CAST)
YouTube: SHARING HER PASSION | Tatiana Erukhimova Ph.D. (Texas A&M Physics Professor)
Argument-Driven Inquiry Science (A Good Example of Phenomenon-Based Learning!)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Texas teachers - are you ready for the new science standards coming next year? This was the hot topic at the recent Texas-based Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers! Natasha shares her experiences attending the conferences and her thoughts on the similarities between these and the Next Generation Science Standards. Hint: they are both based on the same document, A Framework for K–12 Science Education, that promotes a three-dimensional approach to science teaching. Plus, we chat on how Vivify is working hard to align all our lessons to the new TEKS in time for next year!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
-
How Does Engineering Relate to Science?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Engineering in the Science Classroom
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Starter STEM Activities (includes Egg Drop Challenge)
Turkey Nest Challenge Engineering Activity (A fun twist on the classic egg-drop challenge!)
Alphabet STEM Challenges Bundle - Kindergarten STEM Year-Long Curriculum
Other STEM Resources
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers (CAST)
Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)
Claire’s STEM Stations:
-
Brain Flakes
-
Keva Planks
-
Magna-Tiles
-
Zoob BuilderZ
-
LEGO® Building Blocks
YouTube: SHARING HER PASSION | Tatiana Erukhimova Ph.D. (Texas A&M Physics Professor)
Vivify’s Story from Texas A&M: Aerospace engineering former students bring engineering to life for kids of all ages
Egg Drop Challenge
A Framework for K–12 Science Education (2012)
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire and Natasha emphasize the importance of introducing students to STEM careers at an early age. Learn how exposure to STEM fields can ignite curiosity and foster critical thinking skills in students, preparing them for the challenges of the future job market. The episode also highlights the significance of sharing the stories of famous scientists, showcasing how these role models can inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
55: How to Teach STEM During Women's History Month
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
Why Does Belonging Matter in STEM Education?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Teaching STEM Through A Story
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Alphabet STEM Bundle (A-Z)
- Try Letter A for FREE!
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum Around the World
Zip Line STEM Activity:
-
Elementary (K-6)
-
Upper Grades (5-9)
Tower STEM Challenges (includes cup tower challenge)
Elementary STEM Careers BINGO Game
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Other STEM Resources
Instagram: The Wyndcroft School STEM
TedEd: The genius of Marie Curie - Shohini Ghose
Book: Incredible Stories of the World’s Most Ingenious Inventors (Amazon Affiliate link)
Hedy Lamarr:
-
Five Fast Facts about Actress and Inventor Hedy Lamarr
-
Hedy Lamarr and the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
Book: Full of Beans by Peggy Thomas (Amazon Affiliate link)
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and Claire take you on a journey beyond the classroom as they delve into the magical world of hosting a Star Party for students! Join them as they explore how you can teach the wonders of the universe through telescopes at an exciting school-wide event. Learn how to ignite the sparks of curiosity in your classroom by also donning enchanting costumes that bring your educational content to life!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Bones & STEM: Spooky Special Episode
52: How to Host a STEM Family Night
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
Teaching STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons
Explore the Universe: Science Astronomy Scavenger Hunt - FREE!
Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions
All About Space Club
YouTube Playlist: STEM Career Chats
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Video: Space Club: Mission to Moon
Video: Space Club: Mission to Mars
Space Colony Competition by Vivify and the Cosmic Leap Foundation
Other STEM Resources
Fort Worth Astronomical Society: Star Parties
Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)
Vivify Instagram: Natasha Costume Reveal
Champions for Science
Raquel Nuno – Planetary scientist, science educator
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
How much time do you have with students in your STEM classroom? In this episode, Natasha and Claire share the findings of Vivify’s national survey of over 600 STEM teachers including the average time for elementary and middle school STEM classes. Who do you think has the most time? Tune in for the results plus how time is just one constraint in trying to achieve our goals for students.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Making Time for STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
Show Me the Money for STEM
-
How to Organize a STEM Summer Camp
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
How to Launch a Weather Balloon
5 Steps to Get STEM Funding
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons
Solar Oven STEM Challenge
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum Around the World
- Chile Solar Car STEM Challenge
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Alphabet STEM Challenges Bundle - Kindergarten STEM Year-Long Curriculum
- Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter A
Catapult STEM Challenge
STEM Space Lander
STEM Scope and Sequence - FREE!!
-
Elementary (K-5)
-
Middle School (6-8)
5E STEM Projects
- Design a Zoo! 5E STEM Project
Other STEM Resources
Frontiers in Education Conference
Email us your questions and more!
The STEM Space Membership (Yearly access to ALL Vivify Lessons!)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire and Natasha chat all about bones in celebration of the spooky season of Halloween! From designing a prosthetic leg to a creepy science project involving a rat skeleton, join us for a spine-tingling episode!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- How to Rock It with Rockets
52: How to Host a STEM Family Night
- Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM (student asks to bring a dead cat)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Launch Rockets
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
5 Spooky Halloween STEM Activities
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Vivify STEM Lessons
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion, Variables)
STEM Family Night Planning Guide
Prosthetic Leg Engineering Design STEM Challenge
Design a Zoo! 5E STEM Project (Animal Habitats)
Halloween STEM
-
Spider Parachute
-
Haunted House Paper Circuit
-
Fall Pumpkin Catapult
-
Candy Grabber
Other STEM Resources
Pitsco Education Kits
-
Straw Rocket Launcher
-
Family STEM Night Bundle
Vivify TikTok: Tour Claire’s STEM Classroom (including the Nature Wall)
Everything You Want to Know About Flesh-Eating Dermestid Beetles
Prosthesis facts for kids
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Join us for an episode filled with celestial celebrations as we guide you through hosting a Solar Eclipse Party using ready-made kits and embracing World Space Week through space-themed STEM lessons. Learn how to safely witness a solar eclipse and our favorite space lessons including Rockets and rovers. Whether you're a space enthusiast or just looking for some educational fun, this podcast episode will inspire your cosmic curiosity!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Why You Should Teach Space
-
How to Engage Families with STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Solar Eclipse Party and Activities
Rocketry
Vivify STEM Lessons
Solar Eclipse Pinhole Projector STEM Challenge
STEM Family Night Planning Guide
*FREE Solar Eclipse Paper Circuit Activity*
Claire’s Classroom: Favorite Vivify Space Lessons
-STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity
-Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
-Space Docking (included in Family Night)
-Space Rover STEM Engineering Design Challenge
-Ultraviolet Solar Light Shelter STEM Challenge
Eating in Space STEM Challenge: Design a Menu for an Astronaut!
Other STEM Resources
Future Eclipses | NASA
Vivify STEM Kits from Pitsco Education
Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses
Astreas - "Rocket Fuel in Your Pocket"
Quick Tips
Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Space Club Student Highlights: Space Club: Mission to Mars
Space Colony Competition
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, we talk all about motivation. How can teachers engage uninterested students? Natasha & Claire chat about their own struggles with motivation and strategies they have tried to increase intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and engagement in their classrooms.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
-
The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
-
Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The Best STEM Challenge
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Vivify STEM Lessons
Elementary STEM Space Lander Challenge (K-5)
Stage 1 STEM: Icebreakers & Teambuilding
Other STEM Resources
TikTok: TX High School Teacher Talks Motivation
Speaking of Psychology: Why our attention spans are shrinking, with Gloria Mark, PhD
TikTok: Claire’s STEM Classroom Tour (ft. the Nature Wall)
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire reflect on the first few weeks of school, including everyone getting sick! Claire shares her students’ reaction to the mysterious refilling water bottle and a new role she is taking on in addition to teaching STEM. Natasha shares an open-ended science inquiry activity that has students defining variables and collecting data. Teams then share their findings with other groups and quickly realize the importance of clear communication in science!
Have a question we could answer in a future podcast episode? Email us at info@vivifystem.com
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM (water bottle)
-
From Miniatures to Mariners: The Power of Prototyping
-
Adventures in Engineering Education with Rachelle Pedersen
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Space Lander Mission
Exploring National Parks with a STEM Challenge!
Teaching STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity
Robot Hand STEM Activity
National Park Research & Design: 5E STEM Project
Other STEM Resources
Galileo
-
How was the force of gravity (9.81 meters per second squared) determined?
-
Role of resistance forces in Galileo's experiments (PDF: W G Breiland)
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire is back in her STEM classroom and focused on prototyping and troubleshooting for her kinder - 9th graders! Listen in as she and Natasha chat about a mysterious prototype, a STEM challenge intended to assess learning for back to school, and why her students asked if they could bring a dead cat to school.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
From Miniatures to Mariners: The Power of Prototyping
-
Escape the STEM Room
-
Think Like A Scientist
-
How Do You Get Every Student to Speak?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Sub Plans for a STEM Classroom
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Sub Lesson Templates for a STEM Classroom
Paper Circuits:
-
Paper Circuits STEM Activity - FREE!!
-
All Vivify Paper Circuit STEM Activities
Robot Hand STEM Activity (Printed & Digital)
Other STEM Resources
Tour Claire’s STEM Lab!
-
Vivify TikTok
-
Vivify Instagram
STEM Books:
-
“What To Do With a Box?” by Jane Yolen
-
“Boxitects” by Kim Smith
Who has the hat?
-
Vivify TikTok
-
Vivify Instagram
The STEM Space Membership (Yearly access to ALL Vivify Lessons!)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Happy back to school! In this episode, Natasha shares her lessons and reflects on the first week of school. This includes two mystery box activities to get to know her students, establish expectations for classroom participation, and connect to the scientific process. She also shares how she introduced the teaching of science by having her students, who are undergraduate preservice teachers, complete ineffective science activities to highlight the challenges of promoting science knowledge.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How Do You Get Every Student to Speak?
-
How to Ask Questions
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
A Teacher’s Guide to Science Fair
How to Host a Debate in Your Science Classroom
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Pipecleaner STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons
Tower STEM Challenges: 5 Icebreaker Activities
Intro to STEM: Think Like a Scientist & Engineer!
Back to School (Stage 1 STEM) Bundle: 50+ Icebreaker Activities
Other STEM Resources
Mystery Box: Introducing Questioning
Mystery Tubes (UC Berkeley)
Pear Deck (for use with Google Slides)
Texas A&M University Professor Tatiana Erukhimova
Ready for a big cloud?! These kids sure were! (YouTube)
A Texas A&M Professor Is Sharing Her Love Of Physics With Millions On TikTok (TAMU article)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with one of her favorite people and classmates at Texas A&M University, Rachelle Pedersen! Natasha and Rachelle are both doctoral students in curriculum and instruction, and one of the few focused on engineering education. Rachelle shares her experiences teaching high school technology and engineering, including one of her favorite engineering design challenges. They also discuss the overwhelming expectations of STEM education and strategies to support teachers.
Rachelle Pedersen is a Graduate Research Assistant and Instructor of Record for the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Science (Concentration Technology Education) from Colorado State University and a Masters of Science in Curriculum & Instruction (Emphasis Science Education) from Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on motivation and social influences (e.g. mentoring and identity development) that support underrepresented students in STEM fields. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Cosmic Leap Foundation and the Outreach Chair for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program at Texas A&M. Prior to graduate school, Rachelle taught high school technology and engineering education (Robotics/Engineering, AP Computer Science, and Video Production) and advised several after-school programs (e.g., Technology Student Association, Girls in STEM, Stage Crew).
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Scope & Sequence (Pacing Guides) - FREE!!
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge
Elementary School Version (K-5)
Middle School Version (5-8)
Interview Questions to ask STEM Professionals - FREE!!
Other STEM Resources
What is CTE? (from the Association of Career and Technical Education)
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Learn More About Space Club Career Chats
Voya Foundation’s National STEM Fellowship in partnership with the NNSTOY
WiSE at Texas A&M University
Skype a Scientist
Rachelle’s Favorite STEM Lesson: Making Cents of the Nature of Engineering
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha has an incredible conversation with Nikole Collins-Puri, a social justice visionary and advocate who is the CEO of Techbridge Girls, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls from low-income communities to pursue STEM careers and achieve economic mobility and financial security as adults. Nikole shares her own journey in STEM, why belonging matters in STEM, and resources for educators.
About Techbridge Girls: Techbridge Girls challenges gender, racial, and class bias in STEM fields and culture by developing gender responsive and culturally relevant STEM curricula that helps girls see their unique STEM lineage, community, interests and path to success.*
* Techbridge Girls (TBG) serves Black, Indigenous, and all girls of color, which includes cis girls, trans youth, gender non-conforming, and/or non-binary youth who experience(d) girlhood and economic insecurity as a part of their journey.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
What You Should Know About Failure
-
Question Everything
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
Women in STEM
Women in STEM Classroom Posters - FREE!
Botany STEM Challenge - highlights Katherine Esau
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - highlights Emily Roebling
Building Bricks STEM Women's History Design Challenge
Solar Oven STEM Challenge - highlights Maria Telkes
Other STEM Resources
Techbridge Girls
Be Part of Our STEM Equity Learning Community of Practice - Applications are open through August 30! Apply here.
NIH: The missing women in STEM? Assessing gender differentials in the factors associated with transition to first jobs
Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and Claire explore a variety of icebreakers to help set the tone for the academic year. They share activities that are not just fun but also help in sharpening vital soft skills like communication and teamwork—key elements for the complex design challenges that lie ahead. From hands-on challenges with LEGO® blocks and towers to fun ways to keep attendance while building relationships with your students, they share how these activities lay the groundwork for an engaging and collaborative learning environment. Tune in as we navigate through these exciting strategies to kick-start your STEM classroom experience.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Strategies for a Teacherpreneur
-
Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM
-
We Interviewed an Astronaut (Greg Chamitoff)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Get Your STEM Classroom Ready for Back to School!
Find Student Sparks
The Best 3 Back to School STEM Icebreakers (includes Space Docking & Tower Challenges)
Pipecleaner STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons
Stage 1: Icebreakers & Teambuilding
STEM Task Cards for Building Bricks: Growing Bundle!
Tower STEM Challenges: 5 Icebreaker Activities
Back to School (Stage 1 STEM) Bundle: 50+ Icebreaker Activities
All Stage 1 - Icebreakers & Teambuilding
Name Plate STEM
STEM Scope & Sequence (Pacing Guide)
Elementary School (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Other STEM Resources
Vivify TikTok: Who Wears the Hat? (A Claire riddle!)
Claire’s Foam Magnets Recommendations
Book: Don’t Wake the Dragon
Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire and Natasha discuss what things they would include in a devoted STEM classroom or Makerspace. They share some must-have products and design elements as well as some things you could skip. Tune in to hear an answer to one of our most frequently asked questions and take-away some ideas you may use for your STEM room.
Have a question we could answer in a future podcast episode? Email us at info@vivifystem.com
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Teaching Fads: Should You Have A Makerspace?
-
Why is Engineering in K-12?
-
How Does Engineering Relate to Science?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Classroom Decoration
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Stage 2 STEM: Engineering Design Challenges
Alphabet STEM Challenges Bundle - Kindergarten STEM Year-Long Curriculum
STEM Scope & Sequence (Pacing Guide)
Elementary School (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Other STEM Resources
We Are Teachers: What is a Makerspace?
