The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

By Naomi MeredithTechnology Education Courses

The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast episodes

November 04222. Which 3D Printer Should I Ask My Principal For?
Thinking about buying a 3D printer for your elementary STEM classroom but not sure which one to choose? With so many brands, features, and price points available, finding the right 3D printer for your school can feel overwhelming, especially if you're just getting started!
I'm sharing the questions I ask when choosing a 3D printer for the classroom, along with my favorite brands and recommendations for 2026. Whether you're requesting funding from your principal, writing a grant, or planning your STEM budget for next school year, this episode will help you make a more informed decision.
Resources Mentioned
3D Filament storage bags
My Growing Collection of 3D Printing Lessons for K-5
FREE 3D Printing Station
Bambu Labs 3D Printers
Flashforge 3D Printers
Prusa 3D Printers
Tinkercad for Student 3D Designs

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode222
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
17 min
October 28221. My Top Favorite Tools to Use when 3D Printing with Kids
I'm sharing three of my favorite tools to use when 3D printing with K-5 students, and they might not be what you expect! From adding colorful details to finished prints without the hassle of multicolor printing to improving print bed adhesion, these simple, budget-friendly tools can make a big difference in your classroom. I'm also sharing a fun filament option that students absolutely love!
Resources Mentioned
Lesson: Halloween 3D Printed Keychains & How-To Draws
Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Filament Brands: Overture & MIKA3D
Paint Markers (to color 3D designs)
Alcohol Wipes to clean print bed
Free 3D Printing Station

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode221
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
8 min
October 21220. Create a 3D Printed Keychain without any 3D Printing Experience
Want to try 3D printing with your students but aren't sure where to start? I'm sharing a fun, beginner-friendly 3D printing project that students can complete in just two class sessions—no previous 3D printing experience needed!
I'll walk you through how my students created their own Halloween-inspired 3D printed keychains using Doodle 3D Transform, a free, easy-to-use design tool that doesn't require student accounts or logins. From drawing their designs to exporting files, organizing student prints, and decorating the finished keychains, I'm sharing the entire process along with tips I've learned from teaching this project myself.
Whether you're brand new to 3D printing, looking for an easy project for younger students, or want a quick seasonal STEM activity, this lesson is a great way to get students designing and creating!
Resources Mentioned
Lesson: Halloween 3D Printed Keychains & How-To Draws
5+ Spooky STEM Lessons Guide
Doodle 3D Transform
Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Filament Brands: Overture & MIKA3D
3D Printing Design Software: Doodle 3D Transform & Tinkercad
3D Printed Constellations (these also glow-in-the-dark!)
Paint Markers (to color 3D designs)
Keychain rings
Free 3D Printing Station

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode220
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
10 min
October 14219. 3 Glow-in-the-Dark STEM Activities to Try
Add a little glow to your spooky STEM lessons this Halloween season! In this episode, I'm sharing three fun, hands-on STEM activities that glow in the dark and are perfect for bringing a little extra excitement into your K-5 classroom.
From building a glowing spooky house using just paper to experimenting with glow-in-the-dark slime and designing 3D-printed Halloween keychains. Plus, I'll share classroom tips, materials, and ways to make these projects easy to prep and teach.
Resources Mentioned:
Free Spooky House Printable Template
15+ Spooky STEM Lessons Guide
Glow-in-the-Dark Slime STEM Activity
Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween 3D Printed keychains
Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Filament Brands: Overture & MIKA3D
3D Printing Design Software: Doodle 3D Transform & Tinkercad
3D Printed Constellations (these also glow-in-the-dark!)
Paint Markers (to color 3D designs)
Keychain rings
STEM & Stories for #goldilocks Digital Citizenship lesson: Private vs. Personal information

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode219
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
9 min
October 07218. 5 October STEM Activities for Kids
I love themed STEM lessons, and I know you and your students will enjoy these October STEM activities. I put together a mix of robotics lessons, Makerspace, and even technology options to help bring Fall into your classroom. These five fall STEM activities to try are perfect for one-day lessons, sub plans, or even class parties, especially since they are low-prep challenges.
Resources Mentioned
Apple Life Cycle Robot Coding
Pumpkin Life Cycle Robot Coding
Printable Robotics Mats
October Engineer Inspiration Board
Halloween Engineer Inspiration Board
Pumpkin STEM Activities
Small plastic pumpkins (for Harvest Basket Challenge)
Small plastic apples (for Harvest Basket Challenge)

