STEM Experiences For Children

 Jillian Jiggs To The Rescue Hey there! For a school assignment, I had to create a story walk for children based on my choosing book. I have posted a video of my story walk. Please feel free to use this with your children! How Does This Story Walk Support STEM?                  Along with science and math (as explained in my presentation), my story walk also supports engineering. The aspect of engineering appears through the creative art activity I created regarding creating their own Monster Machine. Through this experience, children may decide to make their Monster Machine blueprints, deciding upon what to place where and how to build it. Through this, your child will most likely engage in problem-solving, attempting to figure out what materials to use to ensure that their machine is sturdy enough to withhold the weight of the monster. Next, they will engage in building their machine, which in itself is included in the idea of engineering.      Unfortunately, there are not many aspec

 Baking With STEM For Children  This photo was retrieved on March 19th, 2021, from https://www.bobsredmill.com/blog/baking-101/baking-with-kids/  Throughout the past few weeks, I have given you examples of different activities that you can do with your child involving one aspect of STEM. Today, I have decided to change it up. What about doing an activity/learning experience that integrates all aspects of STEM? I know, it sounds confusing and difficult, right? Well, actually, that isn't the case at all. Did you know that you, as a parent, are actually using all aspects of STEM when you bake cookies? Hahaha! Shocking right? Well, it's true. As you will soon find out, taking the time to bake and/or cook with your child is not only a great bonding experience but also a great learning experience. So let's get to baking! Oh, I almost forgot! SAFETY DISCLAIMER: If you are going to allow your child to engage in this experience, they must be old enough to work and be around heated e

 Data Displays for Children  This photo was retrieved on February 27th, 2021, from https://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html.   Are you a parent of a child who is currently learning about data displays at school? Are they coming home and struggling with their homework? Are you as a parent struggling to properly answer the many questions they may have regarding their data display homework? Well, look no further; I am here to help! In this week's blog, I will explain what data displays are, the different types of data displays used, why data displays are so important for your child's math learning, and how you as parents can help your child by using math language at home.  What are Data Displays?  According to Tamara Faires (2021), Data gathering, Data Display and Data Analysis, a data display "Represents numerical information visually" (slide 3). A data display takes answers from a question and displays sed informatio

 Engineering This photo was retrieved on February 12th, 2021, from  https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/anjali-joshi/teach-young-kids-engineering_a_23689969/.  Today's blog post is all about engineering for children. What is engineering, you ask? Well, engineering is "A way of doing," inviting children to solve problems, use various materials to design, create and build things that work. Engineering is a process of solving problems. Engineers take steps to invent and create products or find solutions to the problems around them" (Faires, 2021, slide 4&5). Although you may believe, as parents, that engineering is meant for those who are much older, that is not the case. Teaching your child engineering, starting from a young age, can truly help them in their problem-solving skills while also sparking their curiosity and creative thinking. There are many ways in which you can provide engineering experiences for your child, including providing them with building blocks, le

Children and Nature   This photo was retrieved on January 27th, 2021, from https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/forest-schools-child-led-learning/.      As a parent, you have probably heard on many different occasions how important it is for your child to spend time outdoors playing, discovering, and exploring. You may, however, not fully understand the vitality of time spent outdoors. Admittedly, sticking your child in front of a screen is a way easier option for keeping your children entertained. There are minimal risks, and it allows you as parents to get things accomplished without constantly supervising them. However, it is commonly known, especially now with Covid-19, that c hildren spend far too much time sitting in front of screens, with their eyes glued to the newest episode of their favourite TV show, or the next level on their favourite game, or even the next lesson provided by their teacher; and less time exploring the wonders of the outside world. Don't get me wrong, te

A Science Experience for Your Child  Are you a parent that is stuck at home with your child due to the pandemic? Are you in search of a fun activity for your child, to keep them entertained, while providing an educational aspect? Well, look no further! This science experience gives your child an opportunity to have fun, while engaging their critical and deep thinking, their curiosity and wonderment.  Step #1: Gathering the Materials   For this experiment, you will need to assist your child in gathering:              1. Aluminum Foil: For this experience, the aluminium foil will be used as the surface to float objects on. For this material, your child can use their imagination to create their idea of a boat, that is sturdy enough to stay afloat on the surface of water. Your child may require your assistance, in tearing the aluminum foil into large pieces.      2. Loose Parts : If you remember from my last post, loose parts are objects that you can find anywhere around your house that h