Claire’s Makerspace and STEM Materials original preview
Mentioned STEM Must-Haves (Amazon Affiliate links)
CANARY Cutters
ZOOB BuilderZ
LEGO DUPLO
LEGO Compatible Magnetic Brick Tiles
Sphero EDU
Vivify Recommended Resources
The STEM Space Membership (Yearly access to ALL Vivify Lessons!)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire and Natasha share their extensive knowledge and experience in crafting and marketing educational curricula. They delve into the details of creating compelling and effective learning materials that not only engage students but also meet educators' needs by imparting valuable insights about the business side of education. They discuss strategies for positioning and selling their curricula in the competitive market, shedding light on their big-picture approach, teacher notes, and understanding the needs of their target audience. This episode is a must-listen for educators looking to create and sell their own teaching resources or if you might one day!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
Show Me the Money for STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity
Editable Teacher Slides for Engineering Design Challenges (FREE!!)
STEM Scope and Sequence (Pacing Guide)
Elementary School (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Mission to Mars: STEM Curriculum Unit
Elementary School (PreK-5)
Middle School (5-8)
Design a Zoo! 5E STEM Project
Other STEM Resources
Vivify STEM on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)
Vivify Curriculum Map
The STEM Space Membership (Yearly access to ALL Vivify Lessons!)
Exploring STEM Like an Aerospace Engineer - Vivify’s story
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire dives into how she plans to inspire her students to understand complex concepts, such as buoyancy. She explores the transformative process of moving from paper sketches to mini-models, and ultimately to life-sized, functioning products. Claire explains the critical role of prototyping, the eureka moments, the challenges, and the triumph or failure of the end result. Tune in to this enlightening episode and discover how the power of prototyping can create unforgettable educational experiences for your students.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How Sphero Supports STEM Teachers ft. Michelle Acaley
-
Robots and Computer Science ft Hal Speed
-
Have We Over-Engineered the Goals of Engineering Education?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Roller Coaster STEM Activity: Middle School Engineering Design
Ocean Study: 5E Science Unit (Explore buoyancy, salinity, ocean layers, & ecosystem)
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
Newspaper STEM Challenges: 3 Engineering Activities
Other STEM Resources
CodeHS - Coding platform for schools
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Welcome back to our podcast! After a well-deserved break, we're excited to dive back into the world of STEM. Natasha returns from her adventure in France, while Claire recounts her busy schedule of shuttling her kids to various activities. With renewed energy, we're eager to discuss a thought-provoking topic in this episode. Natasha shares her reflections on teaching undergraduate pre-service students for the first time, while Claire reveals a student question that she will never answer. Join us as we delve into the stirring subject of over-engineering the goals of engineering education.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Why is Engineering in K-12?
-
My Students Built A Wheelchair
-
We Launched a Weather Balloon
-
How to Ask Questions
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
All About Rockets
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Teaching Buoyancy
STEM Sailboat Challenge Math & Engineering Activity
Ocean Study: 5E Science Unit (Sink/Float, Salinity, Ocean Layers)
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Other Resources
Marco Polo video chat app
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha continues her conversation with André Thomas, game-based learning expert and Director of the LIVE Lab in the Visualization program at Texas A&M University. Explore the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI) as André shares his views on how it can personalize learning experiences, enhance engagement, and potentially revolutionize various aspects of our lives. Sign up for André’s online course Introduction to Game-Based Learning and get 30% off with code OMYM0G
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Implement Game-Based Learning ft. André Thomas (part 1)
-
Game-Based Learning with André Thomas
-
How ChatGPT Will Transform Education
-
Question Everything
Vivify STEM Lessons
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Other STEM Resources
ChatGPT
15 Tips To Help Businesses Use AI And Automation Responsibly And Effectively (Forbes)
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (UNESCO)
Rayyan - AI Powered Tool for Systematic Literature Reviews
AutoGPT Official
Join The STEM Space!
Game-Based Learning (GBL) Resources
Game Based Learning (YouTube)
A&M-developed calculus video game helps students pass, pursue STEM careers
Variant: Limits Educational Trailer (YouTube)
Variant: Limits (game)
TED Talk: The Effective Use of Game-Based Learning in Education
Texas A&M University LIVE Lab: Introduction to Game-Based Learning - GET 30% WITH CODE OMYM0G
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and André discusses game-based learning and its immense potential in any classroom setting. They talk about the difference between gamification and game-based learning, tips for engaging all students, and a not-to-be-missed online summer workshop providing educators with the chance to earn professional development credit hours.
André Thomas returns for an engaging discussion that will be shared over 2 episodes! In the next episode, they will talk about AI so we thought it would be fun to have ChatGPT provide his bio:
Renowned as both a game-based learning expert and a professor at Texas A&M University, André Thomas boasts an illustrious career that originated in the dynamic world of the movie industry. From crafting captivating graphics for blockbuster hits like Men in Black, he transitioned to the realm of game development, lending his artistic prowess to renowned titles such as Madden NFL. Now, drawing from his rich experiences, André employs his expertise to create immersive educational games that masterfully teach subjects like calculus. Join us as we delve into his fascinating journey and uncover the transformative power of game-based learning in education.
Links from the Show:
Texas A&M University LIVE Lab: Introduction to Game-Based Learning - GET 30% WITH CODE OMYM0G
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Game-Based Learning with André Thomas
-
The Impact of STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The Importance of Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Game-Based Learning (GBL) Resources
Five Reasons Why The Use Of Games In Education Is Cool (Article about Malta conference: Transform-ED: Education Through Gaming and AI)
Game Based Learning (YouTube)
A&M-developed calculus video game helps students pass, pursue STEM careers
Variant: Limits Educational Trailer (YouTube)
Variant: Limits (game)
TED Talk: The Effective Use of Game-Based Learning in Education
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Have you heard the song “Like a G6”? The G6 is in reference to one of the most exclusive private jets in the world, the Gulfstream G650. In this episode, Natasha sits down with one of the engineers at Gulfstream, Whitney Holt, to talk all about this airplane, her role in aircraft simulation, and her journey to being an aerospace engineer. All the questions come from elementary and middle school Space Club students as part of the monthly Space Club Career Chats series. We invite you to share the video found on Vivify’s YouTube Channel with your students.
Video of Career Chat with Whitney
Girls Engineer It Day
Gulfstream
G600 Iron Bird First Flight
Lego Mindstorm Ev3 Core Set
Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Space Colony Competition
Related STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
The STEM Space: Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOW NOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire speaks with Kristina Ohl who created a 5E STEM lesson on earthquakes, complete with a DIY shake table. She shares her experience conducting this activity in the classroom and some tips for doing it with your students.
Kristina Ohl is a science teacher who strives to develop lessons that are engaging for all learners. She has taught as an outdoor educator and in many STEM roles from grades 3-8 and currently teaches middle school science. Her passion is improving access to quality STEM educational resources to positively impact the lives of all students. She lives in Arlington, Massachusetts with her fiancé and her rescue dog, Finley.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Eco-House Sustainable STEM with Kristina Ohl
-
How to Teach Kids to Think Like a Scientist
-
What You Should Know About Failure
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Teaching STEM Through A Story
The Importance of Failure
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Earthquake STEM lesson
Engineering Design Classroom Posters for Bulletin Boards
Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit
Other STEM Resources
Outdoor, experiential and environmental education - CYC-Net
STCMS™: Earth's Dynamic Systems
New quake brings fresh losses to residents of Turkey, Syria - AP News
Email us your questions!
THE STEM SPACE SHOW NOTES
BECOME A STEM SPACE MEMBER
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Dr. Trudi Hoogenboom, a planetary scientist and teacher. She shares her journey in science and the exciting work of her students in searching for unidentified asteroids. She shares how you can be involved in this citizen science project plus some advice for Space Club teams participating in the upcoming Space Colony Competition. This is an audio recording of Space Club Career Chats. You are invited to share the video with your students!
Dr. Trudi Hoogenboom is a Planetary Scientist and Planetary Science teacher with a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Leeds located in England. Dr. Trudi has worked as a research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the Arctic Planetary Science Institute. She co-authored the first topographic map of Io, a moon of Jupiter, and the first geological map of the massive asteroid 4 Vesta. Dr. Trudi joined Ad Astra/Astra Nova, a school founded by Elon Musk and Josh Dahn at SpaceX, teaching learners around the world to use astrophysical software to find main-belt asteroids, including AI detection of craters on the Moon, and glacier mapping on Mars. Her Astra Nova Asteroid Search Team students even located previously unidentified asteroids.
Links from the Show:
Lunar and Planetary Institute
The Arctic Planetary Science Institute
Astra Nova School
Pan-STARRS telescope (Hawaii)
Citizen Science: International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)
Astrometrica
All About Ganymede (NASA)
All About Space Club
Video: STEM Career Chats: Dr Trudi (Planetary Researcher & Educator)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Video: Space Club: Mission to Moon
Space Colony Competition
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Career Chat with a Satellite Program Manager
-
Career Chat with an Astronaut
-
Chat with a Chemist ft Dr. Danna Freedman
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Explore the Universe: Science Astronomy Scavenger Hunt - FREE!
STEM Careers
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Subscribe to the free Vivify STEM Newsletter
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Why should engineering be in K-12? Has the movement to include engineering improved the state of education? What exactly are students learning in an engineering design challenge? In this episode, Natasha discusses her dissertation research that explores these questions. She also provides an overview of efforts to define engineering learning goals and provides strategies to meaningfully integrate engineering in a science classroom.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Who is an Engineer?
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
-
Rate My STEM Lesson
-
Question Everything
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Rate Your STEM Lesson
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Space Lander STEM Challenge
Elementary School (K-5th)
Upper Grades (5th-10th)
Space Capsule Heat Shield 5E Engineering Challenge (MS-PS3-3)
Antarctica Shelter STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
A Framework for Quality K-12 Engineering Education: Research and Development - TJ Moore
ABET.org
Designing Engineering Experiences to Engage All Students - Christine M. Cunningham and Cathy P. Lachapelle
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
From towers to coding, planning out STEM lessons can be overwhelming and confusing. In this episode, which is a rebroadcast of our very first STEM Space episode, Claire and Natasha present The 3 Stages of STEM. Think of it as a way to map out your STEM curriculum with intentional learning progressions!
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The 3 Stages of STEM (original broadcast)
-
How to Plan Your Year in STEM
-
Stage 3 STEM
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
How to Teach Kids to Think Like a Scientist
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
The ABCs of Kindergarten STEM
Teaching STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Tower STEM Challenges: 5 Icebreaker Activities
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
K-3rd
4th-10th
Stage 1: Icebreakers and Team-Building
Stage 2: Engineering Challenges
Stage 3: Design Projects
Other STEM Resources
Exploring STEM Like an Aerospace Engineer - Vivify STEM’s story
DoD STEM
Boeing Educational Resources
About Air Tractor
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Pitsco: Straw Rockets - Getting Started Package
The STEM Space Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha are excited to share Vivify's new way to access free STEM resources and connect with them! Tune in to find out how you can become a member of the STEM Space and learn about some interesting results from a recent survey that includes 600 responses from STEM teachers across the country.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
Show Me the Money for STEM
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum Around the World
STEM Scope and Sequence (Pacing Guide)
Elementary School (K-5th)
Middle School (6th-8th)
STEM Space Lander Challenge
Elementary School (K-5th)
Upper Grades (5th-10th)
Other STEM Resources
Become a STEM Space Member!
Email us your questions!
STEM CON & Beyond: Virtual PD Conference for Teachers K-12
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
NGSS Official Website
Common Core State Standards
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
How do I see an apple? Can I still see an apple in a dark room? Students have so many misconceptions about light, and in this episode, we share a simple but eye-opening activity that will change the way your students understand light. Claire and Natasha also share our “virtual pen pal” idea that bridges preservice elementary teachers with a class of 4th grade STEM students.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Teach Kids to Think Like a Scientist
-
How Does Engineering Relate to Science?
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Heat Shield Space Exploration STEM Challenge
Ultraviolet Solar Light Shelter STEM Challenge
Elementary (K-5th)
Middle School (5th-8th)
England Pinhole Camera STEM Challenge
Other STEM Resources
UncoveringStudentIdeas.org
NSTA.org: Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Series
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Vivify STEM Newsletter - provides access to FREE Resource Library!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Join Natasha as she dives into the world of storytelling, STEM education, and citizen science! She chats with award-winning filmmaker and founder of MakeWater, Ryan Beltrán, as he shares his own personal story and the inspiration that led to developing a nonprofit that inspires through environmental science, technology, tinkering, and storytelling. He also shares an exciting way to celebrate World Water Day through citizen science in your classroom!
Join the MakeWater Competition to win a kit! Post a water story on social media with the hashtag #makewaterstory for a chance to win one of 1,000 kits, classroom bundles, or a 3D printer!
About MakeWater: MakeWater’s mission is to empower students to make a difference by becoming citizen scientists and tackling water issues collaboratively. Through an innovative, STEAM-based, and environmentally-focused curriculum and competitions. MakeWater makes hands-on education accessible and inspires students to seek education and career paths that change the communities in which they live, study, and work.
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Impact of STEM
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Teaching STEM Through A Story
Other STEM Resources
World Water Day
MakeWater.
SA Smart Challenge
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Have you heard of ChatGPT, the AI-powered language model that's transforming education? In this podcast episode, Claire and I explore the use of ChatGPT in the classroom, discussing its potential to enhance teaching and learning. We share examples of how this technology can be used to provide personalized learning experiences, assist with grading and assessment, and foster critical thinking skills in students. We also address ethical considerations and offer practical tips for teachers looking to incorporate ChatGPT into their teaching practice. Whether you're an educator or simply interested in the latest developments in education technology, this episode is a must-listen.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
-
Question Everything
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Engineering and the 5E Science Model
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Other STEM Resources
ChatGPT
Apple Podcast: HIBT Lab! OpenAI: Sam Altman
The STEM Space Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/101/how-chatgpt-will-transform-education
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Welcome to episode 100 of The STEM Space! In celebration, Natasha and Claire rant about one of their favorite topics: why does science education always ignore aerodynamic drag? In this episode, Natasha shares a simple science inquiry lab on exploring whether all objects fall at the same rate, the results from her students, and then how they applied an understanding of gravity and drag to an engineering design challenge.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How Does Engineering Relate to Science?
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge
STEM Balloon Rocket Design Challenge
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
Elementary (K-3)
Upper Grades (4-10)
Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter D (includes drag device challenge; for PreK - 1st grade!)
STEM Space Lander
Elementary (K-5)
Upper Grades (5-10)
Other STEM Resources
The STEM Space Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/100/celebrating-100-episodes-a-lesson-on-exploring-air-resistance
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha discuss simple lessons to help your students develop scientific thinking and better understand how science works. From trying to guess a mystery object to using creativity to design their own investigations, Natasha shares some activities from her own classroom that build confidence in her students and create a classroom environment driven by inquiry.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How Does Engineering Relate to Science?
