The STEM Space

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

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

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 [email protected] 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 - Update 1/1/2025: Nepris is now Pathful Connect and part of the Pathful College & Career Readiness System.

Find our free Interview Questions to ask a STEM Professional in our Free Resource Library and subscribe 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 (K-3 or 4-10)

Stage 3 example activity: Launch a Weather Balloon

Stage 3 example activity: Design a Mars Colony

Incorporating STEM Careers