The STEM Space

Show Summary: When we think about parent volunteers, we often picture parents helping with classroom parties, fundraisers, field trips, or other special events. But what if we invited parents to be involved in the academic work happening at school, too?In this episode, Natasha and Claire brainstorm ways schools and teachers could rethink parent involvement, especially in STEM and science classrooms. Could parent volunteers help make hands-on science labs more manageable? Could PTOs create academic volunteer roles? Could parents share their careers and expertise, help gather materials, support STEM projects, or simply provide another set of hands during activities that are difficult for one teacher to manage alone?This episode isn't a list of things every school should be doing. It's a conversation about what's possible and an invitation to think beyond the usual ways we ask families to help.If you've ever wished you had an extra set of hands during a science lab, this episode might have you looking at your parent community in a whole new way.Links from the Show:Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes 209. 5 Mistakes Almost Every New STEM Teacher Makes (And What to Do Instead)127. Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers134. Are You Gifted?Vivify STEM Blog Posts STEM Family Night Planning Guide10 Amazing STEM Family Night ActivitiesHow to Integrate STEM into Your Gifted & Talented ProgramA Teacher’s Guide to Science FairsVivify STEM LessonsBotany STEM ChallengeSpace Club Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars - FREE!Other STEM ResourcesFacebook: The Drip TripAbout Texas’s Bluebonnet LearningFREE Space Curriculum by Cosmic Leap FoundationGet in on This Conversation and Email Us!THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTESTHE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUPVIVIFY INSTAGRAMVIVIFY FACEBOOKVIVIFY XVIVIFY TIKTOKVIVIFY YOUTUBE

Show Summary:Are you making one of these common STEM teaching mistakes? Don't worry! Most of us have!In this episode, Natasha and Claire break down five mistakes that are especially common when teachers are new to STEM education. They'll talk about why focusing too much on the finished product can actually get in the way of the engineering design process, how real-world connections can transform a simple building challenge, why students sometimes need us to stop giving them the answers, and why great STEM teachers don't try to do everything alone.They also explore the importance of reflection and iteration—and the story of James Dyson's 5,127 prototypes reminds us that a design that doesn't work isn't necessarily a failed learning experience.Whether you're brand-new to STEM or you've been teaching it for years, this episode is an invitation to look at your STEM lessons through a different lens: less emphasis on making something that works the first time, and more emphasis on creating students who know what to do when it doesn't.Links from the Show:Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes 8. STEM vs STEAM+205. Can You See Stuff In Your Head?120. Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEMVivify STEM Blog Posts ​Why Early STEM Matters: Data-Driven StrategiesWhat to Teach in STEM: A K-8 Engineering Education FrameworkHow to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing ForwardSTEM Teacher & Classroom EssentialsNot all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM EducationVivify STEM LessonsIntro to STEM: Think Like a Scientist & Engineer!Simple Machines | Inclined Planes: Operation Swift Escape (Part of our NEW 5th Grade STEM Innovators Series!)Biomimicry 5E Science Unit + STEM Design Lab (Nature-Inspired Design!)Stem Explorers: Antarctica Shelter STEM ChallengeSpace Capsule Heat Shield 5E Engineering ChallengeOther STEM ResourcesVivify STEM Facebook Reels: Let the Neighborhood Science Club Commence!How to Teach STEM“Enjoy your failure and learn from it. You never learn from success.” About Sir James DysonCosmic Leap Foundation: Space Colony CompetitionBoeing Community EngagementAccess FREE STEM Lessons! Become a Member of The STEM Space by Vivify STEMTHE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTESTHE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUPVIVIFY INSTAGRAMVIVIFY FACEBOOKVIVIFY XVIVIFY TIKTOKVIVIFY YOUTUBE

Show Summary:How do we know what we know—and how do we decide whom to trust? In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha explore the challenge of teaching students to navigate a world filled with misinformation, misleading statistics, and confidently stated “facts.” From questioning commonly held beliefs to evaluating scientific claims, they discuss how educators can move beyond simply teaching students what is true and instead equip them with the critical-thinking skills to evaluate sources, examine evidence, and decide what deserves their belief.FREE STUDENT WORKSHEET IN THE SHOWNOTES!Links from the Show:Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes 207. Project Hail Mary142. An AI Lesson Gone Awry148. AI Tips for Teachers ft. Lauren Kelly16. Everything You Know About Learning Styles Is Wrong103. Teaching Light & Breaking MisconceptionsVivify STEM Blog Posts Best Free AI Tools for EducatorsTop 3 AI Tools for EducatorsVivify STEM LessonsFREE!- What Deserves Your Belief? Critical Thinking ActivityOther STEM ResourcesSpace Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)Space for Teachers - Project Hail Mary ChallengeFact vs Myth”You swallow 8 spiders a year while sleeping.”“The Great Wall of China is the only human-made object visible from space.”“We only use 10% of our brains.”“Goldfish have a three-second memory.”“Lightning never strikes the same place twice.”“Sugar makes children hyperactive.”THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTESTHE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUPVIVIFY INSTAGRAMVIVIFY FACEBOOKVIVIFY XVIVIFY TIKTOKVIVIFY YOUTUBE

