STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics and is a popular topic for kids and grown folks alike. Here at the Canton Public Library, we offer several STEAM programs for kids, as well as a range of programs for all ages throughout the school year and during the summer.
If your family has been unable to attend a library STEAM program or is looking for more to do at home, we have you covered with the following online suggestions for low to no-cost STEAM resources. You'll also find a brief smattering of physical book recommendations with more activities at the bottom of this blog.
Online STEAM Resources
Canton Public Library's A to Z Resource List – We offer a wide variety of online resources available with your Canton Public Library card. There are even some here for grown-ups too.
Smithsonian Learning Lab – The Smithsonian Learning Lab puts the treasures of the world's largest museum, education and research complex within reach. The Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources, creating content with online tools and joining the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning.
STEM Activities for Kids – Educators, engineers and some very enthusiastic parents have collaborated to make STEM Activities for Kids, a great repository of STEM ideas that are constantly being updated. If you’re looking for experiments that can be done for fun with objects sitting around the house, check out their “Best STEM Challenges” section. Sign up for their newsletter to keep apprised of new resources and posts every day.
Teachers Pay Teachers – Units, activities, worksheets, printables, videos and curriculums. Enjoy less screen time and more learning time with these fun, printable educational activities for kids. Activities are created by teachers and can be instantly downloaded after purchase. Register for free and take a look at ratings and reviews for all items the site has to offer.
NGSS Educational Site – In an effort to identify and shine a spotlight on emerging examples of high-quality lessons and units designed for the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), Achieve launched the EQuIP Peer Review Panel for Science (PRP). NextGenScience continues this work, managing review processes that use the EQuIP Rubric for Science (Version 3.1) to evaluate instructional materials and identify high-quality examples for the field. The PRP currently reviews free and publicly available middle school materials, and other materials are reviewed by an expert cadre of educator reviewers through a fee-for-service process.
Michigan Learning Channel – The Michigan Learning Channel supports science teachers and students from preschool to high school with free educational resources and videos. Find experiments, career exploration, virtual field trips and more.
The Learning Network – Resources, strategies and ideas for teaching STEM from the New York Times.
Annenberg Learner – As part of its mission to advance excellent teaching in American schools, Annenberg Learner funds and distributes educational video programs—with coordinated online and print materials—for the professional development of K-12 teachers. Many programs are also intended for students in the classroom and viewers at home, with videos that exemplify excellent teaching. Annenberg Learner also partners with impactful organizations to provide other means of achieving this goal. As part of the Annenberg Foundation, Learner supports the Foundation’s mission to encourage the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.
Podcasts
What If World – If you have a curious kid who likes to come up with creative situations, listen to What If World, an improvised storytelling podcast that answers your theoretical questions. Host Eric O’Keeffe chooses a question each week and tells a story as he answers it. What if cats ruled the world? What if sharks had legs? While this podcast is crafted in a fun way, it can also help your kids start asking “what if” to become more creative and divergent thinkers and teach them to think outside the box.
The Learner Podcast – The Learner Podcast aims to elevate the education profession through conversations that inspire, recognize and encourage innovation and best practices in the field.
STEM Everyday – The STEM Everyday podcast (started seven years and 200+ episodes ago) provides practical help for teachers to build a STEM culture. Host Chris Woods interviews educators, authors and innovators who are experts at bringing STEM learning to classrooms, schools and communities.
Wow in the World – A podcast created by NPR and hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. The podcast serves as a guide for curious kids and parents to learn together. Dive into the complex world of ants or explore how the shape of our ears affects how we hear. The podcast covers a variety of science topics ranging from earth sciences to biology and chemistry.
Brains On! – Brains On! is an award-winning science podcast from American Public Media that speaks to kids and curious adults alike. Host Molly Bloom is joined by a different kid-host to discuss topics relating to the world around us. Every episode starts with questions and encourages listeners to ask questions of their own. There are more than 100 episodes of Brains On!, making this a great choice for road trips. You can listen and discuss together as a family.
The Naked Scientists – The Naked Scientists are based out of Cambridge University and create content for broadcasters including the BBC and Talk Radio Europe. Despite the name, there is no nudity or inappropriate content covered in these podcasts—just good, wholesome science. According to the creators, “We wanted something that would make people laugh, then think, and would also be memorable and say what it does on the tin! It’s intended that it’s the science that’s naked—no-barriers broadcasting!” This podcast brings in leading scientists to talk about their work and discuss topics that audiences are curious about.
Ear Snacks – Ear Snacks by Andrew and Polly is a music-based podcast that combines art with science and the rest of the world. The pair create kid-friendly songs that are just as catchy as the top hits on the radio, but have positive and informational messaging. Your car will be popping and your kids singing with tunes like “Grapes” and “Dancing Pants” as you travel around town.
Books
Unofficial Minecraft STEM Lab for Kids
Genius LEGO Adventures with Bricks You Already Have
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