“STEM Education Is the Key to the U.S.’s Economic Future” is what you read about all the time. U.S. News and World Report says:
We need to encourage more students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math.
And what about girls and STEM? President Barack Obama has something to say about that (as a father of two girls, he carries some weight!):
“One of the things that I really strongly believe in is that we need to have more girls interested in math, science, and engineering. We’ve got half the population that is way underrepresented in those fields and that means that we’ve got a whole bunch of talent…not being encouraged the way they need to.”
— President Barack Obama, February 2013
But, as a parent, how do you do that? I think two things are critical:
- You have to get kids interested in STEM before they “opt-out” because they think they are “bad at it.”
- Finding ways to connect STEM to their innate interests hooks them in.
The DOING is what is important, and the message is that FAILURE is the work of being a scientist. Thomas Edison said it best, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
There are also leadership opportunities in STEM. Being a scientist means taking charge. Deciding how to run the experiment, and how to proceed when faced with failure. Getting team members on board and allocating the work if working in a group is also real-life leadership training that translates into a marketable skill.
To promote leadership in STEM, 4-H launched their Grow True Leaders Campaign, which aims to address America’s need for well-equipped youth who are prepared to step into leadership roles. 4-H believes that every child has the potential to be a true leader, but needs to be taught life skills and given opportunities to be such.
As part of this campaign, 4-H is recruiting parents and others who play a role in raising children to create a movement that recognizes youth leaders in communities across the country. This will be done via “Shout Outs” with the hashtag #TrueLeaders and by joining 4-H’s ThunderClap.
As summer nears, get your kids hooked on STEM with a DIY Summer Camp to WATCH, LEARN, and DO! Each of these STEM projects involves: watching a short video, learning about the topic, and then doing a STEM activity. I hope your kids find a project here that hooks them on STEM!
Fun STEM Project: Make an Easy Pop-Up Card
Clean Energy: Make a Homopolar Motor
Making a 3D Hologram Projector
Create a Protective Device for an Egg
The Science of Ramune Soda (Japanese Soda Bottles) for Kids
Easy Science Experiment: Why Do Ice Cubes Crack in Drinks?
Not in the mood to DO? Just want to let your kids WATCH and LEARN to see what hooks them?
Really Cool Science and Art Videos for Your Kids
Arctic Egg Science: Birds, Experiment and Video
Best Science Apps for Kids (ages 4-21)
Amazing Time Lapse Nature Videos for Kids
Feather versus Bowling Ball: Which Falls Faster?
Seahorse Fathers DO Get Pregnant!
Will Jellyfish Take Over the Oceans?
Water Supply System: A Science Unit for Home
Physics of Roller Coasters for Kids
The Kid Should Really See These Videos!
Amazing Videos to Share With Your Kids
My Son’s Favorite Fun and Educational Videos
The Kid Should Really See This Videos
Galileo’s Leaning Tower of Pisa Experiment (then and now)
Best Fun and Educational Videos for Kids (with matching book)
More Fun and Educational Videos for Kids
Physics of Circuits and Electricity for Kids
5th Grade Rube Goldberg Machine
Phases of the Moon Study Guide for 4th Grade
Rocks and Minerals Study Guide for 4th Grade
Science of Weather Study Guide for 5th Grade
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of 4-H. The opinions and text are all mine.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
So many fun STEM activities for kids here!
Thanks MaryAnne,
Trying to crank up the STEM in my house! 🙂
Fun! I really like STEM activities! 🙂
Thanks so much Erik,
I’m so interested to see what path you will pursue as you grow up. You are the same age as my middle daughter. I can see you as a successful author but you also have that scientific side. It will be fun to see how you meld all of your wonderful talents! By the way, my neighbor’s daughter (who is very good at science but also a serious poet) ended up going to Yale. She liked the strong writing department combined with a great science department. She had accepted admission to Harvard, but had a change of heart during the summer, and switched over to Yale. Her mom tells me that she’s very happy there. There’s something about Yale’s writing program that is unique.