STEM Learning

Sometimes these days can feel like all work and no play… for you AND your kids! Help your kids escape the screens and stress of at-home learning and get back to the business of play with these awesome, hands-on, activity ideas perfect for after-school playtime!Hands-On Fun for Big KidsThere’s a reason recess is built into the school day – big kids’ brains need a break! Hands-on play improves behavior, develops imagination and creativity, helps kids express their emotions, and so much more.Busy builders can blast into hands-on, building play fun (with a circuit-building STEM twist!) with EI’s brand-new Circuit Explorer sets! Kids follow the arrows to connect the pieces, at the same time connecting circuits that activate lights, sounds, and moving pieces. Get started with the Rocket set, complete with light-up nose cone and nozzles, Space Rover with light-up headlights, and Landing Pad with color-changing lights. Progress to the Rover set and build a Communications Station with a rotating Radar Dish, Power Station with Rover Charger, Powered Space Rover and Freewheeling Space Rover, both with light-up headlights. Then surprise your 3-D, circuit-building sweetie with the Deluxe Base Station, a Deluxe Base Station with circuit-powered Towers, Spinning Diner Sign, Planetarium with color-changing dome light, Voice Synthesizer Station with 10 space sounds, Communication Station with rotating Radar Dish, a Powered Space Rover and a freewheeling Space Rover both with light-up headlights. The perfect holiday gifts, the pieces in each set work with the others for a totally interconnected circuit system, and each set includes pretend play figures perfect for imaginative play. The only circuit-building set with buildable, 3-D pieces, Circuit Explorers are available exclusively on Amazon.com.Puppet shows are another great way to light up your kids’ imaginations! Put those cardboard delivery boxes to use and create a homemade puppet theater following the simple instructions at AskaGranny. Let your big kid decorate the theater using paints and markers, then pull out your puppet collection – or make your own sock puppets or tube puppets -  and act out your kiddo’s favorite book or let them freestyle with a story of their own making. Also, for the ultimate time-saving way to have fun, check out this super simple creative video featuring ways to make puppets out of regular household items and foods! They'll never look at their orange the same way again!Hands-On Fun for PreschoolersUnplugged, hands-on playtime is a must in every preschooler’s day. Hands-on play engages all of a preschooler’s senses, building critical fine motor skills, and exercising problem-solving skills.Design & Drill® Bolt Buddies™ are perfect for hands-on preschool playtime! Kids use snap-together pieces to build the bodies of a Rocket, Racecar, or Recycling Truck, then use a real, working, kid-friendly drill to bolt them together. When the hands-on construction fun is done, use the included driver and pal figurines to play out various pretend play scenarios, encouraging creativity and imagination, too!Slime is also a great hands-on activity for preschoolers! Perfect for sensory stimulation, slime is calming, promotes mindfulness and focus, encourages independent play, and helps build fine motor skills. Find all kinds of easy slime recipes, including MomDot.com’s edible slime, sand slime, rainbow explosion slime, and more, on our Easy SlimeTime Pinterest Board! Or create a homemade batch of party slime to give as an adorable birthday gift or party favor! Add glitter, Playfoam, pool noodles or whatever you fancy to make your batch colorful and textured!Photo credit: MomDot.comHands-On Fun for ToddlersEven though they’re not in school, toddlers are clocking more screen time than ever during this unusual year at home. Hands-on play is a great way to practice basic concepts including shapes, colors, letters, and numbers, develop language skills, and introduce early math concepts like bigger and smaller, shorter and taller, counting, sorting, and matching.The hands-on fun really stacks up with EI’s Bright Basics Nest & Stack Cubes! Kids as young as two can build a 3-foot tall tower by stacking 10 cubes featuring animals, shapes, numerals, quantities, and sweet starry scenes. When they’re done stacking, toddlers can nest each cube inside the next, building visual discrimination, spatial reasoning, fine motor, and early math skills as they play.Sidewalk chalk is a highly-satisfying, hands-on activity perfect for toddlers. Let them choose the colors, then go to town designing their own outdoor works of art. You can join in the fun, drawing everything from rainbows to hopscotch courts, cats, and clouds. Sidewalk paint is a slippery twist on sidewalk chalk and you can make your own! See how at our Home's Cool video tutorial.

