People + technology can solve any problem. There's no reason those people can't be teens, is there? In fact, digital natives are especially well-suited to use technology to create innovative solutions. We recently brought together a group of high school students, mostly from the Niles Township Schools, with a smattering from Lane Tech High School and others from as far away as Vernon Hills to do just that. After learning about key community ... [ Read More ]
Join Me this Sunday, 9/14, at the Morton Grove Public Library!
Have we met? In real life, I mean. If you're in the Chicago area, join me this Sunday where I'll be talking up a storm at the Morton Grove Public Library's How-To Fest. From 1-2 I'll be sharing tips for setting up a home-based maker space and giving kids the opportunity to try their hand at making something. Or possibly taking something apart. If I can pry the Google Cardboard VR headset from the Young Maker Teen's hands, I'll bring that as ... [ Read More ]
Eat Your Math Homework: a Book Review
Of the four main areas in STEM, the M, or math, gets the worst rap. Why is that? We use math every day, but science, technology, and engineering seem to take center stage. Therefore, when I was offered the chance to review an active and *fun* math book, I took it. Eat Your Math Homework (affiliate link), by Ann McCallum and playfully illustrated by Leeza Hernadez, introduces math concepts in a most natural environment--the kitchen. But the ... [ Read More ]
Mesmerizing Math: A Book Review
Mesmerizing Math (affiliate link) by Jonathon Litton and illustrated by Thomas Flintham is a different kind of math book. It's described by the author as a book of "incredible ideas plus interactive flaps and tabs" and that's pretty much true. There's almost nothing in the way of narrative, so the book is really just a quirky colorful math dictionary with playful illustrations, and brief descriptions. And yet, it's more fun than you'd expect a ... [ Read More ]
Nikola Tesla Book for Kids
Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World is one of two great STEM books I recently received for review from Candlewick Press. Written by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Oliver Dominguez, this books fills an empty space on many bookshelves. After all, there are countless books for young children about Thomas Edison, but this is the first I'm aware of on Tesla. (Yes, Tesla is also the name of our puppy. Click for cuteness.) At ... [ Read More ]
Coding for Kids: A Book to Get Them (or You) Started
One of my personal STEM goals for the year is to learn to code, so I'm delighted to have review copies of two books that teach computer programming to kids and can help me reach my goal: Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming by Jason Briggs and Super Scratch Programming Adventure! Learn to Program by Making Cool Games (affiliate links) both titles from No Starch Press. Sadly, though, we're three months into the year and sadly, ... [ Read More ]