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

How do you bring illustrated characters to life? Hear from award-winning illustrator and author Vanessa Brantley-Newton about how she designs, draws, and creates her characters. Then try it yourself through visualization, fun classroom activities, interactive podcast episode, and a hands-on STEAM Challenge! Can also be used for digital learning at home. 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

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