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode218
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
13 min
September 22217. Lessons for Starting A STEAM Program with K-4 STEAM Teachers from Ladue School District
In this episode, I’m joined by four elementary STEAM teachers who worked together to build a brand-new K–4 STEAM program across their district: Kristina Lodes, Jenny Bradley, Miranda Berry, and Mary Linneman.
We’re chatting about what that process actually looked like—from defining their roles and creating a curriculum to working with a budget, using materials they already had, and figuring out how to fit robotics, coding, engineering, makerspace, 3D printing, and more into a meaningful learning experience for students.
You’ll also hear about some of the biggest successes they’ve had along the way, including STEM Survival Camp, 3D printing, digital portfolios, and their district-wide STEAM Fest and Recycled Runway. Most importantly, they share how collaboration, having a strong starting point, and being willing to adapt lessons for their own students helped make an overwhelming process feel much more manageable.
Whether you’re brand new to teaching STEM or STEAM, helping build a program from scratch, or looking for ways to strengthen the program you already have, this conversation is packed with real-life ideas and encouragement you can use in your own STEM classroom.
Resources Mentioned
Naomi Meredith’s K-5 STEM Year Long Plan Bundle
STEAM T-Shirts that the team is wearing
Episode 1 of Elementary STEM Coach Podcast: I’m a new STEM Teacher, what should I focus on?

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode217
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
42 min
September 16216. The Great Tape Debate: How to Manage Tape in a STEM Classroom
If you’re wondering how to manage tape in your STEM classroom, you’ve come to the right place. This is a HOT TOPIC among the STEM teacher community! When I posted about this on my Instagram, @naomimeredith_, I showed the most common ways you might have students use tape in the classroom. The responses to this post spanned across the board, and there were other strategies shared as well!
Let’s dive into what you said and see where your strategy lands, and maybe you’ll gain a new strategy while listening.
Resources Mentioned
Tape Instagram Post from @naomimeredith_
Classroom Makerspace Menu

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode216
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
10 min
September 01215. Growth Mindset STEM Lessons for 3-5
Having a Growth Mindset isn't just something important for STEM classes; it's important as a life skill. I'll be sharing Growth Mindset STEM lessons for 3-5 that you can teach in a week. Each lesson has a growth mindset theme to start as the focus, a paired kid-friendly video, a picture book to read to the class, and a hands-on activity to apply the skill.
These lessons not only work well in a STEM classroom setting, but in homeroom elementary classrooms as well!
Resources Mentioned
Free Download-Week of Growth Mindset Plans
Growth Mindset Video Playlist for Kids
K-2 Growth Mindset Lesson Bundle
3-5 Growth Mindset Lesson Bundle
'We Create Work We are Proud Of' & Be You! By Peter H. Reynolds
'We Do Hard Things' & Someone Builds The Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long
'We Make Mistakes to Help Us Grow' & Builder Brothers Big Plans By Jonathan and Drew Scott
'We Dream Big & Take Risks' & What Do You Do With an Idea? By Kobi Yamada
'We Look at the World in New Ways' & Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? By Patrice McLaurin **Innovator Thinking Strategies poster is in this resource

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode215
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
11 min
August 25214. Growth Mindset STEM Lessons for K-2
Having a Growth Mindset isn't just something important for STEM classes; it's important as a life skill. I'll be sharing Growth Mindset STEM lessons for K-2 that you can teach in a week. Each lesson has a growth mindset theme to start as the focus, a paired kid-friendly video, a picture book to read to the class, and a hands-on activity to apply the skill.
These lessons not only work well in a STEM classroom setting, but in homeroom elementary classrooms as well!
Resources Mentioned
Free Download-Week of Growth Mindset Plans
Growth Mindset Video Playlist for Kids
K-2 Growth Mindset Lesson Bundle
3-5 Growth Mindset Lesson Bundle
'We Create Work We are Proud Of' & The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be
'We Do Hard Things' & Unflappable
'We Make Mistakes to Help Us Grow' & Rosie Revere, Engineer
'We Dream Big and Take Risks' & After the Fall
'We Look at the World in New Ways' & Perfect Square

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode214
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
11 min
August 19213. STEM Survival Camp Tips & Tricks
STEM Survival Camp is a great way to get kids outside and look at the world in new ways. Through these lessons, you can authentically teach the Engineering Design Process. After many years of teaching these lessons to students in my classes, here are some tips and tricks I learned along the way that can help you too!
Resources Mentioned
STEM Project Plan Rubric for Students (4 Star Plan)
STEM Survival Camp Bundle: K-5
5th Grade: Build a Shelter
4th Grade: Design a Hiking Backpack
3rd Grade: Create a Game from the Land
2nd Grade: Protect the Food
1st Grade: Fishing Pole
Kindergarten: Cross the River

Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode213
Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan
Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!
TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshop
Course: STEM Teacher 101
Workshops:
K-2 STEM Planning
3-5 STEM Planning
K-5 STEM Planning Bundle
Stellar School-Wide News
STEM Career Day

Check out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.com
Connect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_
YouTube Channel: Naomi Meredith
Facebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 Teachers
Check out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest
15 min

About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate?