STEMMomma, Author at STEMium

Math Board Games Your Kids Will Love (But Won’t Realize They’re Practicing Math)

July 11October 5 by STEMMomma

My child’s not a fan of math. Drives me crazy. Our battles when it came time to practice were frustrating for both of us. I thought there has to be a better way. What about math board games?? While homemade flash cards and doing math problems are an important tool for getting young kids more familiar with math, keeping it fun (and not frustrating) is also critical. Some offline, old-fashioned ways to test those math skills in a less in-your-face way can be a great tool.

Edit: After further discussion with the kiddos, I got a request to add a few more games to the list. We didn’t want to stop at unlucky #13, so check out the bottom of the post for a few more kid-driven suggestions. Are we missing any more?? Please let us know!

Slime Science Project: Investigating the Science of Slime

January 31September 29 by STEMMomma

Slime might make a mess, but did you know that slime makes a perfect science fair project?!? Not only can you test various chemistry and physics hypotheses, your kids can also have fun and finish it IN JUST A WEEKEND!! For all those parents out there frantically heading into the last days/hours before the science fair, this is your winner! Our slime science project outlined below walks you through the potential setup from start to finish. It’s one of many!! While you could get adventurous and try working with more elaborate slime recipes (e.g. magnetic slime, glow slime), even our basic recipe can get you a cool slime science project addressing all the requirements of any science fair. Let’s science!

Piper vs. Kano Computer Kit: Which Should Your Child Build?

January 4August 12 by STEMMomma

My son likes computers, but I have no idea how to help him learn more? My daughter wants to learn how to code, but her school doesn’t offer classes… how can I help her? It’s a common struggle for parents. Especially if you as a parent have limited experience. When it comes to coding and computers, you may feel hopeless. DON’T! Here we introduce to two great kits that help your kids build their very own computer – the Piper Raspberry Pi Computer Kit and the Kano Computer Kit. Kids (and parents) have fun building and learning how to code.

The Ultimate Guide to Coding Websites for Kids

November 10July 23 by STEMMomma

Every time my kids mindlessly watch a YouTube video or play another round of Roblox, I can’t help but think they could be doing something WAAAY more interactive or stimulating. What about teaching them to code?? Great!! But… HOW?!? Even though I can hack together a Python script, I have ZERO idea how to teach them to code. And even if I did, the chances of them getting excited about it, seem slim. So, we started looking into different coding websites for kids – fun, safe spots where they can learn about coding and apply what they learn to make cool projects.

Review: Osmo iPhone Base – A New Way to Play With a Phone

July 17July 11 by STEMMomma

Osmo iPhone Base – A Cool New Way to Play with an iPhone

My daughter ALWAYS looks forward to birthday gifts from a certain uncle (I don’t want to say favorite)… Well, this year was no different. With my husband and I recently upgrading our phones, this freed up one for our daughter to use — and with that in mind — her uncle delivered a pretty cool new birthday present: an Osmo iPhone Base.

At first glance, this might not seem like a STEM toy. While it clearly delivers on the TECHNOLOGY criteria, it also offers kids an opportunity to incorporate ART and creativity (STEAM). Let’s jump in and get a closer look!