STEM Resources for At-Home Learning 

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these challenging times of COVID19. I know it’s hard to be cooped up in our apartments and homes, especially in the small spaces we live in New York City. For those of us with kids, one added difficulty is to manage their learning while at home. I don’t think we should expect perfection at this time. We are all in survivor mode and there are only so many Zoom video calls we can engage our kids in. So, with the help of a few smart friends, I have collected some resources that I think can help you navigate the process of learning at home. Here are some examples of fun, insightful and entertaining ways of learning science, technology, engineering and math. Best of luck and stay safe!

STEM Programs

Workbench

Workbench is one of the most exciting online STE(A)M programs for kids. Best of all, older teens and adults will enjoy the activities, too. For instance, Workbench lets you study the impact of forestry on climate change, investigate various life forms, or make a model of the earth’s layers. To keep learning fun and engaging, this online program offers interactive multimedia in various forms, from cartoons to live videos. Having recently been acquired by Google, Workbench even offers educational resources for parents and teachers who want to take kids’ learning to the next level.

NOVA

PBS never disappoints when it comes to educational programs. With topics ranging from space exploration to espionage, kids can now watch NOVA shows on demand. NOVA’s easily-accessible free resources are perfect for at-home learning. Subjects include biology, environmental science, astronomy, and computer science — to name a few. If you’re looking for ways to replace “junk food” TV with educational, entertaining content, NOVA is a top-notch choice.

Math + Science + Music

Despite stereotypes, science and math can be really cool, especially when partnered with something we all enjoy: music. Sponsored by NYU and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, Math + Science + Music pairs music with popular STEM activities like coding and physics. Kids can explore online courses that include sound experiments and sonic play. With a fresh, cool vibe, plenty of eye-catching art, and audio science, children are sure to enjoy the mathematical side of music after just a few of these fun and exciting lessons.

Couragion

A leader in online learning dedicated to job-building skills, Couragion gives kids the change to virtually explore potential careers like video game developer, biomedical engineerer, welder, or financial adviser. With a focus on educating underrepresented populations, such as girls and students of color, Couragion aims to provide a practical, relatable approach to STE(A)M eduation. After watching these videos, your children will feel inspired to pursue the job of their dreams.

3DBear AR

Picture it: the classrooms of the future blend computer animations and virtual reality with mobile apps, superimposing images over the real-world. Believe it or not, that future is already here. Thanks to augmented reality applications like 3DBear, online learning can be as fun as it is interactive and immersive. An augmented reality app that teaches students how to use science for storytelling, 3D Bear AR provides resources for parents and teachers, as well as interactive assignments for kids. Children can learn how to create a plethora of 3-dimensional models while practicing skills like problem-solving through project-based learning. Your child will walk away with an expanded understanding of topics like physics, geometry, computer science, and graphic design.

Einstein’s Workshop

Einstein’s Workshop is a STEAM Learning Center that focuses on helping kids build confidence. Based out of Burlington, Massachusetts, the instructors offer virtual classes to help kids around the world stay involved and engaged in their education. Activities include live videos on LEGO engineering, inventions, and 3D modeling.

The Best Resources for Teaching Kids to Code

Tynker

Tynker is fantastic. The breath of content is huge! Your kids can play games that teach them programming concepts, create Minecraft mods and even create fun programs that can fly drones. I love how they teach programming by starting children off with their visual language, but then giving them the option to use either JavaScript or Python to solve the same problem. Recommended Age: 7+

Code Combat

If your student(s) love heroes and sword fighting this website is the way to go. It’s a blast! The challenges are fun and creative and you can even compete against others in code battles. Recommended Age: 8+

Scratch Jr.