-
Career Chat with an Astronaut
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Go on a Mission to Mars! An inside look into Space Club’s Mission to Mars
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Design a Mars Colony: STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Mission to Mars: Elementary STEM Curriculum Unit (Space Exploration)
Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit + Mars Colony Project!
Other STEM Resources
Pedagogical Strategies and Practices
Vivify YouTube: Mission to Mars Student Highlights
Fun Space Videos:
Alka-Seltzer in Space
7 Minutes of Terror: The Challenges of Getting to Mars
Karen Nyberg Shows How You Wash Hair in Space
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/99/how-to-teach-kids-to-think-like-a-scientist
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha discuss how the history of engineering education tends to focus on the evolution of the departments and colleges of engineering, but what about the female-dominated home economics fields of study? Around 1930 to 1950, women could major in household equipment, which focused on a scientifically based understanding of household technologies. Students took physics and math classes and conducted labs that involved dismantling refrigerators to assess the application of thermodynamic principles. Sounds like engineering to me! Listen for more of this fascinating history and our ideas of what all students should know about engineering and technology.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
The Impact of STEM
-
Are You Training Up Innovators?
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Heat Shield Space Exploration STEM Challenge
Picture a STEM Professional Critical Thinking Worksheet
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity
Starter STEM Activities Engineering Challenges
Other STEM Resources
The Evolution of Engineering in the 20th Century (book)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/98/who-is-an-engineer
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire has the privilege of chatting with the head of Robotical for North America, Hal Speed, who has a passion for promoting computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence among other technology concepts and skills with the next generation of problem solvers. Tune in to hear about a new robot that you can try for free and find out how you can bring more tech skills to your students.
Links from the Show:
From this Episode
Marty the Robot
—>Free Trial
—>Learning Resources
tinyML EDU K-12 (it includes links for AI4K12, AI for Teachers, etc.)
K-12 CS Framework
Code.org
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- How Sphero Supports STEM Teachers ft. Michelle Acaley
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
15 Ways to Teach Robotics Virtually
How to Start an After School STEM Club
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Robot Hand STEM Activity
Alphabet STEM - Activities for Letter R (for PreK - 1st grade)
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Explore real-world careers, applications, and places in the world of technology through tech choice boards!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/97/robots-and-computer-science-ft-hal-speed
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with Dr. Danna Freedman, a professor of chemistry at MIT in Boston, MA. They discuss her pathway to chemistry, the challenges of teaching and mentoring, and her coolest failure. You are also welcome to share the video recording of this podcast with students. The questions Natasha asks are based on submissions from Space Club elementary and middle school kids around the country.
Links from the Show:
All About Space Club
Video: Career Chat: Dr. Danna Freedman (Chemist)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Video: Space Club: Mission to Moon
Video: Space Club: Mission to Mars
Space Colony Competition by Vivify
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Learning Potential of Space Club
-
STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
53: Getting Data From Our Poop? Career Chat with Dr. Olesen
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Career Chat with a Satellite Program Manager
-
Career Chat with an Astronaut
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Explore the Universe: Science Astronomy Scavenger Hunt - FREE!
STEM Careers
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
About Dr. Danna Freedman
YouTube: Danna Freedman Synthetic Inorganic Chemist | 2022 MacArthur Fellow
MacArthur Foundation profile
Freedman Laboratory at MIT
Wikipedia: SQUID Magnetometer
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/96/chat-with-a-chemist-ft-dr-danna-freedman
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha are talking all things 2023 and what to expect from Vivify! Listen in to learn about big projects like the Colony Competition, Wheelchairs, and a big thing that they are working on with Scope and Sequence!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
My Students Built A Wheelchair
-
Space Colony Competition
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Go on a Mission to Mars! An inside look into Space Club’s Mission to Mars
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions
Colony Project Guides
Design a Moon Base: STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Design a Mars Colony: STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Science Fair Guide: Steps to Success
STEM Scope and Sequence (Pacing Guide) - FREE!
Elementary School (K - 5th)
Middle School (6th - 8th)
Sub Lesson Templates for a STEM Classroom
Other STEM Resources
Space Colony Competition
Open Wheelchair Foundation
Pitsco Education Family STEM Night Bundle (in partnership with Vivify)
Fall 2022 Space Colony Competition
YouTube: Space Colony Competition Trailer
YouTube: Space Colony Competition Award Ceremony (December 2022)
TikTok: Meet the Teams
TikTok: Space Colony Competition - Teams and Judges
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
The STEM Space Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2023/95/colony-competitions-wheelchairs-and-more-in-2023
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
This episode is all about robotics and one of our favorite STEM companies, Sphero! Natasha chats with Sphero’s Senior Director of Product and Content, Michelle Acaley. Michelle started as a classroom teacher in New York City and Chicago before moving into education technology. She is passionate about ensuring Sphero has a content-first approach so that all products Sphero builds have a purpose in education and can become tools to teach Computer Science and STEAM throughout the curriculum.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM with Sphero Robotics
-
What You Should Know About Failure
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
5 Tips for STEM Learning with Sphero Robotics
Basics of Sphero Robotics + 3 Awesome Sphero STEM Activities
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
10 Must Have STEM Tools
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Robotics Programming Maze Challenge - FREE!
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Other STEM Resources
Sphero
Products:
indi
Bolt
RVR+
littleBits
Sphero EDU
Computer Science Foundations course
Sphero Global Challenge
littleBits: Invent for Good
Sphero Heroes
Raspberry Pi Foundation
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/94/how-sphero-supports-stem-teachers-ft-michelle-acaley
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
Natasha and Claire expand upon a recent blog post discussing how to teach engineering in the science classroom. How do engineering and science relate to each other? What do you do with the NGSS standards? Listen in to find out! (You may also hear baby Fenya’s very strong opinions about this in the background!)
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
Unpacking the NGSS ft. Molly Seward (K-4 Science Coach)
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
-
Are You Training Up Innovators?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Diet Coke + Mentos Balloon Experiment
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Get Your Elf Off That Shelf with STEM
Top 5 Christmas STEM Activities
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Engineering Design Classroom Posters for Bulletin Boards
Volcano Shelter STEM Challenge
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Other STEM Resources
NGSS Standards - Official Website
NGSS Phenomena
Engineering is Elementary by Christine M. Cunningham
ETS: Engineering, Technology and the Application of Science
Limnic Eruptions in Africa
Lake Monoun - 1984
Lake Nyos - 1986
Defusing Africa’s Killer Lakes | Smithsonian Magazine
Invisible Extinguisher | Science Fun
“The impact of NGSS and STEM on Elementary Science Instruction” - Joanne K Olson
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/93/how-does-engineering-relate-to-science
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
This is part 2 of Natasha’s conversation with Molly Seward, a K-4 STEM teacher and Coach in Indiana with 37 years of teaching experience. The episode tackles the Next Generation Science Standards including strategies to make them more manageable for teachers. We also discuss how to plan a learning progression for a STEM classroom.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Part 1 - 91. Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)
-
Why Should You Have More Than One Solution?
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
-
HELP! My Students Are Struggling With TEAMWORK!
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Candy Grabber Math & Engineering Activity
Simple Machines Toy Factory STEM Challenge
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion)
Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges - FREE!
6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
Other STEM Resources
NGSS Standards - Official Website
Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
NGSS Phenomena
8 Facts About the Grand Canyon You Never Knew from the National Park Foundation
‘I Wonder’ Questions: Harnessing the Power of Inquiry from George Lucas Educational Foundation - Edutopia
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/88/what-does-a-brain-feel-like-ft-maria-garza
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with Molly Seward, a K-4 STEM teacher and coach in Indiana. She has been teaching for 37 years, including being a robotics coach for the last 9 years, and selected as the 2005 Indiana Teacher of the year! The conversation is divided into 2 episodes. The first will focus on her experiences as a classroom STEM teacher and her goals for students. In the next episode, she will share her knowledge as a science coach including how to tackle the Next Generation Science Standards.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
What You Should Know About Failure
-
How is STEM More Than a Problem?
-
Making Time for STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
STEM vs. STEAM+
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The Importance of Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Other STEM Resources
VEX GO Robotics
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/91/defining-stem-ft-molly-seward-k-4-stem-teacher
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
VIVIFY YOUTUBE
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire recap their experience launching a high-altitude weather balloon! This epic project is an impactful way to incorporate real-world STEM into your classroom and takes your students on a wild adventure. Hear about the trials and successes of our latest weather balloon launch!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Previous Weather Balloon Episodes:
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon Part 2
-
The Impact of STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Launching Weather Balloons
Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
The Importance of Failure
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
Interview Questions to ask STEM Professionals - FREE!
Other STEM Resources
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST)
Article from Texas A&M: Aerospace engineering former students bring engineering to life for kids of all ages
Vivify STEM YouTube: How to Launch a Weather Balloon to the Edge of Space: STEM Project Guide
Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)
Search for The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Affiliated Clubs
How many weather balloons are in service daily?
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/90/we-launched-a-weather-balloon
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Jonathan Stancek, a physics teacher in the Design & Technology Academy at Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, Texas. We discuss his journey from studying engineering to entering the classroom and his experience teaching math, engineering, and science. We discuss how to better prepare students for the rigor of high school and beyond, plus some of his favorite STEM projects! Jonathan is also a DoD STEM Ambassador Program for the 2022-23 school year (chosen by the U.S. Department of Defense), and he shares some incredible resources for teachers and students including curriculum, internships, scholarships, and more.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Does STEM Track?
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
-
Everything You Know About Learning Styles Is Wrong
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
Other STEM Resources
DoD STEM Ambassador Program
Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program
Grudge Ball Review Game
Trust in the Truss: Design a Wooden Bridge STEM activity
National Math & Science Initiative
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/89/chat-with-a-physics-teacher-ft-jonathan-stancek-dod-stem-ambassador
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha chats with Maria Garza, a neuroscientist in San Antonio, Texas. They discuss her research on blind mice, what it feels like to touch a brain and all sorts of interesting questions submitted by elementary and middle school students. This is the audio recording for a Space Club Career Chat that is posted on YouTube and linked in our show notes. We invite you to share this episode or video with your students!
Links from the Show:
All About Space Club
Video: Career Chat: Maria Garza (Neuroscientist)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Video: Space Club: Mission to Moon
Video: Space Club: Mission to Mars
Space Club STEM Career Chats (YouTube Playlist)
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
Previous Career Chat Episodes:
-
Career Chat with an Astronaut
-
Astrophysics and Weightlifting with Dr. Roman Gomez
-
Career Chat with a Satellite Program Manager
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
53: Getting Data From Our Poop? Career Chat with Dr. Olesen
- STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Maria’s Guest Blog Post: A Neuroscientists’s Top 5 STEM Activities for Kids & Families
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
The Brain the Changes Itself - Norman Doidge (book)
Coursera - Medical Neuroscience by Dr. White at Duke University
Euclidean Geometry and Navigation
Learn Amigurumi: The Adorable Art of Knitting and Crocheting Small Creatures
The Shadown and Bone Trilogy - Boxed Set (books)
National Library of Medicine - Space–brain: The negative effects of space exposure on the central nervous system
Mayo Clinic - Chiari malformation
Raffle Prizes on this Career Chat:
mberry Miracle Berry Tablets
USB Microscope
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/88/what-does-a-brain-feel-like-ft-maria-garza
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In today’s episode of The STEM Space, Claire shares an epiphany she had about teaching engineering to her students. Engineering and STEM tend to focus on identifying and solving a problem, but Claire proposes a shift for the way we frame engineering to one that is more inclusive, promotes empathy, and emphasizes growth mindset.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
The Impact of STEM (has Claire’s apple cobbler recipe)
-
Game Based Learning with André Thomas
-
Why Should You Have More Than One Solution?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
12 Ways to Boose Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Roller Coaster STEM Activity
Design a Mars Colony: STEM / STEAM Project Guide
Engineering Design Teacher Slides - FREE in the Vivify STEM Resource Library!
Other STEM Resources
Invention Convention
Smart City Challenge 2022
Article/Study: Shower thoughts explained! Scientists figure out why we get great ideas while washing
Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad (Vivify Amazon Affiliate Link)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/87/how-is-stem-more-than-a-problem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In today's episode of The STEM Space, Natasha sits down with a special guest, Christy Hall. She joined Claire and Natasha recently in hosting a virtual Space competition called Space Teams, and we reflect on our experiences interviewing astronauts and space architects! Natasha talks with her about Claire, who is the STEM teacher for her two children! She gives an incredible perspective as a parent watching her kids discover STEM learning. We chat about weather balloons and animal habitats and what she believes has been the most valuable lesson her kids have learned from Claire. Enjoy!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Engage Families with STEM
-
Join a Virtual Space Mission [Space Teams]
-
Are You Training Up Innovators?
-
Reflections from a First Year STEM Teacher
Launching A High Altitude Balloon
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon Part 2
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
The Importance of Failure
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM
STEM Scope and Sequence (Pacing Guide) - FREE!
Elementary (K - 5th)
Middle School (6th - 8th)
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions, Posters
6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities (includes Space Docking activity)
Other STEM Resources
Space Teams
YouTube: Space Teams Greg Johnson Interview with Claire and Christy
Henry Ford Invention Convention
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/86/a-parents-perspective-of-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Are you a STEM educator or parent looking for guidance and resources? Claire and Natasha walk you through the Vivify STEM website which is packed with tons of free resources including instructional videos, activities, and more. Want to plan a year-long STEM program? Read our curriculum map post. Need holiday STEM activities? Download for free from our resource library. We show you all these resources plus how to connect with STEM professionals, join Space Club, check out the latest in STEM websites and competitions, and more!
Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Rate My STEM Lesson
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
How to Plan Your Year in STEM
-
Teaching Fads: Should You Teach STEM?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Sub Plans for a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Scope and Sequence (Pacing Guide) - FREE!
Elementary School (K-5th)
Middle School (6th-8th)
Sub Lesson Templates for a STEM Classroom
Other STEM Resources
Texas A&M Projects: 4-D Plus Printing of Multifunctional Metallic Materials
YouTube Video: Action Origami Paper Monkey with Cymbals
Watch 85. How to Navigate Vivify STEM's Resources here!
Vivify Website (follow along as we talk!)
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon
Blog: Go on a Mission to Mars! An inside look into Space Club’s Mission to Mars
Video: Space Club Mission to Moon Project Highlights Video
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Project Highlights Video
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
Vivify STEM TpT store
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/85/how-to-navigate-vivify-stems-resources
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Have you been spending your own money on STEM supplies? We are here to help! In this episode, Natasha and Claire discuss ways to get money for your STEM program. Whether you are interested in writing grants or reaching out to potential donors, we are sharing all of our tips and tricks to get you funded.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Engage Families with STEM
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
52: How to Host a STEM Family Night
-
How Do We Define Success In STEM?
