The STEM Space

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 Learn more here: http://bit.ly/champ4sci2021 (Update 1/1/2025 to add this event has been archived but we hope if you had access that you enjoyed it!)

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 (Update 1/1/2025: EIE is now known as Youth Engineering Solutions or YES)

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 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

STEM Con & Beyond virtual conference

The 3 Stages of STEM

Simple STEM blog post by Kerry Tracyy

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.
SPACE CLUB IS A LOW-PREP, FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGES, CAREER CHATS, REAL-WORLD CONNECTIONS, AND MORE! LEARN MORE ABOUT SPACE CLUB AT COSMIC-LEAP.ORG/SPACECLUB!

Links from the Show:

Mission to Moon Program Information

Try a FREE Mission to Moon Lesson here!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY TWITTER

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 the STEM Space Explorer Library

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