Scratch Jr is always a great place to start when it comes to kids learning how to code.  Recommended Age: 4+

Code.org

Code.org is a great site that is set up more as a curriculum with lesson plans. I really like the videos and great explanations before the coding. Recommended Age: 6+

Code Emoji

This is a cute way to learn web development. specifically using emojis. Learning the basics of html and css in a fun and approachable way. The lessons do a really great job breaking down everything in a very easy to consume way. Recommended Age: 8+

Light Bot

A fun app for Android and IOS for entry level coders. This app keeps it simple, mostly focusing on sequences, loops and function calls. Recommended Age: 5+

Kodable

Another fun and cute game that works on the basics (sequences, loops, conditions, functions). The real positive for this game is that it’s much simpler. Your younger kids can get in and start making progress right away! Recommended Age: 6+

Hopscotch

Hopscotch is a surprisingly powerful app in the flexibility it gives you to make pretty awesome games. This is an exceptional way for kids to learn basic programming concepts in a way that isn’t a chore. They’ll have a blast trying to make a fun and creative game. Recommended Age: 7+

The Best Programs for Girls & Women in Tech

Girls Who Code

The US-based program has taught over 40,000 girls to code to date. They offer both after school clubs which are open to 6th-12th-grade girls, and summer immersion programs for 10th-11th-grade girls which take place at leading technology companies.

Black Girls Code

Black Girls Code's vision is to: "increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.

Free STEM Resources IF You Want to Work in Data Science, Machine Learning and AI

Amazing list of resources (many are free!) from Berkeley University for women and young girls who are interested in learning about coding, data science and artificial intelligence.

Womanity

This not-for-profit has set out to empower girls and women in developing countries and to help accelerate progress within their communities. Inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, their mission is to

• Support girls and women’s access to quality education and vocational training.

• Create employment, revenue generation and professional career opportunities for women.

• Promote avenues that give women a voice in society, politics and governance institutions.

• Protect women and girls’ physical and psychological integrity.

Case in point is their Girls Can Code initiative in Afghanistan. Working in accordance with the Ministry of Education, they have been able to build the intensive introduction to coding for girls in Kabul. In other words, they are working within cultures to help create a path for women and girls to succeed.

Built By Girls

#builtbygirls is one of the organizations leading the way past simply teaching girls to code. As stated on their homepage, they recognize that there are countless opportunities for careers in tech and they've made it their mandate to prepare girls to innovate and lead. This mentorship connects girls 15-18 years old with mentors in the technology sector. Girls Who Fund On the VC/startup end of the business, #builtbygirls offers a summer apprenticeship program for college-bound girls at BBG Ventures, an early-stage seed fund investing in consumer tech startups with at least one female founder. During the month-long program, girls learn the fundamentals of running a startup, study the bones of venture capital (VC). They also are afforded the amazing opportunity to not only meet leaders in the VC field but to also sit in on pitch meetings.

Rails Girls

Founded in Finland, Rails Girls has now blossomed into a global not-for-profit community. Sponsoring events that are organized by volunteers, Rails Girls focuses on providing women with the tools, the knowledge, and the vocabulary to build out their ideas. By making technology more approachable they are empowering a new generation of business owners, entrepreneurs, and content providers.

And my personal favorite:

TECHNOVATION CHALLENGE 

Every year, Technovation invites teams of young people from all over the world to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology.

Favorite shows that feature STEM, or encourage creativity, teamwork & problem-solvinG

Annedroids (Amazon) ages 5 and up*

Brains On (NPR podcast)  

Creative Galaxy (Amazon) ages 4 and up*

Dinosaur Train (PBS) ages 4 and up*

Doozers (Hulu) ages 4 and up*

Magic School Bus (PBS/Netflix) ages 5 and up*

MC2 (Netflix) ages 7 and up*

Sci Girls (PBS) ages 7 and up*

Sid the Science Kid (PBS) ages 4 and up*

Science with Sophie (YouTube)

Tumble Leaf (Amazon) ages 4 and up*

*age recommendations from Common Sense Media

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR TINY PEOPLE

 We love Ruth Spiro’s books. My three year old knows about the plants, atoms and even some quantum mechanics after reading her Ruth’s books all the time.

RESOURCES FOR TEACHING MATH

• My favorite: by the incredible Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, Jo Boaler YOUCUBED.ORG

• Teaching Math with Real-World Application | 100 Lesson Plans