-
Why Do We Teach Engineering in Schools?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
5 Steps to Get STEM Funding
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions, Posters
Other STEM Resources
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (Vivify STEM Amazon Affiliate link)
ZOOB 250-Piece Set (Vivify STEM Amazon Affiliate link)
AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant Program
Grants for Education | Air & Space Forces Association
DonorsChoose.org
News Article: Toyota Texas San Antonio invests over $200,000 in local STEM education
News Article: STEM Programs Expand to Include More San Antonio Students (Boeing)
STEMfinity.com
Walmart Community Grants
Candid.org
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon
Blog: Go on a Mission to Mars! An inside look into Space Club’s Mission to Mars
Video: Space Club Mission to Moon Project Highlights Video
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Project Highlights Video
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/84/show-me-the-money-for-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Getting families involved with your school can be rewarding in many ways. Showcase your STEM program by hosting a STEM Family Night! Tune in as Claire shares her recent experience of hosting one and ways you can successfully get parents excited about STEM at your school too.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- Is STEM After School Effective?
52: How to Host a STEM Family Night
- Reflections from a First Year STEM Teacher
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
A Neuroscientists’s Top 5 STEM Activities for Kids & Families
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Family Night Planning & Activity Guide
Individual stations Claire mentions:
Hoop Glider Challenge
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
Amazing Architects: STEM Family Night Task Cards
STEM Sailboat Challenge
Microscope Mystery: Life Science Center
Other STEM Resources
Pitsco Education Straw Rockets - Starter Kit
Quiver App - AR Coloring
App Store
Google Play
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/83/how-to-engage-families-with-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Have you used rockets in your classroom or program? They have the potential to launch your students into a love for STEM, but there can also be some misconceptions that need to be addressed. In this episode, Claire and Natasha are sharing their experiences and advice on how you can rock it with rockets!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
52: How to Host a STEM Family Night
-
The Best STEM Challenge Ever
-
How Did We Get Here?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Launch Rockets blog posts
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
STEM Family Night Planning & Activity Guide
STEM Balloon Rocket Design Challenge
Other STEM Resources
NASA Artemis
NASA's Final Space Shuttle Launch 10th Anniversary Replay
Estes Alpha III Model Rocket (Vivify Amazon Affiliate link)
Grants for Education | Air & Space Forces Association
Pitsco Education Straw Rockets - Starter Kit
NASA Video: Apollo 15 Proves Galileo Correct (Hammer & Feather on Moon)
The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/82/how-to-rock-it-with-rockets
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha talks with a group of aerospace engineering students from Texas A&M University. They are part of the team behind an amazing K-12 STEM program called Space Teams, a six-day virtual space mission for students 12 - 18. A new Space Teams mission is coming up in October, and we thought it would be fun to bring some of the team to share more about this program and their own personal journeys in STEM.
Click here to apply for sponsorship!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Motivate Students and Regulate Emotions in STEM
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Interview Questions to ask STEM Professionals
Inspirational STEM Classroom Posters
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
Space Teams
Official Site
Video: Highlights: 2022 International SpaceCRAFT Exploration Challenge (YouTube)
Astronaut and Space Teams founder Gregory Chamitoff (Wikipedia)
STS (Space Transportation System) information
STS-124 (Wikipedia)
STS-124 Space Shuttle Launch
NASA Centers and Facilities
First Lego League
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/81/join-a-virtual-space-mission
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
How do you feel about the education system where you live? In this episode, Natasha shares a project she completed comparing the education systems in different countries. Tune in to hear what is working and what isn’t in education around the world.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Does STEM Track?
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Intro to Science & Engineering: STEM Critical Thinking Challenges
Inspirational STEM Classroom Posters
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
National Geographic Kids - Country Profiles
Greece
Poland
United States
United States Standards
Common Core State Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
PISA 2018: Highlight indicators (use this to sort data by country)
What is Montessori Education?
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/80/how-does-your-education-compare
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
From launching Space Club to hosting STEM Family Nights, Natasha reflects on her last 8 years as STEM Director at a nonprofit in San Antonio, Texas. She discusses with Claire the transition from engineer to educator and the impact of STEM programs. Plus, Claire shares a super easy apple spice cobbler recipe!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Does STEM Track?
-
Is STEM After School Effective?
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
-
How to Host a STEM Family Night
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
FBF: Natasha’s New STEM Job! (2014)
I Didn’t Always Want to be an Engineer
How to Launch Model Rockets & Amaze Your Students!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
STEM Family Night
STEM Family Night Planning Guide
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
How to Host a Virtual STEM Family Event
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Stop Motion Animation Activity - FREE!
Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, STEM Activity Instructions, Posters
Microscope Mystery: Life Science Center
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Other STEM Resources
SEEC - Space Exploration Educators Conference
Meet the Vivify Team
Communities In Schools - San Antonio (CISSA)
Tick Tock And TikTok: Shorter Attention Spans And The Consumer Market (Forbes)
Claire’s new fave baby item - Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base - Car Seat to Stroller in Seconds
STEM Family Night Kit - COMING SOON!
Vivify STEM TikTok Videos:
Mars Colony Project
Rocket Launches with Middle Schoolers
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon
Video: Space Club Mission to Moon Project Highlights
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Project Highlights
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/79/the-impact-of-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Ready to elevate your STEM class with a Stage 3 STEM project? Here is the part 2 we promised in episode 75! Claire and Natasha dive into ideas for long-term research-based STEM projects for elementary and middle school. We discuss animal habits, a project for a custom-fit aquatic wheelchair, and tackling a local city challenge. We also share how any Stage 2 engineering design challenge can be translated into a more in-depth Stage 3 STEM project.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Space Colony Competition
-
Eco-House Sustainable STEM with Kristina Ohl
-
My Students Built A Wheelchair
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project
Design a Prosthetic Leg STEM Activity...for Animals!
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Prosthetic Leg Engineering Design STEM Challenge
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
STEM Explorers: Elementary STEM Curriculum Around the World
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
STEM Scope & Sequence (Pacing Guide) - FREE!
Elementary School
Middle School
Stage 3 STEM: Design Projects
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project
Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit + Mars Colony Project!
Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM Diorama Engineering Design Project
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
All Stage 3 - Design Projects
Other STEM Resources
Space Colony Competition
Makey Makey
Makey Makey Invention Kit - Amazon affiliate link
Makey Makey STEM Activity - FREE in the Vivify Resource Library! Learn the basics + Activity to build a game controller!
Scratch Jr.
SA Smart Mayor’s Challenge
NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering
Vivify Curriculum Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/78/stage-3-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Need some low-prep icebreakers for back to school? Claire shares her favorite Stage 1 STEM activities that build a foundation of teamwork, collaboration, and communication to set the stage for engineering design challenges. Plus, she describes how to add new constraints to some of our most popular STEM icebreakers to adapt for older students or to re-use with a class.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
HELP! My Students Are Struggling With TEAMWORK!
-
The Best STEM Challenge Ever
-
Back to School STEM
-
Reflections from a First Year STEM Teacher
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
The Best 3 Back to School STEM Icebreakers (Challenges/instructions for Space Docking, Tower, and Helium Stick)
50 Distance Learning Icebreakers & Games
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Stage 1: Icebreakers & Teambuilding
Newspaper STEM Challenges: 3 Engineering Activities
Tower STEM Challenges: 5 Icebreaker Activities
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
Back to School (Stage 1 STEM) Bundle: 50+ Icebreaker Activities
All Stage 1 - Icebreakers & Teambuilding
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Curriculum Map
Stacking Chairs (Game) - Vivify Amazon Affiliate Link
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/77/back-to-school-icebreakers
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
What's it like to live and work in outer space? In this special episode of The STEM Space, we share our most viewed Space Club Career Chat with former astronaut Bonnie Dunbar! She worked for NASA for 27 years, flew five times on the space shuttle logging over 50 days in space, and is now a professor of Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Dunbar shares her journey to becoming an astronaut and then answers questions submitted by elementary and middle school students! You can also watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.
Links from the Show:
All About Space Club
Video: Career Chat: Retired Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar (Texas A&M)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Video: Space Club: Mission to Moon
Space Colony Competition by Vivify
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
53: Getting Data From Our Poop? Career Chat with Dr. Olesen
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Career Chat with a Satellite Program Manager
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers:
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (PreK-9th)
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Other STEM Resources
All About Bonnie J. Dunbar
NASA biography
Texas A&M University profile
News Article: Space Suits Of The Future Will Fit Better And Do More
Vivify YouTube: STEM Career Chats
Book: Jules Verne “From the Earth to the Moon”
NASA - Historical References
Alan Shepard Becomes the First American in Space
John Glenn, the First American to Orbit the Earth aboard Friendship 7
President Kennedy Proposes Moon Landing Goal in Speech to Congress
Historical Origins of ISS
Skylab - America’s First Space Station
Artemis Program
How To Be An Astronaut
Astronauts Homepage
Smithsonian Article: Rita Rapp Fed America’s Space Travelers
YouTube: 4K: Aurora / Southern Lights - Most Incredible View Of Earth Seen From Space
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/76/career-chat-with-an-astronaut
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Can you survive a mission to space? We invite your elementary and middle school students to submit their designs for a colony on the Moon or Mars that can keep a crew alive and happy! With a blend of research, engineering, architecture, math, and science - this is an epic Stage 3 STEM challenge that only requires recycled materials to bring it to life! Claire and Natasha discuss the launch of the virtual Space Colony Competition plus how Claire’s planning is going for her STEM classes in grades K through 8!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
How to Plan Your Year in STEM
-
The Learning Potential of Space Club
-
Reflections from a First Year STEM Teacher
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Go on a Mission to Mars! An inside look into Space Club’s Mission to Mars
Sub Plans for a STEM Classroom
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Scope and Sequence - FREE!
Elementary (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity
Space STEM Starter Challenges MEGA Bundle
Elementary (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Plants In Space STEM Challenge
Elementary (K-5)
Middle School (5-9)
Other STEM Resources
Space Colony Competition by Vivify
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Vivify STEM Resource Recommendations
NASA: Growing Plants in Space
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/75/space-colony-competition
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
What is the focus in your STEM classroom? Do you love teambuilding activities? Or perhaps you spend most of the year on engineering design. In this episode, we discuss a quiz to rate your STEM lessons or program, plus some exciting projects we are working on including Alphabet STEM for kindergarten and an epic Space Colony Competition!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Does STEM Track?
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
Can My Baby Do STEM?
-
How to Motivate Students and Regulate Emotions in STEM
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Design a Mars Colony: STEM Project (Distance Learning)
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Alphabet STEM Challenges Bundle - Kindergarten STEM Unit
Upstairs Downstairs Brain Paper Circuit SEL STEM Activity
Design a Mars Colony STEM/STEAM Project Bundle!
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Mission to Moon: Planning Game
Mission to Mars Planning Game
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Team
STEM Checklist - FREE in the Vivify Resource Library!
Space Colony Competition by Vivify
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/74/rate-my-stem-lesson
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
VIVIFY TIKTOK
Show Summary:
Is STEM really accessible for all students? What is the purpose of tracking students in school? Claire and Natasha discuss inequalities in our school system and how putting students in a track may limit their educational potential. We also share our own experiences in struggling with math, but due to parental support and resources, we were able to persevere and become engineers. But what about students who don't have the same support system. Should they have less of an education? We get pretty passionate about this topic!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge
-
Is STEM After School Effective?
-
Are You Training Up Innovators?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers:
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (PreK-9th)
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Project-Based Learning (PBL):
Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM Diorama Engineering Design Project (K-5th)
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project (Environmental Science 5E PBL) (4th-8th)
Other STEM Resources
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): The Case for Untracking by Anne Wheelock
Texas House Bill 5: Foundation High School Program
Savage Inequalities book
Project-Based Learning: What is PBL? - PBLWorks.org
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/73/does-stem-track
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Dr. Roman Gomez, a lead research scientist in the Space Science and Engineering division of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Roman shares his story of growing up in San Antonio, joining the Army, and then eventually getting his Ph.D. in astrophysics. Using questions submitted by Space Club elementary and middle school students, we discuss his journey in STEM, how he learned from his mistakes and his passion for all this space and science.
Links from the Show:
All About Space Club
Video: Career Chats: Dr. Roman Gomez (Research Scientist)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon
Video: Space Club Mission to Moon Project Highlights Video
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
53: Getting Data From Our Poop? Career Chat with Dr. Olesen
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Career Chat with a Satellite Program Manager
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers:
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (PreK-9th)
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Growth Mindset Back to School Rocket About Me Activity
Mission to Moon STEM Curriculum Unit (Space Exploration):
Elementary (K-6)
Middle School (6-10)
Other STEM Resources
Vivify YouTube: STEM Career Chats
Dr. Roman Gomez Speaks at 2019 Fall STEM Lecture Series
What is Olympic Weighlifting? via Wikipedia
U.S. Census Bureau Releases New Educational Attainment Data (2020)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/72/astrophysics-and-weightlifting-with-dr-roman-gomez
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
With no internet access and limited supplies, how can you inspire and engage kids with STEM? We often think of robots and circuit boards as an integral part of STEM education, but hands-on learning doesn't need fancy tools. In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha discuss ideas for offering STEM in rural communities (with special guest, baby Fenya). We also provide a framework for developing relevant STEM challenges that are based on students' lived experiences.
Links from the Show:
Agastya International Foundation
Website
Video: Redefining Education
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
-
Why Should You Have More Than One Solution?
-
Are You Training Up Innovators?
-
What Maps Have To Do With Creativity
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Mission to the Moon: Virtual STEM Program
STEM Activities for Distance Learning
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Design a School Garden STEM Project
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
How to Create a Relevant STEM Challenge (Flow Chart)
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
Mission to Mars: Middle School STEM Curriculum Unit (Space Exploration)
STEM Activity Hoop Glider Challenge (Variable Testing)
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge
Lower Grades (K-3)
Upper Grades (4-10)
Other STEM Resources
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Young Reader’s Edition (paperback)
William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind | TED Talk
William Kamkwamba: How I built a windmill | TED Talk
Space Club Outdoor Habitat Video
Dee Howard International Education Foundation
Bernoulli's Principle
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/71/how-to-create-a-relevant-stem-challenge
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Do you have a student obsessed with a subject? You know, the one who asks you all the questions you don’t know the answers to? In this episode, Natasha interviewed York Space Systems Program Manager Christine Dubbert (who was that student) for the 2022 spring semester Space Club Career Chat finale. Tune in as we talk about her pathway to STEM, what it's like to be a woman in engineering, and her previous competitive Scottish Highland dancing hobby!
Links from the Show:
All About Space Club
Video: Career Chat: Christine Dubbert (York Space Systems)
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
53: Getting Data From Our Poop? Career Chat with Dr. Olesen
-
Life on Another Planet? Career Chat with an Astrobiologist!
-
Inspire Kids with Space: Chat with NASA Ground Controller!
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers:
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (PreK-9th)
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School)
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Career Classroom Posters
Mission to Mars: Middle School STEM Curriculum Unit (Space Exploration)
Other STEM Resources
Vivify YouTube: STEM Career Chats
York Space Systems
Space Development Agency
Spot The Station | NASA
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/70/career-chat-with-a-satellite-program-manager
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
How young is too young for STEM? My kids' daycare claims to teach STEM with activities geared to students as young as 2 years old! But how does a 2-year-old even do STEM? I am pretty skeptical so I asked Claire, who teaches STEM for Pre-K all the way to 8th grade, to get her perspective. Tune in as we discuss STEM for little kids, learning goals, and what is even possible.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
What is the Point of a Field Trip?
