Did you know today is Kid Inventors Day? Inspire your young ones to get crafty with STEM/STEAM related opportunities and foster independent learning with a dash of creativity and ingenuity.
We’ve got some great choices in books to read in the car on the way to your next family visit to the science museum, as well as books that will light a spark in their imagination. You'll also find free online tutorials for STEAM and creative projects, as well as subscription box suggestions for the independent learner.. Each workshop or project is either good for keeping young ones busy while you work on things during the day, or a bit of togetherness time for weekends and evenings or breaks in the day.
Mistakes That Worked: The World’s Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be
By Charlotte Foltz Jones with John O’Brien as Illustrator
Sometimes, creative minds can be a little hard on themselves and expect perfection. This book is a great way to help kids understand that sometimes the happiest of accidents lead to the most beautiful new discoveries! This book will give them a chance to learn all about these unintentional inventions that have become ubiquitous in our daily lives.
Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention
By Pip Jones and Sara Ogilvie as Illustrator
This wonderful picture book will inspire young readers and makes a great “readaloud” story for the whole family! Izzy uses plenty of ingenuity to create a machine that can mend broken tools, and hopes to win a membership to the Genius Guild. Follow along with all of the wacky hijinks and clever, creative problem solving, and inspire the little STEAM enthusiasts and Makers in your midst!
Rosie Revere, Engineer
By Andrea Beaty and David Roberts as Illustrator
The Questioneers series is a bestselling collection of stories for a reason! From Rosie Revere, Engineer to Ada Twist, Scientist, and Iggy Peck, Architect, your little inventors will be inspired for years to come. Starting them off as readalouds, and graduating to a first read for many kids is a great way to get them thinking outside the box, and the gears of creativity turning! Rosie Revere is sure to inspire passion, creativity, and problem solving.
If I Built a Car
By Chris Van Dusen
Jack has a limitless imagination! He knows just what he would do if given the chance to invent his own vehicle. Inspired by all of the things around him: old cars, zeppelins, locomotives, planes, and more, Jack and his father set out to create something magnificent. A great book to read aloud and get little minds a spark of creativity!
Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids
By Bob Katovich
Foster a teamwork environment and get the gears turning in your kiddo’s head! This book has 20 original designs for STEAM projects and creativity. Use household items and a little ingenuity to build something incredible.
Lifeovercs.com has an excellent Transportation Activities unit ready to go. You can engage children in preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school ages with these activities. From Math to Literacy to Arts and Crafts, it’s a full STEAM ahead list of engaging hands-on ideas.
Keep preschoolers interested in play and increasing their motor skills and independent play with some of these excellent activities from Preschoolactivitiesnook.com ! There are 5 daily lessons that which be done with a sibling or an adult, as well as on their own for exploration.
TamingLittleMonsters.com has three different physics related experiments and projects to inspire the physicist in your midst! The projects are delightful, and your children will be so engaged they won’t even realize they’re learning the fundamentals of a scientific field.
KiwiCo kits are an excellent idea to engage young learners and encourage them to explore STEAM concepts Subscribe and kits will automatically ship to your doorstep. You can find projects for all ages from infant to toddler, early elementary, middle school, and beyond. The company offers “Koala Crates” “Kiwi Crates” “Atlas Crate” “Doodle Crate” options!
