Give your students a peek into the life of real scientists, engineers, and experts and challenge them to use curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity! The perfect way to integrate STEM in the elementary classroom while developing problem solving and listening skills.
Click on this link for the Resources for Jennifer Swanson FAST 2020 conference

Podcasts are a fun and engaging tool to use in the classroom. If you are looking to get started, this ‘what is a podcast’ video is the perfect place to start! Learn what a podcast is and helpful listening tips for elementary students from children’s author and Solve It For Kids! podcast co-host Jennifer Swanson.

STEM Career Lesson: How Do You Map an Underwater Forest?
Grade Levels 3rd, 4th, 5th, Homeschool
How do you map an underwater forest? Hear from Dr. Brian Helmuth about life as an aquanaut, then try it yourself through visualization, fun classroom activities, interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEM Challenge!
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 45-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Aquanaut! For Kids flyer
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

Civil Engineering Lesson: Moving Water
Grade Levels 3rd, 4th, 5th, Homeschool
How do you move water where you want it to go? Hear from TeMika Grooms about life as a Civil Engineer, then try it yourself through visualization, fun activities, interactive kid focused podcast episode, and a hands-on engineering Challenge!
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 45-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Civil Engineer! For Kids flyer
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

STEAM Activity-- How Do You Bring Illustrated Characters to Life?
Grade Levels 3rd, 4th, 5th, Homeschool
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 45-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Aquanaut! For Kids flyer
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

Space Music Lesson, STEAM Challenge, & Podcast: Be a Music Composer!
Grade Levels 4th, 5th, Homeschool
How do you compose music as big as the universe? Hear from Conductor and Composer Eric Whitacre, then try it yourself through visualization, fun activities, interactive kid focused podcast episode, and a hands-on music composition Challenge!
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 45-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Music Composer! For Kids flyer
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

Physical Science STEM Challenge & Podcast: Ion Collider! (distance learning)
Grade Levels 6th, 7th, 8th, Homeschool
Make your own Ion Collider!
In this activity students will listen to an online podcast where a physicist, Dr. Gene Van Buren, explains his work with an Ion Collider and how he uses it to understand the universe. Students complete guided questions to understand the science behind Dr. Van Buren’s work, directly connected with NGSS MS-PS3-3. Students then explore online resources to enhance understanding and make real life connections. Students apply everything they learn from Dr. Van Buren to build their own Ion Collider model! The activity concludes with ‘next step’ resources to explore emerging physical science discoveries and careers in physics.
This activity is designed for distance learning, and can be completed independently by middle school students. Will take students approximately 2 hours to complete. Provided as an editable WORD document to accommodate a wide variety of distance learning models.

STEM Career Lesson & Podcast: What Would You Take to an Underwater "Spaceship?"
Grade Levels 4th, 5th, Homeschool
What if you had to live underwater for a long time? What would you take with you? Hear from acclaimed aquanaut and ocean conservationist Fabien Cousteau about life as an aquanaut, and what it’s like to live in an underwater “spaceship”, known as a habitat. Then try it yourself through visualization, fun classroom activities, interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEM Challenge! This could also be used in a virtual classroom for distance learning.
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 45-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

STEM Career Lesson & Podcast: What is Living in Your Dirt? (Horticulturist)
Grade Levels 4th, 5th, 6th, Homeschool
Did you ever wonder, What is Living in your Dirt? There are so many more things than you can think of, and everything there is important! Hear from horticulturist and permaculture landscape designer, Kelly Bull about all of the teeny, tiny organisms and even the larger ones, that make up our soil. Then do your own experiment to learn how soil is made. (Yes! You get to compost)This pack includes fun classroom activities, interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEM Challenge! This could also be used in a virtual classroom for distance learning.
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 90-minute 5E lesson plan
Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet) - Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Link to podcast episode
- Suggestions of age-appropriate nonfiction books to keep exploring

STEM Career Leson & Podcast: How Do You Test a Rocket? (Mechanical engineer)
Grade Levels 3rd, 4th, 5th, Homeschool
What if you had to decide if a rocket was ready to launch? How would you figure it out? Hear from mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade who actually worked as a rocket engineer whose job it was to ensure the rocket was safe for launch. Hear from her as she used problem-solving to determine if the rocket was a “go” or “no go”. Then try it yourself by visualizing what you might do if you were a rocket engineer. The pack includes an interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEM Challenge! This could also be used in a virtual classroom for distance learning.
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 90-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring

STEM Career Lesson & Podcast: What Would STEM Career Lesson & Podcast: Why Do Teeth Decay? (Dentist)
Grade Levels K - 5, Homeschool
Have you ever wondered why you have to brush your teeth? Why do teeth decay? Hear from Dr. Emily Swanson, DMD, (a REAL doctor of dental medicine– a dentist!) about what happens to your teeth on a daily basis and how taking good care if them is so important. Then “see” what can happen to teeth by doing some fun classroom activities, interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEM Challenge! This could also be used in a virtual classroom for distance learning.
Purchase includes:
- What is a podcast? introductory video
- 60-minute 5E lesson plan
- Student Solve It! Pack (graphic organizer, scaffolded listening guide, and reflection sheet)
- Answer key for Student Solve It! Pack
- Reflection grading checklist
- Exclusive link to podcast episode
- Access to online bonus content to keep exploring
EXPLORE OUR FREE PODCAST LIBRARY
Episode 83: What is it Like to Fly by Pluto?
Meet the Expert: Dr. Alan Stern, Planetary scientist and Principal Investigator of NASA’s New...
Episode 84: The BEST of Science in Your Backyard!
Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! Jennifer and Jeff are on vacation, but don’t miss our...
Episode 85: The BEST of Animals
Happy Holidays! Jennifer and Jeff are on vacation, but don’t miss our BEST of...
Episode 87: Why Do Planes Make a Sonic Boom?
Meet the Expert: Nils Larson, NASA Test Pilot David Nils Larson is a research...
Episode 88: What is Living in Your Dirt?
Meet the Expert: Kelly Bull, Horticulturist and Permaculture Landscaper Kelly Bull is a professional...
Episode 89: How Do You Make a Brain for a Computer?
Meet the Expert: Lisa Leinbaugh, Electrical Engineer As a kid, I loved collecting rocks....
Episode 82: How Do You Make Toilet Paper Soft?
Meet the Expert: Madison Matson, Chemical Engineer Madison is a 2020 graduate with a...