Send us a text

What is an edutainer? How do we use entertainment to inspire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for and with young students? In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, we talk with  DLR Foundation executive director Shaakira Hardy.   Shaakira has worked in roles such as science training, program and curriculum development, district-wide science coordinating and directing within two school districts in Florida, Mr. Barrington Irving’s The Flying Classroom in conjunction with Hawker Beechcraft Air Systems, NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and YERU STEM Education. Her current mission to encourage space science/astronomy enthusiasm and education in all ages via STEM as a passion which will hopefully continue to encourage children towards careers in those areas.

Grab a cup of coffee, learn about what the DLR Foundation and YERU STEM Education offer, and sign your family up for a free STEM virtual experience this weekend!

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Miranda  Schnoor works for NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Illness. As NAMI Virginia’s Educational Support & HelpLine Coordinator, Miranda oversees the HelpLine, developing and leading a number of NAMI’s programs, and working directly with volunteers. In this conversation, we share resources and picture books that may help caregivers, families, and educators support children's mental health and social emotional learning. 

She graduated from Shenandoah University with a BFA in Acting, then completed a service term with AmeriCorps, teaching literacy in the Hopewell public school system.  Outside of NAMI, Miranda likes painting, reading, writing, and photography. Follow her @miranda.with.a.camera.

[03:53] What is NAMI ?

[07:58] Mental illness, mental health, and how they fit together. 

[09:37] Resources for Mental Health Month -- and beyond

• NAMI 
•  SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Call 211 for Essential Community Services | United Way 211
• Help When You Need It
• Home - FindTreatment.gov
• Home-FindSupport.gov
• findhelp.org by findhelp - Search and Connect to Social Care
• Home - National Empowerment Center (power2u.org)
• if you're in a crisis situation or with someone in a crisis situation, call 988 

[14:37] Mental health and working with kids 

[22:07] Picture books as windows and mirrors
 A Family is a Family is a Family
My Shadow Is Purple
Patchwork
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
You Matter
All Because You Matter
I Am Enough
Brave Every Day
After the Fall
Calling

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

If we want to be the change in the world as the adult, first we have to look at ourselves and say, this is something we value, and then tell our children that we value that because we want every child to be seen, heard, and valued. We want every family to be seen, heard and valued. 

In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane chats with Alyssa Dituro, executive director of the McNeilly Center for Children in Nashville. Alyssa is an early childhood expert with more than ten years experience directing high quality early childhood programs. Join us as we chat about the importance of antiracist education and what that looks like in an early childhood setting. We also share a range of beautiful picture books designed to help every child feel accepted, seen, and loved. Plus, visit www.drdianeadventures.com for the full show notes, booklists, and resources designed to help you on your antiracist education journey. You can see the video of the episode here. You can follow Alyssa Dituro on Linked In, Instagram, or Facebook.

[01:21] How did you get to where you are today?
[03:43] What is the McNeilly Center?
[07:19] Little Scientists -- Building STEAM Connections with Multicultural Books
[14:00] Why is it important for us to create antiracist multicultural classroom communities?
[18:12] Providing resources for challenging  conversations
[19:06] How do you set up an antiracist preschool?
[26:10] Helping families do the work
[28:49] Favorite picture books to share: Antiracist Baby, Skin Like Mine, Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration, Princess Hair, I Am Every Good Thing, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Snow in Jerusalem,  The Skin You Live In
[33:25] Community collaborations and giving ourselves grace on the journey

Want to learn more? Here are some helpful resources.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

"When I think about what experiences I want guests on the expedition to bring back with them, it's this sense of connectedness with our planet." -- Phil Hunter

When I traveled to Antarctica on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my father and sister last December, we were fortunate enough to have Phil Hunter as our expedition guide. Phil has been guiding travelers around the world’s most remote regions for the past decade, and is grateful for every chance he has to witness our planet’s most stunning and isolated locations.

His passion for the sea is equaled by his passions for wildlife photography and ecosystem dynamics. He is a wonderful storyteller, eager to help people connect and engage with the world around them.

Phil’s degree in marine biology and years of experience in the field make him a knowledgeable and enthusiastic resource for guests traveling with Arctic Tern Expeditions, the company he co-founded that is dedicated to providing conscious, life-changing travel experiences. Plus his passion for the ocean and ability to connect with youth led to him co-founding Ocean Youth Academy to provide access to ocean education for youth around the world who might not otherwise get the opportunity to discover the world's oceans.

