Lakeshore Learning and STEM

I don’t know about you all, but since my very first days of teaching I’ve been in LOVE with Lakeshore Learning. Getting a new Lakeshore catalog is like when my kids receive the Toys R Us Christmas catalog. Lakeshore never disappoints and their products just simply get better and better.

With all of the new standards and the emphasis on “21st Century Skills” I was so excited when I saw that Lakeshore now has a whole section of products dedicated to STEM. If you don’t already know, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. As you may know from reading this blog, I’m all about hands on learning, open ended questions and having students explore and discover. These products are amazing for encouraging this.

In addition, Lakeshore offered me a chance to check out one of their new items and I jumped at the chance. One of our standards first grade Physical Science is Motion and Materials. I knew I had to have the “Engineer-A-Coaster Activity Kit” to help teach this topic.

Below are some pictures of my students using the coaster kit in our classroom. I love watching them try out different configurations to see what might work. They love seeing how fast they can make it roll. The kit also provides cards for suggested coasters. Seeing them work together to follow a plan is also so exciting.

Not only is this a great learning tool, it’s also become a favorite at indoor recess. I don’t know about you, but we haven’t been outside in months! It makes this teacher’s heart happy that my students have something educational, that promotes problem solving while they are stuck in doors.

In fact we love it so much, I can’t wait to purchase more. These are a few of the products on my list to buy.

Block Play Stem Learning Kit

Three Little Pigs Problem Solving Kit

If you want to check out all the great STEM activities on Lakeshore, as well as everything else amazing they offer, you can click HERE. Make sure you click the link, as it will give my readers 20% off each purchase until March 31, 2015!