Need an activity for a rainy day? Wondering how you can encourage your child? Check out these great STEM resources:
Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science. They offer a wide variety of online tutorials in coding, from introductory Hour of Code activities to an in depth code studio courses designed for a variety of ages, even pre-readers. They also have links to other online coding resources.
The Design Squad Nation website is an online community that grew out of the Design Squad television series that aired on PBS KIDS. The site targets kids ages 8 and older and features creative activities, engaging video, interactive games, and exciting contests. The goal of Design Squad is to give kids a stronger understanding of the design process, and the connection between engineering and the things we all use in everyday life.
Howtosmile.org
compiles STEM activities from the country’s top science museums. These activities are typically designed especially for those who teach school-aged children in non-classroom settings (like museums, zoos, aquaria, and afterschool or outdoor education programs), but are available to anyone, free of charge. Most use everyday materials you can find in your own closet or kitchen.
At Khan Academy, you can learn anything. Khan Academy offers tutorials that include practice exercises and instructional videos on huge range of topics, including science, math, and computer programming. The system can track student progress and has special tools for parents and teachers.
The Oceanscape Network is an educational web-based application designed to connect preteens and teens and their teachers to science, nature and outdoor experiences using technology as the catalyst. Utilizing an interactive mapping system, users can navigate the Oregon Coast and adjacent regions, visit major landmarks and ecosystems, submit sightings of wild animals, or use the Global Positioning System for some high-tech exploration of outdoor areas.
Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. You can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.
STEM Jobs is an interesting magazine examining and promoting STEM careers. Their STEM Type quiz is a unique take on a career profile and they offer lots of information on different careers and how to get there.
Vodien, a Singapore-based hosting company, has compiled an extensive list of resources for beginners to learn computer coding, organized by programming language.
The YouCubed project out of Stanford University is primarily oriented at teachers, but many of the math learning resources they share can be used at home as well, including apps, games, and other activities.
