In January we kicked off the #STEMchat year with KitHub. Our topic was STEAM fun and learning in the year ahead. The official tagline of #STEMchat is bringing parents, educators and STEM professionals to share ideas and resources for raising STEM-loving kids, but I think always learning, always growing might be just as appropriate. Without fail, I always learn from STEMchat, and I meet great new Tweeps, to boot! KitHub #STEMchat Recap Here are ... [ Read More ]
Luz Rivas, Founder of DIY Girls: It’s STEM Girl Friday!
Last fall I wrote about the crowdfunding campaign from a cool group called DIY Girls. Today I'm shining the spotlight on the group's founder, Luz Rivas. Luz is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and grew up in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles. After learning to program in 5th grade, Luz decided to pursue a technical career. Her persistence led to an acceptance to MIT. She has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from MIT and a ... [ Read More ]
Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects. A Book Review
I received a review copy of the DIY Duct Tape Project Book, Sticky Fingers (affiliate link). Author Sophie Maletsky provides dozens of DIY duct tape projects along with advice on how to make them. The book starts off with an introduction to making things, or crafting, with duct tape. She's pretty clear on the three basics: a place to work, tape and a good pair of scissors, but she rounds off what would otherwise be a very short chapter with ... [ Read More ]
Meet Ballerina Turned Chemical Engineer, FirstBuild’s Amelia Gandara: It’s STEM Girl Friday!
Amelia Gandara is a professional ballerina turned turned chemical engineer. She earned a ChemE degree from the University of Louisville and has recently joined FirstBuild, a new platform to bring innovation to home appliances through co-creation. Why did you choose to study chemical engineering and what was it like working as one of just a handful of women working toward your degree in chemical engineering? I chose to study it because I ... [ Read More ]
May 10 Making for Families at Destination: Chicago
Join in this Saturday, May 10 for a day of making and doing at Destination: Chicago. Part of the wonderful and engaging City of Learning program, Destination: Chicago is a fun day for youth to experience everything from hip hop yoga to origami. They can get back to nature making seed bombs or go high tech creating stop-motion films or an electronic glow flower.This free event for youth ages 4 - 24 will take place at Jones College Prep, 700 ... [ Read More ]
Make a Moonball!
Watch the video below to learn to make what The Maker Mom made at the Maker Faire, moonballs! I first played with moon balls* about 25 years ago, way before kids and potty training , but years after dolphin training, back when I designed and facilitated team building programs. Moonballs are one of the many goodies I picked up from the master of play, Karl Rohnke. How to Make Moonballs All you need to make a moonball is a few pairs of tights or ... [ Read More ]
Chicago’s Northside Mini-Maker Faire is This Saturday!
Tesla relaxing after a run. #GetHosedNot only is this Saturday the Chicago Northside Mini-Maker Faire, but it's also my first time hosting a booth at a Maker Faire. I'll be upstairs in the cafeteria in the hands-on make and play space. I'll provide the Big Reveal later in the week, but let me just say the theme of my project(s) is #GetHosed*.It will be fun!It will be unexpected!It will be something you've never made before and it will use ... [ Read More ]