What follows is a conversation with Phil Hunter that touches on the challenges and joys of guiding, stories about the extreme polar regions, the impacts of climate change, steps we can take to make a difference now, and his work to empower young people with stories, knowledge, and resources through Ocean Youth Academy. You may also want to check out the blog/show notes for photos and resource links or look for the  YouTube video release. You can connect with Phil on LinkedIn or follow Ocean Youth Academy (Facebook and Instagram) and Arctic Tern Expeditions (Facebook and Instagram) on social media.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

What do bicycles, Bruce Lee, the Dalai Lama, and the woman who helped unlock the secrets of the atom have in common? They are all products of the creative work of author Teresa Robeson.

Teresa Robeson is the APALA Picture Book Award-winning author of Queen of Physics (also ILA Nonfiction PB Honor and NCTE Orbis Pictus Nonfiction Recommended Book). Other publications include Two Bicycles in Beijing and an essay in Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep, edited by Melissa Stewart. Her upcoming works include a nonfiction poem in No World Too Big, edited by Dawson, Metcalf, and Bradley; two biographical graphic novels with Penguin Workshop, Who Is Tibet's Exiled Leader? The 14th Dalai Lama (2023) and the other on Bruce Lee (2024); as well as two picture books, the informational fiction Clouds in Space: The Nebula Story with MIT Kids/Candlewick (2024) and an own-culture picture book with Astra Young Readers (2024). 

Teresa Robeson focuses on science and cultural heritage in her picture books. She was born in Hong Kong, raised in Canada, and now writes and creates from her mini-farm in Indiana. She and her family try to live a self-sufficient lifestyle on 27-acres where they’ve been raising chickens (but not goats) for twenty years and growing and processing much of their own vegetables. When not writing or washing veggies for hours on end, Teresa is an amateur astronomer. Join us for this conversation from the Adventures in Learning podcast series.

Visit the Adventures in Learning blog for complete show notes and photos. You can follow Teresa Robeson on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Pinterest. Visit her website for additional resources and to learn more about the

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

Today's guest is  Deborah Freedman, author/illustrator of  such beloved children's books as Carl and The Meaning of Life. Tiny Dino, Shy, Is Was, and the soon to be published Welcome to the Wonder House. Educators, librarians, and families will love the resources on her website to accompany her books, which includes many teaching ideas, connected experiences and activities, and suggested read alikes for each book.

I first met Deborah at the Shenandoah University Children's Literature Conference. I was tasked with creating games and learning activities to get elementary students excited about meeting the authors. I immediately fell in love with the beauty of her illustrations and the wonder in which she was able to combine science and illustrations for such books as Tiny Dino and  Carl and The Meaning of Life.

In this episode, we discuss dinosaurs (did you know they now think they looked AND sounded like birds?), where ideas and artistic inspiration arise, our first book friends and influences, and several exciting projects that connect the realms of wonder, curiosity, and nonfiction.

• [01:13] Adventures in Learning: How did you get to where you are today
• [06:44]  Carl and The Meaning of Life
• [07:52] Shy 
• [09:48] Florence, the yellow bird, who spans multiple books
• [12:53] Tiny Dino, Birds, And Igniting a Passion for Science
• [19:30] Welcome to the Wonder House
• [24:06] What new adventures lie in store?
• [26:50] Describe your process when creating a book.
• [32:10] What books inspired you as a child and later as an author/illustrator? Mary Ann Hoberman, Mike Mulligan and The Snowy Day.
• [37:21]  What are you hoping to work on next?

You can keep up with Deborah Freedman on her

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

In today's episode, we meet a power couple who really know how to connect STEM experiences and picture books for powerful 21st century learning. Kahla DeSmit is the executive director of the Lewisburg Children's Museum and Raymond DeSmit is the Summit Early Learning site coordinator and maker space director.  I met both of them at a Steve Spangler workshop last year where we were putting water over our heads, making bubbles, exploring connections, and bonding over a shared love of STEM/STEAM learning.  What follows is a transcript from our recent conversation, where we explore a wide range of topics, including the power of informal STEM education experiences, strategies for building powerful connections between picture books and STEM experiences, and the freedom and joy that comes from being able to fail and try again. If you want to read the full show notes and access links to the books discussed in the podcast, you can visit the website.

[01:13] Describe your adventures in learning.

