When the Post-it® Brand asked me to create an original STEM activity using their products, it only took a quick look around my office to confirm that this would be a natural partnership. I received several items from the bright, new Post-it® Brand World of Color Rio de Janeiro collection, including Super Sticky Notes, Flags and Tabs to get my creative juices flowing.
They worked. I set to brainstorming with the colorful products as you’ll see below.
Curiosity is at the heart of STEM learning. Observing the world around us and wondering why things happen is where the excitement begins. Post-it® Super Sticky Notes are not only good for brainstorming solutions, but they’re also handy for sparking meaningful questions that beg for further investigation. For example, you can use them to make a modified Wonder Wheel.
The Post-it® Brand recently conducted a Back-to-School STEM Research Study which found that parents of middle and high school students rank math and science as the subjects that will prepare their students most for the job market. However, the results indicated that students struggle with these topics more than others, like humanities. The Maker Mom’s mission is to make STEM accessible to such students and their parents with the help of the Post-it® Brand World of Color Rio de Janeiro collection.
After-school classes and clubs help students enhance their STEM skills. Without having to worry about grades, students can focus on the excitement of STEM, which may lead to increased interest back in the classroom. An additional finding from the Post-it® Brand survey revealed that 84% of parents would enroll their students in STEM-related after school activities if they were offered. Do your kids have any STEM-related after school activities that are offered?
Students aren’t the only ones who struggle with STEM-related homework; the research study also revealed that parents of middle and high school students also struggle with STEM-related homework. Who can blame them? When I was a freshman in high school, my biology teacher told my parents that my coursework would be equivalent of what they might have learned in college. 30 years later my son’s high school teacher gave me the same disclaimer!
Where can students get STEM help?
Always begin with the teacher. Teachers want to see their students succeed. They’d rather provide extra help than watch a student silently fail. The teacher can also point you to other school and community resources, like your local tutoring services, students can even engage a like-minded classmate as another helpful resource. And don’t forget to search online for resources like worksheets or videos, which can provide additional practice or new explanations. Sometimes kids just need to hear it in the right way to make things click.
I’m excited to share a STEM activity that the Young Maker Teen and I created to introduce programming skills in an analog (offline) environment using Post-it® Super Sticky Notes from the Post-it® Brand World of Color Rio de Janeiro collection and coordinating Flags and Tabs. Look for it next week.
In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of us deep in planning mode. Some people are very linear thinkers and do well with structured outlines. I’m a lateral thinker, which is another reason I like Post-it® Super Sticky Notes. I’m able to spread my ideas out in all directions. But when it’s time for action, I gather all my Post-it® Super Sticky Notes and easily organize them into a coherent plan.
Tell me, what are some of your challenges introducing or keeping your kids involved in STEM?
For more school-year tips and purchase information, see Post-it.com. You can also connect via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