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
-
Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
Teaching Fads: Should You Teach STEM?
-
STEM vs. STEAM+
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
5 Tips to Planning the Best STEM Field Trip!
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
The Importance of Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
STEM Careers:
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (PreK-9th)
Elementary STEM Careers BINGO Game (K-6th)
Icebreaker Teamwork STEM Activities
Building Bricks STEM Biomes and Habitats Engineering Design Challenge
STEM Task Cards: Building Icebreakers
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion)
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
Other STEM Resources
Vivify YouTube: STEM Career Chats
Vivify Instagram:
Make a paper fish swim with surface tension!
Let’s make a lung with Madelyn!
Pig Lung Demo
Creative Answers Demo (Claire asked all of her classes a question and shared their answers!)
SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body
Geo Board – Learning Resources Manipulatives
Tangrams - Wooden Pattern Blocks
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/69/can-my-baby-do-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Have you used game-based learning in your classroom? Can gaming actually improve learning outcomes? In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with renowned game-based learning expert and Texas A&M University professor André Thomas. His career started in the movie industry creating graphics for movies like Men in Black, then moved into the world of graphics for games like Madden NFL, and he now uses those experiences to develop immersive games to teach educational content like calculus. We discuss his background, how to engage students in the gaming industry, and ways for teachers to leverage game-based learning in their classrooms.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
We All Need a Lesson in Failure
-
What You Should Know About Failure
-
Are You A Visualizer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
The Importance of Failure
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Growth Mindset Back to School Rocket About Me Activity
Binary Code Reference Sheet and Activity ideas (FREE!)
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Other STEM Resources
TED Talk: The Effective Use of Game-Based Learning in Education
André Thomas: 5 Ways to Break into the Video Game Industry
Game Based Learning - YouTube
BMW 5 Series Ink
BBC News: “Gaming worth more than video and music combined”
A&M-developed calculus video game helps students pass, pursue STEM careers
Variant: Limits Educational Trailer (YouTube)
Variant: Limits (game)
Triseum
Introduction to Game-Based Learning (Texas A&M Online Course)
André’s Favorite Low-Tech/No Tech Games:
How to Play Mexican Train (Domino Game) - WikiHow YouTube
Pandemic Board Game
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/68/game-based-learning-with-andre-thomas
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Are you interested in learning about the latest research in STEM education? In this episode, Natasha, a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, shares her recent research on the impact of attendance in an afterschool STEM program (Space Club) on student attitudes towards STEM. Tune in to hear the latest trends in STEM education and the behind-the-scenes of conducting quantitative education research.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
-
STEM Careers in your Classroom
-
Why You Should Teach Space
-
Mission to the Moon: Virtual STEM Program
-
The Learning Potential of Space Club
-
How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
-
How to Organize a STEM Summer Camp
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
7 Activities Featuring Women in STEM History
How to Start an After School STEM Club
Vivify STEM Lessons & Products
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity
Digital STEM Choice Board: STEM Careers!
STEM Careers BINGO Game! (Middle & High School) - Digital & Printed
STEM Career Classroom Posters
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
Other STEM Resources
Study from Science.org - “Highway signs showing traffic deaths don’t reduce crashes”
Girls Who Code
A Leak in the STEM Pipeline: Taking Algebra Early
PEAR’s STEM Tools: Common Instrument Suite & Dimensions of Success
This Camp Is Also an In-Depth Study of Why Girls Quit STEM
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2021
Osborne, J. (2003). Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implications. International Journal of Science Education, 25(9), 1049 – 1079.
Shapiro, M., Grossman, D., Carter, S., Martin, K., Deyton, P., & Hammer, D. (2015). Middle school girls and the “leaky pipeline” to leadership. Middle School Journal, 46(5), 3–13.
Afterschool Alliance. (2021). STEM learning in afterschool on the rise, but barriers and inequities exist.
Young, J. R., Ortiz, N., & Young, J. L. (2017). STEMulating Interest: A meta-analysis of the effects of out-of-school time on student STEM interest. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 5(1), 62–74.
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/2022/67/is-stem-after-school-effective
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Natasha chats with Kristina Ohl, a 6th-grade science teacher who decided to “re-create” one of her favorite activities, Vivify’s Mission to Mars Planning Game. She brought the real-world project back to Earth by having students plan and design an energy-efficient and eco-friendly house! She discusses her experience developing the lesson including consulting a sustainable building engineer and testing with elementary and middle school students. We also chat about effective teaching practices and how we cannot simply pour our knowledge into children’s brains - try as we might!
Links from the Show:
Previous Podcasts
-
Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
-
Why Do We Teach Engineering in Schools?
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
Related Blog Posts
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project
Design a Mars Colony: STEM Project (Distance Learning)
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education
STEM Lessons
Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project (Environmental Science 5E PBL)
Mission to Mars: Planning Game (Mars Colony STEM Project)
Mission to Moon: Planning Game (Moon Base STEM Project)
Other Links
EXPLO
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/66/eco-house-stem-planning-game-with-kristina-ohl
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
Tune in as Claire and Natasha tackle another question from our listeners: “I am new to STEM…how do you keep it all together? All the resources, organizing for all grade levels…I’d love to be a fly on the wall in Texas!” As the school year wraps up, Claire reflects on a crazy busy year and how she stays organized when teaching different STEM topics for her PreK all the way to 8th-grade students!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- My Students Built A Wheelchair
Launching A High Altitude Balloon
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon
-
Launching A High Altitude Balloon Part 2
-
Making Time for STEM (ft. Kerry Tracy)
Vivify STEM Lessons
Editable Engineering Design Challenge Teacher Slides
Alphabet STEM - COMING SOON!
Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM Diorama Engineering Design Project
STEM Explorers - Engineering Design Challenges Around the World
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
(Free) Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges
(Free) Stop Motion Animation Activity
Building Bricks STEM Biomes and Habitats Engineering Design Challenge (LEGO®)
Genetics STEM Unit: Monster Engineering Challenge (5E Science Lesson)
STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Top 35 Amazing STEM Books for Kids
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
How to Launch a Weather Balloon: Ultimate STEM Challenge
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
Podcast: 37. The Learning Potential of Space Club
Other STEM Resources
5E Model of Instruction
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Email us your questions at info@vivifystem.com
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
What is it like to work at NASA? What happens at mission control? In this episode, Natasha chats with Patrick Ream, a ground controller trainee at NASA's Johnson Space Center! We talk all about his work at NASA, what inspired him to become an aerospace engineer, and his advice for motivating struggling students.
Links from the Show:
Watch this Career Chat and more on Vivify’s YouTube!
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
Vivify’s Space STEM Lessons
Explore the Universe Scavenger Hunt (FREE in our Resource Library)
Astronaut Wearable Device Engineering Activity (Space & STEM)
All Space Exploration Lessons
Teambuilding and Communication Lessons
NASA Connections
Definitions:
ADCO - Attitude Determination and Control Officer
SPARTAN - Station, Power, ARticulation, Thermal, and ANalysis
Artemis Program
Orion Overview
Lunar Gateway Overview
NASA Johnson Space Center
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Video: Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center: History and Restoration
Moon’s South Pole in NASA’s Landing Sites
Careers at NASA: Explore the Extraordinary, Every Day
Live Space Station Tracking Map
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/64/inspire-kids-with-space-chat-with-nasa-ground-controller
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM
VIVIFY FACEBOOK
VIVIFY TWITTER
Show Summary:
What is the point of a field trip? In this episode, Natasha brings Claire on another adventure with a group of undergraduate engineering students who plan to become STEM teachers. Learn how educators can thoughtfully plan a field trip experience to maximize learning and when may be the optimal time for these types of experiences within a unit of study.
Links from the Show:
About Lillian Gilbreth
Texas A&M’s Environmental & Emissions Research Facility
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
- What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
55: How to Teach STEM During Women's History Month
- What Is In Our Air?
Vivify STEM Resources
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Video of Pig Lungs in Action
Roller Coaster STEM Activity (Printed and Digital Journals)
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity (Printed & Digital)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/63/what-is-the-point-of-a-field-trip
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Does life exist on another planet? Listen to a fascinating STEM career chat with Dr. Charity Lander-Phillips, an astrobiologist at Southwest Research Institute. We discuss how her love for volcanoes as a kid led to her current work searching for life on another planet. Tune in for this exciting episode, taken from a recent Space Club Career Chat. All questions were submitted by elementary and middle school students who wanted to know more about her exciting STEM career, how she got here, and what sort of challenges she faces!
Links from the Show:
Watch this Career Chat and more on Vivify’s YouTube!
All About Space Club
Bring Space Club to Your School
Blog: Mission to Mars Curriculum
Video: Space Club Mission to Mars Student Highlights Videos
STEM Lessons
Astronaut Wearable Device Engineering Activity (Space & STEM)
Real-World Connections
NASA Mars 2020 Mission (Perseverance Rover)
NASA Dragonfly Mission
Dr. Charity Phillips-Lander’s Research
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/62/life-on-another-planet-career-chat-with-an-astrobiologist
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
What are your must-haves for a STEM lab? What is a quick STEM challenge for a school showcase? How can I turn a theatrical puppet into an engineering design challenge? In this episode, Natasha and Claire answer your questions submitted in The STEM Space Facebook group! Plus, we share a wild story of a school being evacuated due to a science experiment gone awry.
Links from the Show:
Planet Distance Activity (FREE in Vivify Resource Library)
Fun with Peeps
Peeps in a Microwave: A Peep Jousting Experiment
Fun With Physics: Finding The Speed Of Light With Peeps
The Peeps Experiments: A Seasonal Celebration of Science (from Emory University)
The STEM Space Facebook Group
Pitsco Straw Rockets – Getting Started Package
Pitsco Water Bottle Rockets
How to Host a STEM Family Night
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
How to Host a Virtual STEM Family Event
- How to Host a STEM Family Night
Claire’s Classroom Must-Haves
Canary cardboard cutters
Snap Circuits
Domino racing building blocks set (Rube Goldberg)
ZOOB Builderz (Vivify Amazon Affiliate link)
NASA Spacecraft AR app
Nasa Live Stream - Earth From Space: Live Views from the ISS YouTube
ISS Above
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Related Podcast Episodes
-
STEM Tools for your Classroom
-
What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
-
Why Should You Have More Than One Solution?
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity (Printed & Digital)
Hologram Structure STEM Challenge: Design the future!
How to Launch Model Rockets & Amaze Your Students!
Bring Space Club to Your School!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifysem.om/thestemspace/2022/61/crazy-chemistry-and-your-questions-answered
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one we have.”
- Émile-Auguste Chartier, French philosopher
After many class discussions of failure, social-emotional learning (SEL), and upstairs/downstairs brain, one of Claire’s 6th grade students asked, “Why do you think that [failure is] required? If you’re successful the first time, why isn’t that a victory? Why is failure necessary? Why do you HAVE to fail?” Taking this personally as an engineer, Claire mulled this over and found the quote above as she began examining how to better explain this to her students. Tune in as Natasha details her most recent NSTA Conference venture (and how teachers fared compared to the engineering class in a prior episode) and Claire tells the truth about why you need more than one idea.
Links from the Show:
NSTA Conference
2022 Houston NSTA Conference
Natasha 2022 NSTA photos
SEEC
SEEC (Space Exploration Educators Conference)
Natasha & Claire at SEEC 2022 (from the Vivify Instagram>
Claire’s Giant Moon Map
Bring Space Club to Your School!
Learn more about Space Club here!
Space Club Pitsco Kits
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity (Printed & Digital)
- What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
7 Minutes of Terror
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
Upstairs Downstairs Brain Paper Circuit SEL STEM Activity
What Space Jellyfish Tell Us About Interplanetary Travel
OSD AT&L Defense Acquisition Process Chart
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/60/why-should-you-have-more-than-one-solution
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Rewards work well if you have a skill or a task that is mechanical, but what about in STEM? How do you get your students to be more intrinsically motivated versus wanting those extrinsic rewards? Tune in as Claire recaps her Invention Convention with Natasha and all of the ways she was surprised by her students. Learn how you can incorporate motivational tools and emotion regulation methods into your STEM class.
Links from the Show:
Episode 13. How to Effectively Teach Skills to Students
Episode 19: How To Motivate Your Students
Daniel Pink - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Google’s 80/20 Rule
Dr. Georgia Lagoudas is a Senior Advisor at the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- STEM Career Chat with Bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
Recording of White House Virtual Event – “Let’s Clear the Air on COVID: An OSTP Discussion on Clean Indoor Air”
EPA’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge
Jigsaw Method of Teaching
- My Students Built A Wheelchair
Upstairs/Downstairs Brain
- What Do Kids Need To Prepare For Engineering?
Upstairs Downstairs Brain Paper Circuit SEL STEM Activity
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnne Deak
Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Upstairs Brain Downstairs Brain - SEL Sketches
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/59/how-to-motivate-students-and-regulate-emotions-in-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
You can come up with anything you want. There are no constraints. It sounds like the perfect formula… for disaster. It’s been proven time and time again that we, and especially our students, need constraints. But how do you give them constraints without stifling their creativity? Enter Invention Convention! Tune in as Natasha questions Claire on her school’s very first Invention Convention and other important facets of this amazing corner of STEM (like wondering if we need/will get a Starbucks on the moon?), the difference between invention and innovation, and how you can use these concepts to inspire your students.
Links from the Show:
Henry Ford Invention Convention Worldwide
Previous Podcast Episodes Mentioned:
-
My Students Built A Wheelchair
-
Big Things Happening in 2022!
-
How Do You Get Every Student to Speak?
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Creativity Tools
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/58/are-you-training-up-innovators
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Are you in search of inspiration for a STEM summer camp? How do you keep your kids learning while having fun? Whether you’re exploring history and learning about other countries, building solar ovens, or even welcoming new people to Mars with a solar tower, tune in as Claire and Natasha discuss all things STEM to inspire your summer camp!
Links from the Show:
Gravity comparison video
What are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? (from the National Human Genome Research Institute)
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
Vivify Products mentioned in this Episode (all from the Vivify TpT store):
STEM Starter Engineering Challenges (includes egg drop and boat challenges, plus more!)
Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity
Launchpad Mission to Mars: Middle School STEM Curriculum
Moon Tower Solar Panel STEM Engineering Challenge
Solar Oven STEM Challenge
STEM Explorers: STEM Curriculum Bundle
Sailboat Challenge Math & Engineering Activity
Oil Spill Challenge
Chile Solar Car STEM Challenge
Solar Oven STEM Challenge and Chile Solar Car STEM Challenge are also included in the *Summer & Solar Energy STEM Activity Bundle***
Find Student Sparks
Bring Space Club to Your School!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/57/how-to-organize-a-stem-summer-camp
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
How does a group of undergraduate engineering students perform on one of Vivify’s most popular STEM activities, the space lander design challenge? Well let’s just say we have seen middle school students with more successful designs! In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha shares her experience in teaching engineering students, who plan to become STEM teachers, how to use a design challenge to promote learning of science. She describes the phases of the learning cycle, and how the space lander design challenge is a great way to apply and deepen understanding of the concepts of drag, stability, and shock absorption. Claire and Natasha also compare the engineering design process used in STEM classrooms to real world engineering.
