STEM learning engages children in hands-on problem-solving experiences that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math and require creativity, inquiry skills, critical thinking, and collaboration. The very skills and qualities that organizations of all kinds crave today!
Newton’s Road serves as a guide to ensure parents and educators have high-quality choices for young minds to explore in our community and beyond. Check out the resources our team has compiled for you and your family or students to enjoy exploring STEM together! Share your Aha! moments with Newton's Road on Facebook or Instagram!
Find STEM for Youth
Not sure where to start? Check out our STEM guide to see suggestions on what you can do with your kids and how best to navigate the website. Newton’s Road serves as a guide to ensure parents and educators have high-quality choices for young minds to explore in our community and beyond. We have created a specific handout on STEM suggestions for youth whether you are a student, parent, educator, mentor, volunteer, community leader or STEM advocate.
STEM Finder
Our STEM Finder is a searchable hub with local and online STEM learning and career exploration opportunities. It covers the 5-county area and includes free and low-cost resources to engage your kids in STEM. Use the filters to find which organizations or activities best fit your needs or wants! If you have a STEM-focused organization that you feel belongs in our STEM Finder, contact us and let us know!
Events Calendar
Our Events Calendar includes in-person and online events in the 5-county area. As a member of the STEAM/Maker Alliance, we have a wide range of events incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Use the STEAM/Maker Passport to enter into a prize drawing! If you know of any STEAM-related events that are not on the calendar, then please contact us so that we can add them!
STEM Map
We've put together a custom Google Map that showcases where STEM resources and support are available in the community. Check out the map to see where you can utilize and receive support from our Career Investigator and play with STEM Kits at the various community organizations and schools. We encourage you to visit or get involved with an organization from our STEAM/Maker Alliance and utilize the STEAM/Maker Passport. You can also find out where to check out a STEM Kit at your local library or visit one of our STEAM Stations.
STEM Kits
STEM Kits give all families, youth leaders, and teachers free access to quality play-based activities designed to ignite children's natural curiosity and grow their creative problem-solving abilities. Each kit contains a unique activity with a primary focus area that requires using a combination of STEM skills. There are kits available for all ages and abilities, from pre-K to young adults. Most kits are perfect for individual use, but you can also work on them in pairs or small groups. The kits are designed for kids to problem solve and use at their own pace with adult supervision as needed.
Newton’s Road and our partner, the Traverse Area District Library (TADL), worked to ensure that all 21 libraries in our region have STEM Kits to lend (at no charge) to library patrons. The STEM Kits for the libraries were 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.
STEM Kits are increasingly available through our community service partners and regional libraries, included in our STEM Map.
STEM At Home
Are you looking for something fun and educational to do with the kids in the comfort of your own home or classroom? Check out these featured websites to practice STEM skills using everyday household items!
Looking for more ideas? Go to our STEM Finder and click the STEM At Home option under the Activities filter to find resources that offer free and fun activities!
Be the first to know about new STEM Events and Activities
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter for current happenings and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for quick connections to events and ideas.
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
