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More and more companies are gearing toys to compliment STEM initiatives, and enthusiastic parents are following their lead. (STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.) There is also a push for STEAM in education, which incorporates STEM and the Arts. --  Many toys overlap into the creative STEM arena.

STEM toys have the advantage that they can deliver insights about the physical world to your children. Kids who play with STEM toys may be more likely to be curious about how things work in the world around them and pursue studying STEM subjects. Having a strong foundation in STEM can give kids a great launch pad for future success in this ever-growing, tech-savvy world. ​

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Photo: @LilianFNorris

Halloween time is a great time of the year to dig a little deeper and unearth more dimensions to the holiday by adding science education to the Hallow-theme. There are many science topics in themselves that are a perfect fit with Halloween and its eerie props, including anatomy, forensics, chemistry, and physics. While kids are already in the zone, use the following ideas to your advantage to slip in some science education in the Halloween spirit.

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To those who are unfamiliar with makers, makerspaces, and the maker movement, it all might sound like some enthusiastic hobbyists and crafters getting together for some DIY (Do It Yourself) projects. But, to those who have created makerspaces or have worked in them, they are keenly aware of their benefits and their huge potential.

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Photo credit: Lilian F Norris

Often overlooked and underfunded, art remains a very important component to education. Studies have shown how art can not only help connect dots, but improve academic performance, keep kids engaged, and even keep students from dropping out. In addition, its integration into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs helps to develop well-rounded individuals. Incorporating the arts with STEM to spark creativity and fuel ingenuity and invention is what is needed to leap technology forward in hopes of finding sustainable solutions to problems now and in the future. 

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If you are looking for some great resources to get your kids inspired in STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), check out the information below and be sure to review our own list of resources as well. 

With the big push for STEM education, Iridescent, an education non-profit has been forging ahead with great free virtual curriculum. It trains "professional engineers, scientists, and parents to deliver cutting-edge STEM education to underserved children and their families." Its mission is to “create and deliver powerful science, engineering and technology education to help underprivileged children develop. It offers a wide array of learning platforms: Family Science, Curiosity Machine, Technovation Challenge, Scientists and Engineers’ Outreach, and Studio Programs. While the focus is on STEM, most activities lend themselves well to STEAM, since art and creativity are such a vital part of the inventive and planning processes.

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Photo: H+S+N Landscape Architects via Smithsonian

After many years of complaints, Amsterdam has found a solution to its runway noise that was affecting many neighborhoods up to 18 miles away. The clever designed park adjacent to the airport was crafted to deflect the sound as it travels outward. It had been discovered that this type of design might work after observing that there had been seasonal improvements in the noise levels when the fields were plowed in furrows. Taking this model into consideration, the architect decided to make the fix an artistic piece as well, by also modeling after 17th century Chladni patterns. (Ernst Chladni was a German physicist and a musician who is sometimes referred to the "father of acoustics.")