Show Summary:In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire shares a special behind‑the‑scenes look at a project she’s been leading with her after‑school STEM club, inspired by Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary and the recent film adaptation. You’ll hear directly from her students as they talk through their designs, discoveries, and big STEM takeaways.A quick heads‑up: this episode includes a few Project Hail Mary spoilers, and the audio was recorded in the classroom rather than Claire’s usual setup, but the students’ excitement and creativity make it well worth the listen! Claire couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished.Links from the Show:Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes 120. Prioritizing Prototypes & Assessing STEM113. From Miniatures to Mariners: The Power of PrototypingVivify STEM Blog Posts Thrilling STEM Activities for Kids: Roller Coaster ChallengeHow to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing ForwardVivify STEM LessonsRoller Coaster Engineering Design Challenge - K-5 or 5-8FREE After School Space Club Curriculum: Mission to Moon or Mission to MarsBuild a Moon or Mars ColonyOther STEM ResourcesThe Project Hail Mary ChallengeBook: Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirIFLScience | Future Astronauts On The Moon And Mars Face Major Challenge As Healthy Muscle Gravity Threshold RevealedYouTube | NASA Science - The Vomit Comet: The Parabolic Flight ExperienceTHE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTESTHE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUPVIVIFY INSTAGRAMVIVIFY FACEBOOKVIVIFY XVIVIFY TIKTOKVIVIFY YOUTUBE

Show Summary:What if turning off your selective attention could actually make you more creative? In this episode of The STEM Space, we explore how the brain filters information—and why loosening that filter might be the secret to innovation.You’ll also meet Ellen Swallow Richards, the chemist, environmental scientist, and sanitary engineer who transformed public health by revealing the hidden dangers in everyday water. Plus, we highlight several accidental scientific discoveries that changed the world in unexpected ways.Don’t forget to grab the free lesson that goes along with this week’s STEMist spotlight, and stick around for the latest STEM news from around the world!STEMist SPOTLIGHT: Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911) was an American chemist and a pioneer in environmental science and public health. Ellen became the first woman admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she studied chemistry and later worked as a researcher. Richards is best known for her work testing water quality and identifying pollution in drinking water, helping to establish modern sanitation and environmental safety standards. She also founded the field of home economics, applying science to everyday life, including nutrition and hygiene. Her work improved public health and changed how communities think about clean water and healthy living.As always, we have a free student activity that goes with our featured STEMist that you can find in our STEM Explorer Library using the image to the left or the link below (listed in under Vivify STEM Lessons).Links from the Show:Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes 48. What Is In Our Air?205. Can You See Stuff in Your Head?36. Are You A Visualizer?Vivify STEM Blog Posts Top 10 Ways to Encourage Girls in STEMA Neuroscientist’s Top 5 STEM Activities for Kids and Families!How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing ForwardVivify STEM LessonsFREE! - Featured STEMist Lesson: Ellen Swallow RichardsFREE! - What is in the Air? - A Middle School Environmental Science UnitSTEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming PowerMars Soil Testing STEM Mission (pH, Acids, Bases)Women in STEM BINGO GameWomen in STEM History Engineering Challenges BundleWho is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & ActivityOther STEM ResourcesPublications by Ellen Swallow RichardsYouTube: Selective Attention Test from Daniel Simons and Christopher ChabrisThat Fatigue You Feel Might Just Boost Your Creativity | Psychology TodayIn STEM NewsWhy Mosquitoes Always Find You -Scientists from Georgia Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that mosquitoes don’t follow each other—instead, they independently respond to the same cues, especially carbon dioxide from breath and dark visual targets like clothing. Using 3D tracking and millions of data points, researchers found that the combination of CO₂ and dark colors is what most strongly attracts mosquitoes, helping explain their behavior and offering new ideas for more effective mosquito control. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260322020247.htmHow Beavers Are Fighting Climate Change - Scientists found that beavers can transform rivers into powerful carbon-storing systems by building dams that create wetlands and trap carbon-rich materials. Over time, these beaver-shaped environments can store significantly more carbon than normal streams—making them a surprising and natural ally in reducing climate change. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260322020245.htmKeep Your Eyes Open - A study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that closing your eyes in noisy environments can actually make it harder to hear faint sounds. Researchers discovered that visual input, especially images or videos related to the sound, helps the brain focus, while closing the eyes causes over-filtering that can block out important sounds. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260320073819.htmTHE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTESTHE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUPVIVIFY INSTAGRAMVIVIFY FACEBOOKVIVIFY XVIVIFY TIKTOKVIVIFY YOUTUBE