A lot of things remain uncertain as we head into the coming school year. One thing that hasn’t changed, whether you’ll be teaching from the front of the room or your living room, is the emphasis on STEM and STEAM learning. As you head back to school in whatever format that looks like for you, EI is here to help support your STEAM lessons with super-cool, ultra-creative, coding activities, courtesy of Artie 3000![caption id="attachment_6563" align="alignnone" width="840"] Visit codewithartie.com for helpful tips-n-tricks and free downloads![/caption]Artie 3000 – the Coding Robot, makes coding simple, fun, and creative, by enabling kids to create code that Artie draws on paper! Equipped with his own WiFi and built-in coding apps, students can use the classroom computer and Artie’s simple UI to drag-and-drop command blocks. Hit the run button and Artie will execute those commands on a sheet of paper for a totally tangible connection to the code. With this simple UI, point & click programming options, and more advanced computer languages for students ready for a coding challenge, Artie adapts to each of your student’s needs, providing a rewarding coding experience and building STEM confidence.And, with four color pens and easy-to-program shapes, words, and designs, Artie is the perfect tool for engaging the creative kids in your classroom in some serious STEM learning. Write the code, execute it on paper, then color it in – Artie is a technology lesson and art project all in one! In fact, our 45 Things To Do with Artie list includes lots of art activity ideas, ranging from making puppets for a puppet show to door hangers featuring students names, coding and coloring wearable hats for Artie, and more.  Artie also offers RC fun. Students can use the arrow keys on the keyboard to control Artie’s path through the classroom (another simple lesson in coding!). Guide him to set off a student-designed chain reaction, patrol the classroom, select a student to answer a question, and so much more.Best of all, with step-by-step instructions, pre-programmed content, free downloadable content, how-to-videos (including student-produced videos!), and activity ideas from partners including Mensa for Kids, Artie is so easy to use that your students can figure it out without you![caption id="attachment_6577" align="alignnone" width="743"] Photo credit: @miss_luluandbiscuit[/caption]Learn more about Artie 3000 – the Coding Robot at www.codewithartie.com or visit Amazon.com to purchase Artie 3000 for the sale price of $54.99 with Prime delivery!

Over the last 15 years or so, STEM learning has weaved its way into the American curriculum, with STEM activities showing up in classes as early as preschool. But what IS STEM? And why is it so important?STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – areas that are growing by leaps and bounds as we become more and more reliant on technology. In fact, while there are millions of jobs in STEM fields around the world, employers are struggling to fill them because, until recently, these subjects were not emphasized in schools. Current thought holds that exposure to these subjects and opportunities to explore them through hands-on learning experiences will excite kids and inspire them to continue to study STEM subjects and then go on to pursue STEM-related careers.Teachers across the country have been working hard to infuse their daily lessons with STEM examples, ideas, conversations, activities, and experiments. And you can, too! The STEM experts at EI are sharing easy ways to introduce and reinforce STEM learning right now, at home![caption id="attachment_6537" align="alignnone" width="840"] GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope[/caption]S is for ScienceKids are naturally curious about science and there’s not a rug rat around who doesn’t love an awesome science experiment. Introducing your little ones to the amazing world of science is easy, with the GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope! Featuring extra-large, dual eyepieces and a chunky, kid-sized focusing knob, this sturdy microscope is perfect for preschoolers. Kids collect everyday objects, place them on the sample tray, turn on the LED light, and take a peek to see their object magnified up to 8x larger. They can examine everything from a postage stamp to a piece of pizza, gaining an understanding of the physical composition of different objects around them and getting invaluable, hands-on experience with a real, scientific tool! On sale NOW for $14.14 on Amazon Prime. Keep the science fun going with the FREE, downloadable science activities and Home’s Cool Videos on our website, like our beginning science activity cards and erupting apples experiment how-to video![caption id="attachment_6538" align="alignnone" width="840"] Artie 3000™ The Coding Robot[/caption]T is for TechnologyCoding is a key STEM skill and kids as young as 7 years old can get in on the fun, thanks to Artie 3000 the Coding Robot, the creative way to learn to code! Using a computer or tablet, and Artie’s on-board WiFi, kids follow easy instructions to create the code, then Artie draws whatever they’ve coded. Artie’s simple set up and pre-programmed designs are perfect for beginners; more advanced coders can create their own, custom code. From basic shapes to advanced drawings, words, even secret code, Artie grows with your child as their skills advance. Check out this amazing list of 45 fun things to do with Artie 3000 and the awesome Artie Home’s Cool Video series for a visual how-to. Available on Amazon Prime for $54.99.[caption id="attachment_6540" align="alignnone" width="840"] Design & Drill® Space Circuits[/caption]E is for EngineeringKids as young as five years old can explore the incredible world of engineering with Design & Drill® Space Circuits sets! Mini-STEMgineers use a kid-friendly drill to complete 20 space-themed missions, including making lights turn on and off, spinning simple motors, activating buttons and switches, and more, all while building basic problem-solving skills and gaining an understanding of simple circuitry. On sale now on Amazon Prime for just $27.70! Looking for even more building and construction fun? Browse our At-Home Activities page and Home’s School Videos for additional activities including drawing with your drill and practicing simple bolt addition.[caption id="attachment_6541" align="alignnone" width="840"] Hot Dots®[/caption]M is for MathMake math practice WAY more fun, with interactive Hot Dots®! The Hot Dots Jr. Let’s Master Pre-K Math set gives kids a jumpstart on math success with 85 pre-K math lessons, 15 advanced lessons, and a talking pen. Preschoolers press Ace-the Talking, Teaching Dog Pen to any answer dot for an immediate audio and visual response. Silly sounds and fun phrases keep kids engaged and motivated as they tackle lessons on counting, numbers, patterns, time, fractions, and more. Available now on Amazon Prime for $30.14. Kids can also practice counting, numbers, patterns, sequences, shapes, colors, and more with the free, downloadable math activities on our website!With a bit of forethought, sneaking some STEM learning into your at-home play time is simple – and fun!