Links from the Show:
HELP! My Students Are Struggling With TEAMWORK!
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Dan Siegel’s Upstairs/Downstairs Brain:
Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Upstairs Brain Downstairs Brain - SEL Sketches
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity (Printed & Digital)
Best STEM Challenge Ever
Pipecleaner STEM Challenge
SEEC (Space Exploration Educators Conference)
Engineering Design Process Worksheets for all STEM Challenges -Printed & Digital <FREE from the Vivify TpT store>
2022 Houston NSTA Conference
EDP
NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements
OSD AT&L Defense Acquisition Process Chart
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/56/what-do-kids-need-to-prepare-for-engineering
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
March is Women’s History Month! Can you name something invented by a woman? How about windshield wipers, Wite-OutⓇ, heating with solar power, the Brooklyn Bridge, the step trash can, and even every kid’s favorite fish-shaped snack? In this episode, Natasha and Claire discuss how to celebrate the contributions of women through hands-on STEM activities for your classroom.
Links from the Show:
Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week…
The Invention of Wite-OutⓇ
7 Activities Featuring Women in STEM History
Books:
The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle
The Crayon Man
Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge
All About Failure:
The STEM Space Podcast Episodes:
-
How Do You Manage Your STEM Classroom? (ft. Julie Lyons)
-
We All Need a Lesson in Failure
-
What You Should Know About Failure
From the Vivify Blog:
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
The Importance of Failure
Breaking Down STEM Stereotypes
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
- How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM
The GoldfishⓇ Brand Story
Fish Camp - A Freshman’s First Tradition - Texas A&M University
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/55/how-to-teach-stem-during-womens-history-month
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
This week, we respond to an email from Robert, a STEM teacher, who told us, “I have been a teacher for 11 years, and this is my second as our school's STEM teacher. I am STRUGGLING with teams working together. So much arguing, fighting, crying…I need all the teamwork advice I can get!” How do you facilitate good teamwork in your classroom? Join us as we discuss all things teamwork plus a creativity bellringer that Claire tried with her PreK - 7th grade students. The difference in responses was incredible and eye opening!
Links from the Show:
Claire’s “What is this?” black square in action!
Invention Convention Worldwide
Marshmallow Challenge
Previous podcast episodes mentioned:
-
How Do You Manage Your STEM Classroom?
-
How Do You Get Every Student to Speak?
Vivify Blog posts mentioned:
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Space Docking challenge: The Best 3 Back to School STEM Icebreakers
From the Vivify TpT Store:
Stage 1 STEM:
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
Intro to Coding: Communication STEM Activity (Robonaut Challenge)
Stage 2 STEM:
STEM Space Lander Math & Engineering Activity (Printed & Digital)
STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge (Digital & Printed STEM Journals)
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion, Variables)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/54/help-my-students-are-struggling-with-teamwork
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Featuring questions from Space Club students, Natasha chats with Dr. Scott Olesen, a biological engineer from MIT who now works in wastewater surveillance at Biobot Analytics! This episode is the audio recording of a Career Chat episode, streamed on Vivify’s YouTube channel, as a way to share the story of STEM professionals to inspire elementary and middle school students. Listen in as Dr. Olesen gives advice on STEM careers and his pathway from an Eagle Scout with an interest in physics, a venture to France for archeology, and now tackling COVID-19 through wastewater surveillance!
Links from the Show:
How to Bring Space Club to Your School
Vivify YouTube Channel: Career Chats: Dr. Scott Olesen (Biological Engineer)
The audio for this podcast has been edited for content and clarity.
Natasha’s Project: SpinSat Experimental Satellite Deployed from ISS
Biobot Analytics
Data
Massachusetts jail monitoring wastewater to check for COVID-19
YouTube: Testing Wastewater to Help Detect Covid-19
Want to try your hand at a Mission Patch? Check out our STEM at Home Challenge here!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/53/getting-data-from-our-poop-career-chat-with-dr-olesen
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
With things finally starting to return to “normal,” how can you get families excited for STEM? HOST A STEM FAMILY NIGHT! But how do you do that? How far in advance should you start planning all of this and recruiting your help? What kind of STEM activities should you include? Planning and executing a STEM family night doesn’t have to be difficult. Tune in as Natasha walks Claire through her proven steps to make STEM family night truly EPIC and divulges some of her favorite activities to include!
Links from the Show:
STEM Family Night Information and Guide
Vivify Blog - 10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
Need to host a Virtual STEM Family night? Read this!
Vivify TpT - Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, STEM Activity Instructions, Posters (includes Straw Rockets activity!)
Vivify Products Mentioned in this Episode:
Basics of Makey Makey: STEM Activity <FREE>
STEM Activity Hoop Glider Challenge (Variable Testing)
STEM Catapult Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
Vivify Blog Posts Mentioned in this Episode:
Space Docking Challenge
Basics of Sphero Robotics + 3 Awesome Sphero STEM Activities
Activities and Products Recommended by Vivify in this Episode:
Strawberry DNA Experiment Steve Spangler Science
USB 2.0 Digital Microscope
Pitsco Straw Rockets – Getting Started Package
Snap Circuits
“The CLAW!”
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/52/how-to-host-a-stem-family-night
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Time to put on our Thinking Hats! I am light as a feather, yet the strongest person in the world can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?
Unsure of the answer? How do you facilitate brainstorming and get your students to ask questions? How do you give your students a voice? Do you have any brain teasers or riddles you use to get your students’ creative minds going? Tune in to this episode of The STEM Space where Claire tells Natasha all about how she helps take the pressure off of students who might be hesitant to chime in and boost both their confidence and creativity while adding voice to your classroom. (You’ll also hear the answer to the riddle above!)
Links from the Show:
Previous STEM Space Podcast Episodes:
Episode 7: How to Ask Questions
Episode 41: What is Your Problem?
Elementary STEM Con and Beyond 2022 - Register here!
Guinness World Records: 56-year-old freediver holds breath for almost 25 minutes breaking record
Who has the hat?
Vivify TikTok
Vivify Instagram
The 6 Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
Download the full study here: Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys
NASA - How to Request a Speaker
Skype a Scientist
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/51/how-do-you-get-every-student-to-speak
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
How do we break stereotypes? More specifically the ones where our students tell us the picture of the guy in the white lab coat is “definitely” a scientist, but the picture of the beautiful lady standing next to a telescope is “just a model”. In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha share a listener’s email asking how to be inclusive of boys and girls within an after-school STEM program. Tune in to learn how to start an exciting program and convince your students that they, too, can be successful engineers, scientists, or whatever else they aspire to be.
Links from the Show:
Vivify Blog Posts in this Episode:
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Bring Space Club to Your School!
How to Start an After School STEM Club
STEM Explorers: Travel the World with STEM Activities for Elementary
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Previous The STEM Space Podcasts Mentioned:
Why You Should Teach Space
STEM Careers in your Classroom
Girls outperform boys at school, yet still shy away from STEM
Download the full study here: Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys
NASA - How to Request a Speaker
Skype a Scientist
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.om/thestemspace/2022/50/how-to-involve-girls-in-after-school-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Feeling overwhelmed? Quarantines. Hybrid classes. Distance learning. Whew! Well good news! We are focused on continuing to provide more STEM resources for you than ever before, wherever you are! Your favorite space nerd teachers are so excited to help you bring all of these exciting things (and more) to you! What are you most excited for this year? (Our Marketing and Programs Coordinator is most excited for a new addition from one of us and is hoping to share a birthday!)
Links from the Show:
Learn more about Space Club!
Space Club website/registration
Space Club Career Chats (Vivify STEM YouTube)
SEEC (Space Exploration Educators Conference)
Launching a High Altitude Balloon (from The STEM Space Podcast)
Elementary STEM Con & Beyond
STEM Homework (from the Vivify Instagram)
Invention Convention (free curriculum!)
SA Smart
“What is a Stage 3 challenge?” The 3 Stages of STEM
Alphabet STEM (coming soon!)
Vivify Team
STEM Explorers (from the Vivify blog) and Curriculum
Baby Remi Science Videos can be found on the Vivify STEM TikTok
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2022/49/big-things-happening-in-2022
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
“WHAT ARE THOSE?!”
Pictured are two real pig lungs that were part of a scientific inquiry activity on air pollution! On this episode of The STEM Space Podcast, Natasha and Claire take a deep dive into an authentic inquiry experience that involves using air sensors to measure sources of air pollution in your local area, playing a “Mystery Town” game to discover air pollution around the world, and using a gross demonstration to highlight the impacts of air pollution on human health.
The episode describes a curriculum developed through Natasha’s work with CARTEEH at Texas A&M University. Click here to request access to the FREE Air Pollution Curriculum and Science Kit!
Links from the Show:
How Do You Chew?
Nasco-Guard, Preserved BioQuest® Inflatable Lungs Comparison Kit
STEM Balloon Rocket Design Challenge (Engineering Design Process)
Teach Engineering’s “I Breathe WHAT?” Activity that failed for Natasha
How to make SMOG experiment! (Make smog in a jar)
What Maps Have To Do With Creativity
This Is Your Brain On Drugs Ad, explained (Most Famous Anti-Drug Ad)
The Pig Lungs in Action!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/48-what-is-in-our-air
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Everyone is born either creative or not, right? WRONG! Listen in as Claire and Natasha discuss creativity and an exciting project you can try in your STEM classroom. From Mapsco (if you feel bad, don’t - Natasha didn’t know what this was either) to creating your own compass, listen in and find out just how much technology has been replacing some important life skills and how Claire creatively brought them back into the classroom.
Links from the Show:
Claire’s Graduate Program books:
Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity by Keith Sawyer
Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
NASA Space Place: How Does GPS Work?
“What the heck is Mapsco?” Here is a history for those of us, like Natasha, who didn’t know.
How to Make a Simple Compass
The Importance of Failure
5 Skills That Students Are Losing Because of Tech
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM
The Science Of Twinkies: How Do They Last So Darned Long?
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/47-what-maps-have-to-do-with-creativity
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Everyone knows that engineers are nerdy guys with glasses and scientists always have crazy hair! Our STEM Career Chat with bioengineer Dr. Georgia Lagoudas is here to help students break down the stereotypes around STEM careers by showing them that anyone, including them, can be an engineer or scientist! Whether she’s sleeping on snow (not something she was used to having grown up in Texas) or fangirling in an elevator with movie stars and senators, Dr. Lagoudas discusses what it’s like to be a Congressional Science and Technology Policy Fellow and how you don’t necessarily have to narrow your life path down to one fork in the road.
Links from the Show:
Space Club Career Chats: Dr. Lagoudas
Georgia Lagoudas, AAAS Congressional Science & Technology Policy Fellow
Finding Student Sparks: 10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Learn more about getting your students involved with Space Club here!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/46-stem-career-chat-with-bioengineer-dr-georgia-lagoudas
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Weather balloons, rockets, and space landers? Oh my! STEM has so many projects and products out there, it can be hard to narrow it down to not only what works, but what's fun and STILL educational for your students. From pizza-stealing aliens to homemade roller coaster projects taller than a third grader, tune in to learn about and become inspired by Natasha and Claire's favorite STEM challenges.
Links from the Show:
Vivify blog posts mentioned:
10 Amazing STEM Family Night Activities
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Pipecleaner STEM Challenge
Pitsco Education Straw Rocket Launcher
Food Truck Championship of Texas
Acronyms: STEM vs STEAM+
Architect Wanira Magaloni Space Club Career Chat
Learn more about Space Club here!
Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)
Vivify products mentioned
Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion)
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - Engineering Design (K-5)
Moon/Mars Colony Project/Competition
Mission to the Moon
Elementary Version (K-6)
Middle School Version (6-10)
Mission to Mars
Elementary Version (PreK-5)
Middle School Version (5-9)
Space Lander STEM Challenge
Elementary Version (K-5)
Middle School Version (5-10)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/45-the-best-stem-challenge-ever
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
How do you manage your STEM classroom? Do you have labels on everything or are you a bit less organized but still (somehow) coordinated? Join Natasha and Claire as they jump into a STEM classroom management discussion with special guest, Julie Lyons, a 15-year veteran of STEM education and current guest blogger and curriculum designer for Vivify STEM. Listen in as she shares her information on how routines are useful to classroom management but sometimes you just have to let it (kind of) go and work within the boundaries of "coordinated chaos".
Links from the Show:
Vivify blog posts by guest Julie Lyons
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Brain Safety Football STEM Challenge
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Making Time for STEM
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
STEM Task Cards: Building Icebreakers
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Vivify’s Favorite STEM Suppliers:
Pitsco Education
Steve Spangler Science
STEMfinity
STEMfinity - Robotics
Need more STEM resources? Check out Vivify Recommendations (from the best websites, games, and phone apps to organizations and STEM suppliers, we carefully searched for high quality activities that are not only fun and engaging but educational and promote STEM careers)!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/44-how-do-you-manage-your-stem-classroom
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Can you design a roller coaster? Is it the process or the product that matters? How do we define success in STEM, especially with all of the variables presented to us as teachers? In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire discuss all the learning curves the majority of us encounter when trying to map out a STEM curriculum, make sure all the proper standards apply, and discern whether our students are actually taking anything away from their STEM activities. Listen in and let us know what you think!
Links from the Show:
Space Club
Distance Learning: Roller Coaster STEM Activity (Printed and Digital Journals)
Superhero Robotic Arm: STEM At Home Activity
Rover STEM Engineering Design Challenge
Elementary (K-5) version
Middle School (5-9) version
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Engineering Habits of Mind: Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Debug an Object: Backpack
Vivify STEM Curriculum Map
Reflections from a First Year STEM Teacher
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/43-how-do-we-define-success-in-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire return to answer the much anticipated question: did Natasha get to eat her sandwich in class? Her professor had some very specific instructions (including but not limited to: don’t eat breakfast, bring a sandwich for lunch, and also bring a 1 pound bag of M&M’s) which left both Claire and our listeners scratching their heads. Listen now to find out what happened and how you can apply the thinking to your classroom!
P.S. Sadly, we could find no studies proving Claire’s statement that M&M’s taste differently.
Links from the Show:
STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge (Digital & Printed STEM Journals)
M&Ms “Blending In” Activity
Texas A&M University (Claire and Natasha’s alma mater as well as their “Aggies” reference)
Introducing Kids to STEM Concepts
Abraham Wald and Survivorship bias (WWII planes returning with bullet holes)
How to Plan a STEM Curriculum
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/42-how-do-you-chew
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha discuss how to solve other problems you or your students may encounter. From Monkey the dog crossing a river without getting wet to a Masters Degree Program Professor inviting Natasha and the rest of class to participate in an oddly specific experiment, tune in to discover how you might benefit from asking the right questions.
Links from the Show:Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Bird Feeder STEM Engineering & Research Activity
Thinking Tools - CIA Phoenix Checklist
Save the Bees! Pollinator Hotel STEM Challenge
What is a Mind Map?
