STEM Starter
​Charting a new course.
Information
This section provides you with links to helpful documents, articles and activities. We recognize that you might be searching for a wide variety of activities and experiments and we don't want you to be confined by only what STEM Starter offers. Therefore, we attempt to provide you with additional resources and opportunities to learn more about the STEM fields. Whether you find information via our website and written materials or by accessing another - it doesn't matter; just as long as you find what works for you and your student.
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STEM Starter: Charting a New Course
STEM Starter: Charting a New Course is our flagship book of experiments and currently available for download. We invite you preview some of the experiments from our book by visiting the tab Activities by Area of Study. Here you will find four experiments from the four STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM Starter: Charting a New Course is different from other STEM books. In our first edition book you will find STEM experiments that don't require fancy materials and equipment; rather we encourage creativity and try to utilize materials that are easily accessible and typically located in your home. STEM Starter: Charting a New Course provides 52 Experiments, that is one experiment per week - a full year of STEM education and guidance for students of any age. We hope you enjoy the STEM experiments as much as we do!
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STEM & Safety
Nothing is more important to us than the safety of children. All of our experiments note safety precautions and advise students to work in tandem with a responsible adult. We understand the STEM fields are exciting and thrilling to learn; however, all learning must be done under the supervisory awareness of an adult mentor. We ask that all parents, teachers, guardians take Safety as seriously as we do at STEM Starter and not leave children alone without supervision and assistance. Who knows... you might learn something new about a STEM field as well!
STEM & The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method is certainly one of the more important processes a scientist can use when planning an experiment. So we included information to assist you and your student in following and learning more about this method. We encourage you to review the information provided and don't hesitate to ask us questions and provide constructive criticism regarding this information. We are continually updating this website and the materials we provide in order to offer you and your students with a product that is clear and concise.
STEM & The Hypothesis
The Hypothesis, which is part of the Scientific Method, is designed to encourage your student to engage in critical thinking and learning how to make a reasonable guess. We included this vital section in order to assist parents, adults and teachers through this vital process. The hypothesis section provides general questions, ideas and suggestions you can utilize in order to engage your student prior to a planned activity. After your student completes an experiment; you and your student then have an opportunity to learn if their hypothesis is correct or incorrect and record that data.
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STEM & The Researcher's Diary
The Student Data & Log Section provides guidance to assist in data collecting and recording of activities. We encourage you to review this section for your experiments but we don't want you to confined to what we provide. Data collection can be recorded in a simple spiral bound notebook, loose leaf paper or composition book - so feel free to use what is most convenient for you.
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STEM Resources
This section provides additional resources
for your review.
We will change this section frequently, so make sure to keep a watchful eye for new information.
The Brain STEM
Mistakes that Produced Scientific Advancements - Science Book 6th Grade | Children's How Things by Baby Professor (Author)
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ONLINE:
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/secret-science-mistakes-boost-understanding
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STEM-winder
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
BOOK:
Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be by Charlotte Foltz Jones (Author), John O'Brien (Illustrator)
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ONLINE:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/infographic.view.php?id=11358
Spanning
STEM
ENGINEERING RESOURCES:
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BOOK:
The Biggest Engineering Failures (History's Biggest Disasters) by Connie Rose Miller
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ONLINE:
https://www.designnews.com/automation/friday-funny-12-engineering-mistakes-turned-out-not-be-fails
Bucking the SySTEM
MATHEMATICS RESOURCES
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BOOK:
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World Audible Audiobook – Unabridged Matt Parker (Author, Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
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ONLINE:
http://youngmathematicians.edc.org/mindset/the-power-of-making-mistakes/