PART 3

If you’ve enjoyed sprouting your very own seeds and creating a visual demonstration of the photosynthesis process, it’s time to do a double take with a super cool plant cloning exercise. Here’s how:

Seeing Double!

Photo credit: https://www.clickandgrow.comDid you know that you can clone a plant without using a seed? Yup, it’s true. You can take a cutting from an existing plant, place it in water, and it will grow whatever it’s missing. For example, place a plant’s roots in water and it will grow a stem and leaves. Or place a stem and leaves and the plant with grow roots. Demonstrate this natural magic at home with your own plant cuttings!1. Cut 6” pieces from two different plants with at least four leaves each.2. Strip the leaves on the bottom third of the stem and place each stem in a separate cup of water, making sure no leaves are under water.3. Label your plants and place them in a sunny spot.4. Check on them each day, measuring them for growth, checking for new leaves, and comparing and contrasting any differences or similarities between your two cuttings.5. For add on cloning activities, check out this Nancy B Science Project Worksheet!If your kiddos enjoyed this experiment, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, a microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing. Also, check out the Educational Insights' Discovery & Exploration page for even more curious tools and toys for little and big kids![caption id="attachment_6275" align="alignnone" width="770"] Nancy B’s Science Club® AquaScope™[/caption]

PART 2

If your little green thumb couldn’t get enough of our Let It Grow germination activity, it’s time to get ready, get set, get growing with this fun at-home photosynthesis project! Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to visually demonstrate this incredible process:

Just Breathe!

Photo credit: sciencewithme.comPhotosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food. This process requires just three things: carbon dioxide from the air, water, and sunlight.Plants absorb the carbon dioxide through small pores in their leaves. Special chemicals in their leaves allow them to absorb sunlight. And they use their roots to absorb water.Once a plant has absorbed sunlight, it uses that energy to split the water molecules absorbed by the roots into hydrogen and oxygen. The plant uses the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide it’s absorbed from the air to create glucose – or plant food! But what happens to the oxygen? Let’s find out!1. Pick a green leaf from a plant.2. Place it in a container of water and find out! (Psst… the graduated cylinder in the Nancy B’s Science Club® Stir-It-Up Chemistry Lab is perfect for this activity.)3. After about an hour, you’ll see lots of tiny bubbles. This is the oxygen being released from the leaf during the photosynthesis process! Use a magnifying glass for a closer look.Now that you know how plants thrive and grow, check out how they grow hydroponically with our seed germination activity. Click here for simple instructions!If your kiddos enjoyed this experiment, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, a microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing. Also, check out the Educational Insights' Discovery & Exploration page for even more curious tools and toys for little and big kids!

PART 1

Plant the seeds of learning with a few of our favorite at-home activities designed to provide hands-on experience with scientific tools and processes! Start with this fun seed germination activity – and don’t worry, if you’re saying ‘seed what?’ we’ve got you covered!Photo credit: https://www.lovethegarden.com/What is germination?  It's the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed.