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/41-what-is-your-problem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha are discussing Claire's "Escape the STEM Room" challenge that she is teaching the first week of school, and the importance of introducing your students to difficult situations. From teamwork to public speaking and sharing what they've learned, tune in to learn more about Claire's plans to navigate this challenge and hopes to inspire educators everywhere!
Links from the Show:
Escape Rooms in STEM Teaching and Learning - MDPI (PDF)
Digital Breakout Template - Google (includes video & multiple helpful links!)
Engineering Design Process Worksheets (FREE from Vivify STEM’s TpT Store))
Podcast: Episode 34. We Interviewed an Astronaut
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge (from Vivify STEM’s TpT Store)
Space Club Career Chat: Wanira Magaloni (Architect Designer at Stantec)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/40-escape-the-stem-room
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
The STEM Space loves hearing from you! In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire address an email from listener Jess Luttrell, who wanted to know how they decided to make the transition from careers in STEM fields to STEM education. Having a STEM background can mean an easier way to connect STEM to student interests by engaging kids with the exciting possibilities of real-world STEM either by teaching or simply volunteering. Tune in as they talk about their inspirations and continuing to evolve with the wide world of STEM education.
Links from the Show:
Previous Podcast Episodes:
Episode 1 - The 3 Stages of STEM
Episode 2 - STEM Careers in Your Classroom
Episode 8 - STEM vs STEAM
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Public vs Private Schools Certification
AAAS Guidelines for Starting a STEM Volunteer Program
Soft Skills in Teaching
San Antonio Doseum
National Museum of the Pacific War and Admiral Nimitz Foundation, Fredericksburg, TX
National Board Standards - NBPTS (5 Core Propositions)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/39-how-did-we-get-here
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
It’s time to go back to school! In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire talk about ideas you can use at the beginning of the school year. From icebreaker activities and character-building exercises to engineering design challenges and classroom decor, tune in to get some tips and tricks as you prepare for the best year yet in STEM education!
Links from the Show:
Get Your Classroom Ready for Back to School
Name Plates STEM Activity for Back to School
Find Student Sparks
Brown Dog Gadgets Maker Tape
Paper Circuit Activity and STEM Challenges Cheat Sheet from our free resource library (Must first sign up for our free newsletter here).
STEM Space at Home Moon Solar Tower Challenge
The STEM Space Podcast: Episode 33. My Students Built a Wheelchair
10 Simple Summer STEM Activities
Brittany Washburn's Technology Teaching Resources
Robonaut STEM Activity
STEM Tower Challenges
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Mars Colony Competition
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/38-back-to-school-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha and Claire discuss their excitement around Space Club: a STEM program designed to excite your students about real-world STEM and space exploration. Whether you use Space Club during school hours, after school, or even at your local library, tune in to this episode to learn about the benefits of participating in Space Club, how it relates to various learning theories, and how you can launch your students forward with a Mission to the Moon.
Links from the Show:
Bring Space Club to your school! If you are interested in a space-themed curriculum, check out our Space Club missions that connect students from around the world! In partnership with NASA, Vivify STEM runs semester-long space missions that include engineering design challenges, weekly career chats, a live leaderboard, career chats with astronauts and engineers, and a chance to win robots and telescopes! From afterschool clubs to STEM classes, teachers can implement Space Club either in-person or through distance learning.
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Learning Theories podcast episodes:
Episode 13 on Behavioral Learning Theory
Episode 14 on Developmental Learning Theory
Episode 15 on Constructivist Learning Theory
Episode 16: Everything You Know About Learning Styles Is Wrong
Learning Theories Flow Chart in our free resource library (Must first sign up for our free newsletter here).
Not all STEM is equal (podcast Episode 1) (blog post)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/37-the-learning-potential-of-space-club
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Are you a visualizer or a verbalizer? In this episode of The STEM Space Podcast, Natasha and Claire discuss learning styles as well as exploring if the old adage of "left brain versus right brain" still holds true. How can we modify our teaching to accommodate individual student learning styles while maintaining the integrity of our subjects? Tune in to find out!
Links from the Show:
Article: The Role of Instruction Preference in Analogy Learning: Brain Activity and Motor Performance
Episode 16: Everything You Know About Learning Styles Is Wrong
Episode 7: How to ask questions.
Episode 19: How to motivate your students.
A Neuroscientist’s Top 5 STEM Activities for Kids and Families
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/36-are-you-a-visualizer
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space Podcast, Natasha and Claire discuss biases in the technology we use every day. We tend to trust computers and technology, but they are actually just as flawed as the humans who created them. These flaws can include biases in the algorithms that make decisions. How can you talk to your students about how to be cautious when using technology and interpreting the results? Tune in to find out!
Links from the Show:
Netflix: Coded Bias
Racial Bias in Facial Recognition Technology
Gender Bias in STEM: Top 10 Ways to Encourage Girls in STEM
Facial Recognition And Beyond: Journalist Ventures Inside China's 'Surveillance State'
Women are overmedicated because drug dosage trials are done on men, study finds
Amazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women
Seven Houston Teachers, Houston Federation of Teachers File Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of Value-Added Measure for Evaluations
Mars Probe Lost Due to Simple Math Error
Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential — here’s how to help kids learn it
From Learning to Relearning: A Framework for Diminishing Bias in Social Robot Navigation
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/35-question-everything
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Who doesn't dream of growing up to be an astronaut? In this episode, Natasha and Claire share their experience from interviewing an astronaut! So much can be gained from exposing your students to professionals that work in STEM fields too. Tune in to learn about the importance of connecting your students with STEM professionals and tips on how to bring speakers to your classroom.
Links from the Show:
Find out more about Space Teams here and use our Discount Code for 10% off: VSTEM321
Learn about Space Club
Astronaut Gregory “Box” Johnson
Astronaut Dr. Greg Chamitoff
How to teach Growth Mindset & Failing Forward
STEM on Station - lesson plans and videos for educators from the International Space Station
Request an astronaut speaker from NASA
Skype a Scientist
Weather Balloon Project:
Read our blog post on the weather balloon project
Check out our podcast episode about the weather balloon project (episode 27)
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
Free Interview Questions to Ask a STEM Professional
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/34-we-interviewed-an-astronaut
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do you know a child in need of a wheelchair? In this episode, Claire shares her experience with her 4th graders that took on building an inexpensive wheelchair for a child in need thanks to the Open Wheelchair Foundation. Tune in to hear how she was surprised by her students and what plans there are for future builds.
Links from the Show:
BYU students make the world's lightest, least expensive motorized wheelchair.
The Open Wheelchair Foundation
Thrilling STEM Activities for Kids: Roller Coaster Challenge
Pipecleaner STEM Challenge (Tallest Tower)
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/33-my-students-built-a-wheelchair
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do you use extended reality technology in your classroom? Have you ever heard of extended reality? I bet you have heard of virtual reality or holograms. In this episode, Claire shares what she is learning in graduate school about some advanced technology trends that you may consider using in your own teaching. Tune in to hear how to prepare your students for the future of this emerging technology.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Five Principles for Thinking Like a Futurist
Report about Extended Reality and technology trends: 2021 Tech Trends Report, Vol. 3. New Realities
From the 60 Minutes archive: Letting future generations speak with Holocaust survivors
The creators of the Holocaust Survivor “Holograms” and also where you can see these exhibits near you: USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education
Everything you know about velociraptors is a lie
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/32-preparing-our-students-for-the-future
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Whew! Being a first-year STEM teacher can be very overwhelming. This episode is all about Claire’s experience after her first year as a formal classroom teacher. Learn about the curriculum she used, tips and tricks to make teaching STEM more effective, and some lessons learned that will help you with your own STEM education journey! Let us know what advice you would add in the comments below.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
The 3 Stages of STEM (blog post) (Episode 1 podcast)
STEM Explorers Curriculum
Launchpad Curriculum
Mission to the Moon- For Elementary School
Mission to the Moon- For Middle School (Free when subscribed to our free newsletter and given access to our growing Free Resource Library!)
Mission to Mars- For Elementary School
Mission to Mars- For Middle School
Designing a School Garden STEM Project
Weather Balloon STEM Project (blog posts) (podcast episode 30)
How to build a motorized wheelchair for a child- The Open Wheelchair Foundation
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/31-reflections-from-a-First-Year-STEM-Teacher
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:As a follow-up from Episode 27, learn about Claire’s recent experience launching a high-altitude balloon with her 5th and 6th graders. This project incorporates math, science, engineering, and technology in an incredible experience that students will remember forever! Listen in to learn more!
For all the details about how you can do this with your students, join us for our session on launching a high-altitude balloon in the Champions for Science Middle School Conference. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/champ4sci2021
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Episode 27: Launching a High Altitude Balloon (Part 1)
High Altitude Balloon Kit
Getting Started with High Altitude Ballooning
Weather Balloon Launch Project Guide
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/30-launching-a-high-altitude-balloon-part-2
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:What is the narrative being promoted when we are teaching engineering? Are we trying to train kids to be ready for their careers or should the focus be on something else? Tune in to this episode where we discuss this subject and the importance of knowing why we teach (or perhaps even “if we should teach”) engineering in grade school.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Engineering is Elementary
How To Start an After School STEM Club and Teaching Space Inspires Youth blog posts
Distance Learning STEM Curriculum: Mission to Moon
Open Wheelchair Foundation
Blog post on STEM Career Classroom Activities and Student Sparks
Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning and related Vivify Instagram Post on the Engineering Habits of Mind
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/29-why-do-we-teach-engineering-in-schools
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:The best virtual conference for STEM educators is just around the corner and we are sharing all the details to let you know why you don’t want to miss it. The conference is April 16-19, 2021 and the best part is, you don’t have to be available to watch anything on those days because your registration gives you access to ALL the content for an entire year! Here are a few of the details but you can find out all the information on the conference website here:
Register here and included in your registration you will automatically get our entire Space STEM Bundle for free as a gift from us! Here are the registration costs.
Regular Registration ($39.98): February 1 - March 31, 2021
Late Registration ($45.98): April 1 - 15, 2021
Last Chance Registration ($49.98): April 16 - 30, 2021
Conference Content:
45+ sessions, panels, and interviews from 25+ passionate educators
30+ hours of video & live sessions
Bonus Bundle of $50+ in STEM resources for all attendees
$20,000+ in raffles, & giveaways
Private conference Facebook group to interact with presenters and win prizes
PD credit
Session Topics include:
Teaching STEM Through the Lens of Space Exploration
Taking The Next Step With A Long-Term STEM Project
Hosting a STEM Family Night
Integrating STEM with literature and content standards in multiple content areas
Authentic STEAM
Culturally responsive STEM/STEAM
Social-emotional learning & STEM/STEAM
Makerspaces & Builder Clubs
Special education & STEM/STEAM
Augmented Reality apps
Robotics
Distance learning approaches & modifications
Green screen
The EDP, helping kids deal with failure, questioning methods, and many more!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Elementary STEM Con & Beyond Website
Virtual STEM Family Night
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/28-elementary-stem-con-and-beyond
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:If you have ever thought about giving your students a high-flying hands-on project to apply their math, science, and engineering skills, we have the perfect project for you! Launch a high-altitude balloon to the edge of space! In this episode, Natasha shares her years of experience with this project as Claire prepares to embark on this epic journey with her students. Get all the details of how you can do it too.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
High Altitude Balloon Kit
Getting Started with High Altitude Ballooning
Weather Balloon Launch Project Guide
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/27-launching-a-high-altitude-balloon
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do you find yourself desiring more time to teach STEM? Maybe you only have 15 minutes to complete a STEM activity, but is that enough? In this episode, we are joined by Kerry Tracy to discuss how to have meaningful STEM lessons in short class periods and ideas for gaining more time to do STEM!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Episode 24- Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
For Quick Meaningful STEM activities, try 50 Distance Learning Icebreakers & Games
STEM Ideals by Kerry Tracy with a STEM Ideals freebie
Kerry Tracy’s STEM Challenge Assessments Blog Post (has the rubrics freebie) and STEM Lesson Templates
When Your Principal is a STEM Challenge Skeptic
Design a Mars Colony Digital Design Challenge and Competition
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/26—making-time-for-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Makerspaces! They are popping up in schools, libraries, and beyond. Maybe you even have one in your classroom (I do!). But are makerspaces just a teaching fad or is it an effective tool for teaching STEM? Listen to our discussion about their definition, purpose, design, and more as we weigh in on this popular trend!
Would you like us to discuss other possible teaching fads? Leave us a comment below on a teaching trend you are skeptical of and we will keep this series going!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Episode 24- Craft Projects vs. STEM (featuring Kerry Tracy)
Claire’s Makerspace and STEM Materials preview
We Are Teachers: What is a Makerspace?
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/25—Teaching-Fads-Should-You-Have-A-Makerspace
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:We shared a post from Kerry Tracy of Feel Good Teaching entitled Science-Themed Crafts Are Not STEM Challenges and it got A LOT of comments on our STEM Space Facebook group! We sat down with Kerry to hash out why people are so passionate on both sides of this issue and what it all really means. Pull up a chair to our discussion and don’t forget to weigh in in the comments on our website or social media channels. The big take-away: we are all here to learn from each other and help each other grow!
Don’t forget to check out Elementary STEM Con & Beyond which is talked about in this episode! Join us in an incredible virtual conference for teachers! Get all the info here.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Science-Themed Crafts Are Not STEM Challenges
Elementary STEM Con & Beyond virtual conference
The 3 Stages of STEM
Simple STEM blog post by Kerry Tracy
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/24-craft-projects-vs-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:With a live leaderboard, weekly raffle prizes, and career chats with NASA engineers, Vivify presents Mission to Moon, a hands-on STEM program delivered virtually for classroom or at-home learning. Your students will design robot hands, rovers, roller coasters, and more while learning about real-world STEM, meeting real STEM professionals, and connecting with schools across the world! Tune in to hear all the details and get a testimonial from Claire after going through the program with her own students. Click the links below to get more information about how your students can join in the adventure.
Get a 30% off discount on your registration for Mission to Moon training just for listening by registering here using the code: STEMSPACE at checkout!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Mission to Moon Program Information
Register for Mission to Moon Virtual STEM Program
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2021/23-mission-to-the-moon-virtual-stem-program
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Teaching like a pirate has become a popular teaching style since the release of the book (see link below). But what is all the hype around the enthusiasm and fanfare of this method? Tune in to this podcast episode to hear what it is all about and our thoughts on whether or not it is an effective teaching strategy that prepares students for the world of STEM.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Teach Like A Pirate
STEM Teacher clothing at Svaha
Episode 16. Everything You Know About Learning Styles is Wrong
Learning Styles podcast episodes:
—Episode 13 on Behavioral Learning Theory
—Episode 14 on Developmental Learning Theory
—Episode 15 on Constructivist Learning Theory
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/22-teaching-fads-should-you-teach-like-a-pirate
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Is STEM education destroying the science classroom? In this episode, we discuss whether or not STEM is a teaching fad that does more harm than good. Fancy robots, fun design projects, and hands-on activities are always student favorites, but do our STEM programs actually reinforce science concepts, or are they just glorified craft and playtime? Listen in to find out and don’t forget to get your free copy of the Learning Theories flow chart in the links below.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Hour of Code STEM activities
Winter/ Christmas STEM activities
Episode 16. Everything You Know About Learning Styles is Wrong
Learning Styles podcast episodes:
—Episode 13 on Behavioral Learning Theory
—Episode 14 on Developmental Learning Theory
—Episode 15 on Constructivist Learning Theory
Learning Theories Flow Chart in our free resource library (Must first sign up for our free newsletter here).
