At Home Activities
STEM learning is a natural part of many things we do every day, including creating, experimenting and playing. Check out these resources that show kids and families how much fun STEM can be!
We found quality science and STEM lessons that you can do at home anytime, so you don't have to do the research--just dive in! The activities have instructions and material lists (common household items) for a new hands-on (screen-free) activity that you can do anytime.
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Our YouTube page has STEM at Home videos with Northwest Michigan organizations that show interactive experiments and projects.
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Check out a STEM Kit from your local library!
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Our Families First Monthly column has seasonal STEM activities suggested for different ages that families can do together indoors or outside.
STEM Kits
STEM Kits give all families, youth leaders and teachers free access to quality play-based activities designed to ignite the natural curiosity of children and grow their creative problem-solving abilities. Each kit contains a unique activity and teaches a different STEM skill. There are kits available for all ages and abilities from pre-k to young adult.
The STEM Kits for the libraries are graciously funded by the LSTA/IMLS Grant (through the Library of Michigan), The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation, Inc., the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club and the Elk Rapids Rotary Club.
Newton’s Road, in partnership with the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) is working to ensure that all 20 libraries in our region have STEM Kits to lend (at no charge) to all library patrons.
Currently STEM Kits are available to check out from the following libraries:
Traverse Area District Library, Main Branch - 150+ kits
East Bay Branch Library- 20+ Kits
Kingsley Branch Library - 20+ Kits
Elk Rapids Public Library - 20+ Kits
Benzonia Public Library - 15+ Kits
Darcy Library of Beulah - 15+ Kits
Peninsula Library - 15+ Kits
Betsie Valley District Library - 15+ Kits
Benzie Shores District Library - 10+ Kits
Interlochen Public Library - 15+ Kits
Glen Lake Library - 10+ Kits
Leland Public Library - 7 Kits
Central Lake District Library - 18 Kits
Sutton Bay Bingham District Library - 20+ Kits
Bellaire Public Library - 10+ Kits
Leelanua Township Library - 10+ Kits
If you would like to help us bring STEM kits to your local library, please email contactus@newtonsroad.org or call our main number to speak to our staff.
TGR Foundation
TGR Foundation: A Tiger Wood Charity
Through their award-winning STEM curricula, college-access programs, digital platforms and educator professional development, the TGR Foundation offers underrepresented students in grades 6th through 12th, the resources and support needed to thrive in school and beyond.
MORE ACTIVITIES!
STEAM Powered Family
STEAM Powered Family
STEAM Powered Family started in July 2015 as a way for the founder, Shelley, to continue with her passion for writing, science and children’s mental health. Shelley's site offers creative STEAM activities and resources for students in elementary and middle school. Shelley says, "We have some of the most innovative, creative and outstanding people in the world connecting through this site and it has been such a privilege to witness the dedication to our future generations".
Christmas Chemistry Experiment
Out of This World Space Activities
MORE ACTIVITIES!
Learn in Color
Learn in Color
Learn in Color is an online educational platform for elementary aged students, where parents and teachers can find creative and engaging learning materials to teach children topics in history, math, science, geography, and language arts.
Math Scavenger Hunt for Elementary Students
How to Memorize the Periodic Table of Elements
MORE ACTIVITIES!
Go Science Kids
Go Science Kids
Originally created to promote young girls to experiment and get involved with science, Go Science Kids is a website that offers various science activities broken down by age and activity! Go Science Kids offers activities for ages ranging from 1-2 year olds to 12 -13 year olds.
Finding North, a fun hiking game for kids
How to Make the Best Crystal Snowflakes
Magnetic Marble Run for the Fridge Door
MORE ACTIVITIES!
Example STEM Kits
Snap Circuits Jr. - age 8+ Build 100+ electronics circuit projects
Blocks & Marbles - age 5+ Create 100s of unique constructions
KEVA Contraptions 200 planks - ages 7+ Hands-on experience with balance, leverage, geometry and physics
Qwirkle - ages 6+ Many family games across ages using 36 colorful wooden tiles to build tactical & strategic thinking skills
Ozobot Bit - ages 6+ Simple to advanced coding using patterns made with colored markers
Zoomy 2.0 - ages 4+ Egg-shaped microscope magnifies anything 54x on a computer screen
Botley - ages 5+ Learn to code with screen-free play
Little Bits Coding Kit - ages 8+ Magnetic “Bits” snap together to turn ideas into inventions
Snapino - ages 12+ Introduction to the open source Arduino hardware- software coding environment
Rock, Mineral and Fossil Collection - ages 3+ Find, sort & identify over 250 colorful specimens using identification book and sheet
Makey Makey - ages 8+ Connect everyday objects like bananas to your computer! Mac/PC/Chromebook
Squishy Human Body - ages 8+ Discover how the human body works with realistic model
Q*bitz Game - ages 8+ Stimulates spatial reasoning & memory skills, 2-4 players
Q*bitz Jr. - ages 3-8 Pattern matching, spatial reasoning; 1-4 players
Arckit Mini Modern - ages 10+ Build your own contemporary designer home
Staxis - ages 6+ Fun way to learn planning, calculated risk-taking, hand-to-eye coordination & spacial awareness.
Pattern Play - ages 3+ Introduce patterns and spatial & geometric concepts
Dive into Shapes - ages 3+ Gain a deeper understanding of geometry basics using colorful shape building set
Square Up - age 6+ 2-player visual thinking game that strengthens logic, focus and problem-solving skills
Robot Turtles - age 4+ Board game that teaches basic programming principles
Tumble Trax Marble Run - ages 5+ Children create daredevil designs with magnetic foam tracks and send plastic marbles through their course
