NEWS – Do you have kids that are fascinated by mechanical things? This SunnyTech Mini Hot Air Stirling Engine is something that might intrigue them (and/or the kid in you). Robert Stirling created the first Stirling engine in 1816. A Stirling engine is a device that turns heat into mechanical motion by externally heating a …
Here’s a working Stirling engine to entertain you and your kids! Read More
REVIEW – When I was a kid I had a cheap microscope that I received as a gift and was excited to try out. I think I looked at about three things, and then never touched it again, despite a lifelong interest in science. I don’t know if it was ADHD, or that it was …
OSCTAN Intelligent Microscope review – great science kit! Read More
REVIEW – Near the end of 2019, I reviewed a STEM toy from Educational Insights called The Artie 3000. The same company now has a newer and more advanced STEM toy called the Artie Max. Let’s see what it is all about. What is it? The Artie Max draws in 6 major coding languages that …
Artie Max review – STEM gadget that teaches kids to code Read More
NEWS – The CircuitMess Ringo kit is supposed to be a STEM kit for kids but I think it would be fun for any nerdy geek like me. This kit has everything you need to build a real mobile phone. Just be aware that it’s not a snap-together type of kit. You will have to …
CROWDFUNDING NEWS – Remember the Baby Einstein books? Well, a guy named Chase Roberts has one-upped them with a new Kickstarter campaign – Computer Engineering for Babies. The book teaches the basics of computer engineering – AND logic, OR logic, and so on. Because little kids love buttons and lights, the book breaks down the …
Computer Engineering for Babies – so they’ll pay for your retirement Read More
NEWS – Are you looking to improve your soldering skills or do you just like to tinker? Are you seeking a project for under 20 bucks that creates something really cool? Check out the 4x4x4 LED electronics learning kit by Etoput. We’ve now purchased two of these for the guys in my house who get …
Looking for a soldering project? Etoput LED cube really shines Read More
REVIEW – I’ve always thought graphing calculators just looked cool. I can also say I’ve never had to use one for anything other than normal calculator functions. My son on the other hand starting using one for Calculus in high school and has since pretty much had to use it daily. When this NumWorks Graphing …
NumWorks Graphing Calculator review – You can teach an old calculator new tricks Read More
REVIEW: Elecrow Industries has created four children’s STEM toy sets. I’m digging into the Explorer Kit for 8+ year olds with assistance from my visiting resident grandson, PB. I’ll also report on one of the kits that has projects that require coding, the Inventor Kit. What is it Crowbits are Science Technology Engineering & Math …
NEWS – I’ve been fascinated by all things magical since I was a kid. I think it started after watching Tony Curtis in the 1953 Houdini movie. One year for Christmas I received an Adams Magic kit and I still have a book of magic tricks that my uncle got me one year for my …
The Ellusionist magic kits will turn anyone into a magician Read More
REVIEW – Computer programming is often hard for young students to appreciate with abstract assignments. It is also historically less compelling for girls because of stereotypes and influence from peers. The imagiLabs imagiCharm is a fashion accessory that makes Python programming tangible and sharable. I have one to review. Read on to see what I think! …
imagiLabs imagiCharm review – A programmable charm for kids Read More
NEWS – As a teacher, I periodically spend an afternoon looking for new apps that I think might help me do my job or my students learn stuff, and I today I found one called Space. Space is a spaced repetition flashcard system. If you’re not familiar with spaced repetition, it’s basically a system where …
Space: A sharable flashcard system featuring spaced repetition Read More
NEWS – I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I was a kid, my parents didn’t have a lot of money which meant that we didn’t have a lot of toys. At least not the toys I really wanted, like LEGO. So my sister and I made our own models and miniatures …
Cardkits are models of paper that challenge your model making fingers and mind Read More
ARTICLE – When my kids’ school moved online last year, like many parents and families, I was overwhelmed. And seeking information. And craving a schedule. One simple thing we did in my house was to start watching CNN10 together every morning. It’s a 10-minute news summary that replaced the longstanding CNN Student News. That way, …
REVIEW – There are many types of STEM experiences available for kids that support curiosity, creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, etc. I have reviewed a few in the past, and now I get to test and review the UGears Differential Educational Mechanical Model Kit. What is it? The UGears Differential Educational Mechanical Model Kit is …
UGears Differential Educational Mechanical Model Kit review Read More
REVIEW – Being the mother of two children and also working with elementary students for a living, I am always in the market for educational learning tools that can be used at home and/or in the classroom. With so many of our toys and activities linked to screen-time, I am always interested and attracted to …