Not all STEM is equal (podcast Episode 1) (blog post)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/21-teaching-fads-should-you-teach-stem
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of year for gathering with friends and family, eating good food, and doing awesome STEM activities. Listen in as we share some of our favorite Thanksgiving and Turkey themed STEM activities for elementary and middle school. These activities cover basic computer programming, forces of flight, STEM careers, and circuitry.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Thankful for STEM free activity on TpT or in our free resource library
Turkey STEM activities are found on this blog post
More Thanksgiving STEM activity ideas
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/20-thanksgiving-stem-activities
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Motivating your students can be a struggle. How do we get them to put forth the effort and engage in your STEM lessons? We need to dig into why students lack motivation and get to the root of the problem first. It may be that they need a boost in self-efficacy, or need a way to find value in how the class relates to them personally. Tune in to this episode to join the discussion and hear ways you may be able to better motivate your students.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Behavioral Learning Theory (From episode 13)
If you don’t want your students dependent on a reward system, listen to this episode on praise in the classroom.
What is a Scientist/Engineer lesson
The Learning Cycle / 5 Es
Launching a High Altitude Weather Balloon
Learn about student sparks in this blog post.
Plants in Space - STEM Space At Home Challenge
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/19-how-to-motivate-your-students
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:This episode is a follow-up to episode 17 where we introduced an assignment for educators to fail at something! This allows for teachers to be able to empathize with our students so that we can better help them fail forward or learn from their failures. Listen to this episode for tips on how to address failure in your classroom, tools to equip your students for failure, and even how you can score some free supplies for your STEM lab. Perhaps you will be inspired by our attempts and success in failing this week and try to fail forward yourself! Don’t forget to check out the links below for more on failure!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Blog post: How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Space Lander STEM Challenge
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/18-What-You-Should-Know-About-Failure
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:When was the last time you truly experienced failure? As educators, we need a refresher on what failure feels like to put us back into the mindset of what it is like to be a novice at something. This perspective is how many of our students are walking into our classrooms. We can become more effective at teaching them if we are able to relate to the position they are in with our content.
Tune into this episode to hear more about this and get in on an assignment Claire is trying this week! Join us in the failure challenge and let us know your results by commenting below, on social media, or by sending us an email at info@vivifystem.com. One educator’s solution to the assignment is shown in the post on our website. You’ll have to listen to hear what it is all about!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Blog post on the importance of failure
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/17-we-all-need-a-lesson-in-failure
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do you meet all of your students’ needs by teaching to each learning style? Maybe you make sure there is an audio recording of your content for the auditory learners or provide plenty of pictures for your visual students. Perhaps you even add some active components for those kinesthetic learners. What if I told you that learning styles are a lie? Turns out, there is no evidence that learning styles are a real thing. Tune in to this episode to hear the “why” and find out how to effectively teach your students without all the learning style fuss.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
TedX Talk: Learning styles & the importance of critical self-reflection by Tesia Marshik
Resource on “The Myth of Catering to Learning Styles” By Joanne K. OlsonScience
Onion Satire Article: “Parents Of Nasal Learners Demand Odor-Based Curriculum”
The Dunn and Dunn (false) method
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/16-everything-you-know-about-learning-styles-is-wrong
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do you shy away from addressing students’ misconceptions? According to the constructivist theory of learning, kids make their own knowledge and ideas about how the world works based on their experiences. What if those ideas are wrong? As educators, we need an approach to correcting these misconceptions that first helps students become aware and commit to what they believe. Listen to this episode for practical methods and examples in how you can help your students with their misconceptions.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Ultraviolet Light Shelter Challenge blog post
The STEM Space Episode 14 on developmental learning theory
Space Club
The STEM Space Episode 11- 3 Ways to Effectively Praise Your Students
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/15-how-to-address-students-misconceptions
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:Do your students struggle with design challenges? Maybe they aren’t developmentally ready for that level of knowledge application. Research shows that abstract concepts often cannot be grasped by children under a certain age (this is the Developmental Learning Theory). We need to make sure our teaching is appropriate for a student’s age and know how to set them up for success in learning these concepts when they are ready. Listen to this episode to learn more!
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
Straw Rockets
Catapults
Behavioral Learning Theory (from episode 13)
Blooms Taxonomy pyramid
The Learning Cycle
5 E Model
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/14-when-kids-are-ready-to-learn-and-how-to-teach-them
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:In this episode, we are diving into the first in our series on learning theories. Learn how you can be more aware of how to effectively teach skills to your students with the Behavioral Learning Theory. In applying Behavioral Learning Theory, we realize the incredible value of being present with our students especially in a virtual or distance learning environment. This theory has three steps:
Model - show students how to do something
Practice- students should independently try to accomplish a task
Feedback- teachers need to be able to help students through struggles.
This may seem like an obvious approach, but are you implementing it in your classroom? Listen in to hear ways that educators can help support student learning best.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
The 3 Stages of STEM
How should you walk students through the engineering design process? Watch this example from one of our free videos for students.
The engineering design process
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/13-how-to-effectively-teach-skills-to-students
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
SHOW SUMMARY:In this episode, Natasha provides insight on involving your students in stage 3 STEM which is STEM Competitions. What STEM competitions are available? What is your role as an educator and sponsor? What should you expect in a STEM competition? Get ready to take your students to the next level in their STEM education!
There are many virtual nation-wide STEM competitions available as well as some for your local area. Listen in for a few ideas on how to run your own competition or check out the links below to join an established competition. If you are a STEM teacher and sponsor of a STEM competition team, your role is to provide the framework for STEM competitions, define roles for the teams and help with team dynamics that are developed in the first stage of the 3 Stages of STEM. A sponsor should not be playing an active role in solving the problem in the competition! Build up their STEM skills with one of the Launchpad Curricula in the links below.
Have questions about preparing your students for a STEM competition? Reach out to us at info@vivifystem.com.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
The 3 Stages of STEM
SA Smart Challenge
NASA Space STEM Challenges
NASA STEM Engagement challenges and resources
3M DiscoverE Young Scientist Challenge
Future City Competition
Launchpad Curriculum:
—Mission to the Moon- For Elementary School
—Mission to the Moon- For Middle School (Free when subscribed to our free newsletter and given access to our growing Free Resource Library!)
—Mission to Mars- For Elementary School
—Mission to Mars- For Middle School
First LEGO League (FLL)
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/12-stage-3-stem-stem-competitions
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
How should we praise our students and should we praise them at all? There are a lot of similarities between how we should parent and how we should teach kids when it comes to praising effort and not outcomes. Listen in to learn 3 specific ways that you can use praise to protect your classroom dynamic and promote growth in positive habits for your kids.
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/11-3-ways-to-effectively-praise-your-students
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Maybe you have stocked up on exciting activities for your STEM classroom or program, but do you know how to manage the supplies, the students, and your class time? Aspen Meineke is back this week sharing her tips from running her STEM programs. Listen in to get inspired by the ways she has found to make a STEM program work well.
Links From The Show:
STEM Family Night
How To Start an Afterschool STEM Club
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/10-tips-for-your-stem-program
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Have you tried Sphero robots? We love them and we tell you why in this podcast episode. Hear from Sphero Hero brand ambassador Aspen Meineke as she shares her tips and activity ideas to use Sphero robots in your classroom or program. Sphero robots are perfect for all ages and can be used safely with social distancing within your classroom. Tune in to learn more.
Links From The Show:
Sphero Hero program information and application
Sphero blog posts from Aspen and Vivify:
Basics of Sphero Robotics + 3 Awesome Sphero STEM Activities
Bolt: Is Sphero's Latest Robot Worth the Hype?
5 Tips for STEM Learning with Sphero Robotics including Alien Pop and Chariot races
STEM Family Nights with the Sphero robotics painting art activity
Sphero at-home learning resources
Sphero Social Distancing activity resources
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/9-stem-with-sphero-robotics
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
What’s in a name? Well, it depends on who you ask, but we feel that STEM does not need the addition of any other letters if done correctly. Tune in to this episode to hear about why we believe the standard STEM acronym (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is important and complete. Have a different opinion, or does your school use STEAM, STREAM, or another version? Let us know by commenting on our website or on our social media channels.
Links From The Show:
United Nations list of global issues
STEM Family Nights and the Sphero robotics painting art activity
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/8-stem-vs-steam
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Do you ask open-ended questions with your students? In this episode, Natasha provides insight into what she is learning while getting her Masters in Science Education. Learn about strategies in helping your students developing a deeper understanding of your lessons and fostering more student participation by asking better questions and increasing wait time.
Links From The Show:
Space Lander STEM Challenge
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/7-how-to-ask-questions
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Tune in as we discuss our biggest takeaways from the 3 virtual conferences we participated in this summer for teacher professional development. From Elementary STEM Con to the Champions for Science Middle School Conference, and ending with the Whole Teacher EclecticCon, we have truly enjoyed the flexibility and accessibility of the virtual conference platform. We have learned so much and are sharing it all, so listen in for all the details! Interested in getting online or virtual trainings from us? Check out the links below.
Links From The Show:
Elementary STEM Club
Elementary STEM Con (get on the waiting list for next year)
Vivify teacher trainings
(Teach Outside the Box) Brooke Brown’s Top 10 Read Alouds for Elementary STEM
Fold N Fly paper airplane design
Green Screens by Anita Goodwin from Goodwinovate
Podcasting in the classroom by Trina Deboree
Interactive Notebooks by Nitty Gritty Science
Paper Dissections by Getting Nerdy with Mel & Gerdy
Ms. Mallory Adventures recommended apps:
Meet the Insects
Loss of Night App
Project Noah
Merlin Bird ID App
NASA Visual Explorer
Ty Cook from Cook in the Classroom recommended
Merge Edu paper merge cube
Screencastify
Deck.Toys
Dr. Blake on Growth Mindset
Clever is a place to host all distance learning platforms
Skype A Scientist
MosaMack - free animated science mysteries
Science Journal for Kids - connect science lessons to real-world science projects
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/6-our-favorite-summer-pd-takeaways
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Get your STEM lab ready for back to school by stocking up on the basics or acquire some new gems for your students! From recyclables like toilet paper tubes to construction supplies like Keva Planks or 3D printers, we share all of our favorite tools in this episode. Listen to gain ideas on what you should invest in as well as free resources and strategies for which robots you should use in your classroom.
Links From The Show:
Blog posts with links to all the tools mentioned and more:
10 Must Have STEM Tools
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Top 10 Back to School STEM Tools
Pitsco Straw Rocket Launcher
Merge Cube
Quiver
Engineering Design Process bulletin board
Solar System Rug
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/7/24/5-stem-tools-for-your-classroom
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show Summary:
Space exploration can be an effective lens to teach and inspire kids in STEM education. From connecting to the exciting space missions in current events, to showing how your students could contribute to advancing the human race, space is something that everyone can relate to. Share these events and connect your science concepts and engineering design challenges to space exploration with your students to set the stage for true engagement and to give them a glimpse of the heights that STEM education can take them.
Not sure how to teach your subject matter or standards through the lens of space? We are challenging you to reach out to us with a topic you teach and we will help you connect it to space exploration! Email us at info@vivifystem.com or connect with us on social media through direct message or even use #connectmetospace on a post. We think everything can be taught with a space connection and we’d love to show you how!
Links From The Show:
NASA STEM on Station demonstrations on the International Space Station
NASA teacher resources
Space Docking icebreaker activity
Straw Rockets challenge (or click here for TpT)
Lunar Crater Challenge (or click here for TpT)
Space Lander Challenge
Lunar Colony Project (or click here for TpT)
Tomatosphere
EarthKam
Free Sphero Maze activity
Space STEM Starter Challenges MEGA Bundle
Blog posts about space activities:
Top 10 STEM Space Activities
Lunar STEM Activities for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing
Teaching Space Inspires Youth
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/7/17/4-why-you-should-teach-space
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
Show summary:
In this episode, we discuss the topic of distance learning and how you can use icebreakers, games, and online tools to engage and build relationships with your students. Connecting with your students is vital in keeping them focused in your class and building classroom culture whether you are in person or conducting classes in a distance learning environment. In distance learning, the ability to go live with your students through tools like Zoom sets the stage for more interaction and building those relationships, but there are still ways to engage and facilitate high levels of involvement when unable to connect with your students live or in-person. Listen to the episode for details on these strategies and checkout the links from the show below.
Links from the show:
12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM blog post
50 Distance Learning Icebreakers & Games blog post
The STEM Space facebook group for educators
One Tired Teacher: A Podcast for Teachers by Trina Deboree
STEM Space At Home Videos
STEM Space At Home: Virus Protection Challenge with Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Intro to Coding: Distance Learning Activity Building a Robot Tool
Back to School Bundle: 50 Icebreaker Activities
Intro to STEM Bundle: 45 Icebreaker & Teamwork Activities
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/7/9/3-building-relationships-with-distance-learning-icebreakers
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
In this episode, we discuss ways you can implement STEM careers in your classroom by connecting them to student sparks— your students’ passions! STEM careers should be a part of every STEM lesson as you connect what your students are learning to the careers that use those same skills or that relate to the topics discussed. All of our STEM lessons incorporate STEM careers and one of our favorite ways to introduce students to these professions is through STEM Career Bingo. Find resources like this that are discussed in the podcast episode below.
Links from the show:
Incorporating STEM Careers using sparks
STEM Careers Bingo
Launchpad Mars Curriculum for grades 6-8
Science Buddies
STEM Jobs
Start Engineering
Use Nepris to connect virtually with STEM professionals
Find our free Interview Questions to ask a STEM Professional in our Free Resource Library using the password from subscribing to our newsletter here.
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/7/3/2-stem-careers-in-your-classroom
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestemspace/?source_id=1447700748805688
VIVIFY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vivifystem
VIVIFY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vivifystem
In this episode, we take you on a journey through how we use the 3 stages of STEM. Learn how to effectively build communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills with Stage 1 STEM activities, then guide students through the engineering design process with Stage 2 challenges, and then finally apply all of those skills in a more long-term STEM project or design competition. Not all STEM activities have the same value in a STEM program. Following the 3 Stages of STEM can set your students up for success in STEM pathways.
Links from the show:
Podcast blog post: https://www.vivifystem.com/thestemspace/2020/6/27/1-the-3-stages-of-stem
Find out more about the 3 Stages of STEM in our blog post here.
Stage 1 Tower Challenges (and other icebreaker ideas)
Stage 2 example activity: Straw Rockets (for K-2nd grade)(for 4th-10th grade)
Stage 3 example activity: Launch a Weather Balloon
Stage 3 example activity: Design a Mars Colony
Incorporating STEM Careers