Root It Out!

Inside every seed is a plant just waiting to come out! Seeds can be big or small and come in all shapes and sizes, but the process of germination, or a seed developing out of dormancy, is the same. And you can do it at home!1. Wet a paper towel with water and place four or five seeds (pea or bean seeds are great!) on top.2. Wrap the towel around the seeds, place it in a sealable plastic bag, close the bag, and put it in a warm place, like on the windowsill.3. Wait a few days, then open the bag, unwrap the towel, and check your seeds. Have they germinated? You’ll know if you see the start of small roots coming out of one end of the seed. This means they’re ready to be planted!4. Dig a small hole in the dirt of your garden, drop them in, and pack the dirt around them, and be sure to water them dailyORPlace the germinated seeds in the basket of the Nancy B’s Science Club® Way to Grow Hydroponics Kit, place the baskets in the water-filled flasks, and watch through the water as your plants grow.[caption id="attachment_6211" align="alignnone" width="843"] Nancy B's Science Club® Way to Grow Hydroponics[/caption]If you enjoyed the germination process, you’re going to love our photosynthesis activity – here is a free printable with step-by-step instructions![caption id="attachment_6218" align="alignnone" width="680"] Click to Download[/caption]And if your family can’t get enough of science, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaYPxTcKbPQ&t=17s 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFxThjSZjmU&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Michael Sheridan, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 4-12Grades: pre-K-6Supplies:• Cardboard box• 2 Similar-sized objects• Camera or phone with slow-motion video capabilitiesProcedure:1. Stand a cardboard box on end, with the open flaps facing you.2. Set up your slow-motion camera to record the objects falling.3. Using one hand to support the flap, place both objects on one flap of the cardboard box and make sure they are not moving.4. Start recording on the slow-motion camera.5. Drop the flap on the cardboard box.6. Watch the video of the objects falling. Are they falling at the same speed? Or is one object falling faster than the other? Try dropping other objects! Do you notice any relationship between the shape and how the object falls? How about the size? Or weight?Explanation:The force of gravity is all around us. We experience it every day on Earth, whether or not we think about it. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to develop a mathematical explanation for gravity, which includes the importance of mass and distance. If an object has a lot of mass (is very heavy) then it will impose a larger gravitational force than other, smaller objects experience.When we drop two objects like the ping pong ball and tangerine in the video, they fall to the ground because the force of gravity is pulling them toward the center of the Earth. This gravitational force applies to everything on Earth, from an apple growing on a tree to a car parked on the street, and even planes in the sky.Now it’s time to experiment with dropping different objects! Be sure you aren’t dropping anything that might break. As mentioned in the video, this experiment is ignoring the effects of air resistance. Since we are in our homes and not a science lab, we can see how gravity affects all objects, but we can also see how the shape of an object changes the air resistance it feels as it falls to the ground.For this experiment, we are focusing on Newton’s Second Law, or F = ma.This law says the force an object feels (in this case, the force of gravity from Earth) equals the mass of that object (how heavy it is) multiplied by the acceleration it experiences. Everything on Earth feels the same acceleration toward the center of the Earth.So, what happens if we drop a ping pong ball and a baseball? A baseball weighs about 145 grams but a ping pong ball weighs about 3 grams. The acceleration is the same since both objects are on Earth, so the force the baseball feels is about 50 times as large as the force the ping pong ball feels (because it weighs almost 50 times as much).Why does it look like they reach the ground at the same time? The reason is inertia. Inertia is resistance to acceleration and depends on how much something weighs. If something weighs more, it won’t accelerate as fast. That’s why the ping pong ball starts to fall faster than the baseball.If we repeat this experiment with different-shaped objects, we can see the effects of air resistance. Try this out a piece of paper and a ball. The ball is round so the air can move around it easily, but the paper is a large rectangle, making it difficult for the air to go around it. The air resistance slows down the acceleration of the paper toward the ground, which is why it moves back and forth and reaches the ground after the ball.EI Product Manager Michael Sheridan is a jack of all trades! An avid surfer and former international soccer competitor, this outdoor and sporting enthusiast also has a degree in Astrophysics from UCLA and eight years of product development experience in a variety of industries. Prior to helping build EI's science products and brain game lines, Michael developed everything from folding chairs to electric scooters and skateboards!