This is a guest post from STEM Kids Chicago contributor Brandie Langer. She was sent a kit for review. When the Mand Labs Electronics Kit first arrived at our house, I'll be honest. I was a bit intimidated even though it's an electronics kit for kids. My knowledge of electronics was approximately nothing. Even though I decided to review it because I thought would be a good fit for my 12-year-old son, I thought, what if he asks me for help? I'll ... [ Read More ]
Minecraft for Makers Book Review
This is a guest post from STEM Kids Chicago contributor Brandie Langer. This post contains affiliate links and originally appeared on STEM Kids Chicago. When I got my hands on John Baichtal's book Minecraft for Makers: Minecraft in the Real World with LEGO, 3D Printing, Arduino, and More! (affiliate link), I knew it was a book both my son and I would enjoy, and I was right! My 11-year-old son is a Minecraft addict, as are many of his ... [ Read More ]
C2E2, Chicago’s Comic Con
I know a lot of you are not only science geeks, but pop culture ones as well. So when guest contributor Jessica Dembo mentioned she was headed to C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, I asked her to share a mom's eye view of the festival with Maker Mom readers. She received a media pass, but paid for the other members to attend. C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo The first word that comes to mind to describe C2E2 is WOW! ... [ Read More ]
Boost Brainstorming with The Extraordinaires Design Studio Pro
When I was offered the chance to review The Extraordinaires Design Studio Pro, I immediately sensed that Pam Daniels wold be the perfect person to assess it. Pam is a human-centered designer and avid contributor to the entrepreneurial and maker movements in Chicago. She's a Design Innovator in Residence as well as faculty member at Northwestern University who believes in everyone’s capacity to imagine and create a better future. Wintertime ... [ Read More ]
DIY Gamer Kit Review
Lucas the Maker Kid is back. This time, he's sharing a DIY Gamer Kit review based on the product from the British Company, Technology Will Save Us. It's an item I was offered for review and sent along to him for the kids-eye view. DIY Gamer Kit Review Last year, I bought the DIY Gamer Kit by Technology Will Save Us from the Exploratorium store in San Francisco. My kit did not come pre-soldered, meaning I would have to solder all the parts ... [ Read More ]
Chemistry for Girls Beyond Sparkle Science: It’s STEM Girl Friday!
It's STEM Girl Friday and National Chemistry Week is just around the corner. It's the perfect time to review the Yellow Scope Science Kit for Girls. I've written about this STEM mom-run company in the past. They sent me a kit many months ago, but with two teen boys in the house, I felt I needed a guest reviewer. My friend Rachel Nador, of the super cool cell mosaic project, and her daughter stepped up to the plate. Read on to see why this product ... [ Read More ]
Interview with Andy Weir, Author of The Martian
When I received an offer to interview Andy Weir, author of The Martian (affiliate link), I knew enough to say yes even though I hadn't read the book. I only had a handful of hours between that offer and the interview, so when I saw my friend, science fiction lover and author Karen Smith, mention the book in a Facebook post, I offered her the opportunity and she eagerly accepted. I'm currently reading the book in preparation for this week's ... [ Read More ]