[07:01] What is the role of informal education and STEM in helping kids gain 21st century skills?

[11:38] Describe ways informal education helps develop social-emotional learning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

[19:20] Building connections between children’s literature and STEM.

[32:26] What strategies do you use to connect books to learning experiences?

[40:27] How has informal education adjusted to a post-pandemic world?

[48:39] Hopes and dreams for the future

Kahla DeSmit is Executive Director of the Lewisburg Children’s Museum. You can reach her via email, or follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.

Ray DeSmit is the Summit Early Learning site coordinator and maker space director. You can reach him via email, or follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

How often in life do you get to meet a real life superhero? Strap in for a fun ride with Captain Antarctica, aka Sean McBride. A former member of Australia's Special Forces, he's studied anthropology, taught survival skills, organized rescues, created a character and blog dedicated to educating about Antarctica, and became a Buddhist Zen monk. Marvel, if you're listening, his juicy backstory starts at 36:27, and it rivals anything Hawkeye or Captain America have done.

In this conversation, the thoughtful and passionate Captain Antarctica shares his love for the driest, windiest, coldest, most magical place on earth. Grab a cup of coffee or a hot cocoa and join us for a deep dive into all things Antarctica.

And be sure to visit the Captain Antarctica  Instagram,  Facebook,  website, and YouTube channel.  You can get photos, links to key places in our discussion, and more at the Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning website.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

In today's podcast episode, we visit with parenting expert, coach, blogger, and podcast host of Parenting in the First Three Years, Ann McKitrick. Ann is an early childhood specialist. She has done training and coaching for schools. She also coaches new parents and caregivers, and her podcast is a delight. If you haven't started following it, please head over to nurturednoggins.com and check out all that Ann has to offer. 

[0:51] Tell us about your adventures in learning. How did you become an early childhood expert?

[02:24] What is Nurtured Noggins?

[3:35] What's the connection between curiosity and learning?

 I just think that everything children do leads to learning and it's how they manage themselves in the world. And I think that what happens oftentimes when they get to a certain point and it's probably different in different places, it just begins to be shushed a little bit and the curiosity becomes disruptive almost, and we have to look at it with a different mindset in order to encourage it.

[11:24] What do maker spaces look like for early learners?

[15:58] What's the difference between tinkering and playing?

[19:44] What are some good picture books to connect to making and tinkering?Boxitects, Rosie Revere Engineer, Iggy Peck Architect,  The Most Magnificent Thing, Fairy Science, and more

[21:19] What kind of household items make a good maker space for young learners?

[25:13] How do we set very young learners (ages 0-3) up for a successful life of tinkering, playing, and creating?

[26:48] What brings you hope in terms of parenting and families and early education?

You can contact Ann McKitrick via email: [email protected]

Check out her webpage, nurturednoggins.com

You can also follow her on Instagram,

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Send us a text

Soar today with our  guest Alison Green Myers, whose first book for middle grade readers, A Bird Will Soar, received the American Library Association's 2022 Schneider Family Book Award and the Pennsylvania State Library Association's 2022 Carolyn W. Field Award. Alison is the program director for the Highlights Foundation, a national writing fellow, and an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. And beyond that, she's got a ton of classroom experience and has written strong STEM-based curriculum. 

[04:20]A Bird Will Soar One of the things  I noticed is that it creates space in the world for all kinds of families, all kinds of feelings, and all kinds of healings. And I found myself wondering, were there connections from your own childhood that informed the book? 

[04:53] Alison: My favorite part of the book is talking to kids about it, and the number one question they ask is, what parts are real? I think the thing about fiction that kids love is that they realize it's this suspension of reality as they're entering a story. But then they're like, but I'm talking to you right now, and I know you created this. So let me in on the secret. Like, what are the parts that are real? And there are parts that are very tangible to my life growing up.

[11:02] Alison: One of the things I love talking to kids about is most of the time when they hear the term bird brain, it's not always seen as a positive thing. But really, if we unpack a bird brain and we think about all of the messages going on in there, all of the information packed inside that side of a brain that's light enough for flight, it's like miraculous, right? Brains just are completely fascinating to me. And there's a heavy theme of that within the book about processing and about our minds, our brains, our instincts being the messages that are just right for us.

[18:25] Connecting STEM/STEAM to A Bird Will Soar -- a Teacher Educator Guide actually written by a teacher (who happens to be the author)

[21:16] What impact

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.