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 Store - 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 in the STEM Explorer Library>

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!”

Pitsco Education Family STEM Night Bundle (takes out all the guesswork!)

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 - 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 - 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)

27. Launching a High Altitude Balloon (from The STEM Space Podcast)

Elementary STEM Con & Beyond

STEM Homework (from the Vivify Instagram)

Invention Convention

SA Smart

“What is a Stage 3 challenge?” The 3 Stages of STEM

Alphabet STEM

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:

42. How Do You Chew?

Nasco-Guard, Preserved BioQuest® Inflatable Lungs Comparison Kit

STEM Balloon Rocket Design Challenge

Teach Engineering’s “I Breathe WHAT?” Activity that failed for Natasha

How to make SMOG experiment! (Make smog in a jar)

47. 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! It’s FREE!

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: K-5 or 6-9

- Mission to Mars: K-5 or 5-9

Space Lander STEM Challenge: K-5 or 5-8

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 for 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. Updated semi-annually.

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 - FREE!

Roller Coaster STEM Activity

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

Natasha’s Thesis

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

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