Showing posts with label STEAM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label STEAM. Show all posts

Monday, December 7, 2020

Lelu Spanish + STEAM Program

 

The following is a sponsored post with Lelu. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

One of the things that I've seen a lot of discussion about in our Facebook homeschool group is the need for more math and science resources in Spanish. Lots of parents are struggling to find good quality materials because the technical terms are not ones that are commonly used in day-to-day language. 

So when Lelu reached out to me about sharing their Spanish STEAM program, I readily agreed. 

This is a new program that launched this year. It has been created by Latina mom, Ana Leyva, and she founded the program at Stanford University. Ana is a huge fan of multidisciplinary learning, and has had a transformative educational trajectory (she is also the first in her family to go to college - Princeton University - and to get Master's degrees!).

What is Lelu?

Lelu is a subscription box service that focuses completely on teaching STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) concepts in English and Spanish because engaging kids in rich multidisciplinary learning gives language learning new life! They offer several programs for kids ages 3 to 11. That's a big age range, but don't worry, the boxes are tailored to each specific age group. 

Each box that you receive has a theme and contains materials for completing FOUR activities (one a week), plus instructions for completing extra activities related to the monthly theme. It also comes with 1-3 lessons/units per activity and important concepts such as the Scientific Method are taught in each box. 

Students also receive a monthly activities calendar to extend the learning and instructional videos for each of the core activities. Past themes have included the plant life cycle/el ciclo de vida de la planta, the human body/mi cuerpo, and the harvest/la cosecha. 


The three levels are:

SILVER LEVEL
This package includes their Spanish + STEAM Activity Boxes delivered to your door each month, accompanied by online tutorials and clear instructions in both Spanish and English, all revolving around a fun monthly STEAM theme!

GOLD LEVEL
The most popular package includes everything the Silver package includes plus weekly 2 hours of 1-on-1 online tutoring! 

PLATINUM LEVEL
In addition to everything offered in the other packages, this package features live online community classes (or as we like to call them, fiestas)! Each week your child will join a community-wide meeting to sing, play, and share the projects they've been working on and engage with each other! Along with the box and tutoring, this community session is critical for your child to see the big-picture about how languages connect us. Students are asked to share their work during the community meeting so the meeting is a perfect recurring motivation for kiddos to practice their Spanish skills every week!

In think it is important to note that Spanish skill levels vary between children, so Lelu tailors each box to your child's language ability. The goal is to not only teach, but also to promote fluency.

Because the boxes are bilingual, they are a great option for families in which parents who don't speak Spanish can still support their child's bilingualism. And the online tutoring is also beneficial. 

Growth Mindset

And growth mindset fundamentals are weaved into every part of the program. According to American Psychologist, Carol Dweck, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”



Other Products

In addition to the subscription boxes, you can find other products on their website, such as Spanish labels for kitchens and bathrooms, a Spanish alphabet wall poster, and their Lotería Cuerpo Humano game. 


Pin it!


Friday, June 30, 2017

KidVentor Toy Challenge



It's time to get your thinking caps on!

Fat Brain Toys is looking for the next best Fat Brain Toy and they're asking kids to invent it. They want a toy that is truly engaging and that promotes real play. No boring activity that other kids will lose interest in after 5 minutes.

Here are the dates you need to remember:
Contest opens: Tuesday, June 27th 
Contest closes: October 17th 
Finalists announced: October 18th 
Fan voting begins: October 24th
Winner announced: November 14th
Winner's toy presented at Toy Faire NY: Feb 17th, 2018

Two experts from Fat Brain Toys, two from MAKE, and two inventors from around the globe will judge the submissions and decide which one’s truly the best. And if they win, they’ll get…

  •  a $2,500 scholarship
  •  $500 in toys
  •  A Prize Package from MAKE
  •  Invention presented at the New York City Toy Fair and potentially sold around the world
To get started, visit Fat Brain Toys' KidVentor page to read the short list of a few things your kids should consider as they attempt to flesh out their big idea.

You can also submit your idea on this page.


Thursday, February 18, 2016

NASA Offers Free Comic that Teaches the Water Cycle


One of the science concepts that all children are expected to learn in school is the water cycle. And now there is a new FREE resource to help your child learn about it. NASA's education site has taken the love of comics that most children have and created new education materials.

I have one child who loves comic books. I closely monitor which ones he reads (since some can be pretty racey), but love when I find educational ones that help him learn specific concepts.

Raindrop Tales is available for free online. It is the result of a NASA online challenge:
In the Spring of 2013 the GPM education and outreach team launched the "GPM Anime Challenge" - an invitation for artists of all ages from around the world to develop an anime character to help demonstrate GPM educational science themes of the water cycle, weather and climate, and technology. Anime, short for animation, is a Japanese style of art that has filled shows and comics that are popular around the world. After receiving over 40 submissions, a panel of NASA scientists and outreach specialists selected two grand prize winners and two runners-up from three different age categories.
Anyway, this is a fun learning tool if you have a little comic lover.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Generation Nano: Small Science, Superheroes Contest


So today, I discovered this awesome contest for high schoolers. The National Science Foundation is hosting the Generation Nano: Small Science, Superheroes contest. The concept is creative and challenging; each student must research the field of nanotechnology and invent a superhero whose powers are based on current nanotech advances or that may be possible in the future given the current nano research. My kids aren't old enough, but they would SO be all over this if they were!

The students can win cash prizes: $1500 for 1st place, $1000 for 2nd place, and $500 for 3rd place.

But here's the catch: the deadline is next Tuesday, February 2nd! That's super short notice, I know, but I only found out about it. But I know that if you have a science-loving student or one that is a comic book aficionado, he or she could knock this out over the weekend.

Who: High-school students, individuals between the ages of 13-19 years old. Homeschoolers welcome.

What: A written entry explaining the original superhero and nanotechnology-driven costume, gadget, vehicle, or other gear, with particular emphasis on the research behind the nanotechnology, and a 90-second video OR one-page comic strip introducing the superhero and the student's nanotechnology gear. Entries are scored based on creativity, scientific accuracy and the visual appeal of the comic strip or video.

When: Submissions are due by midnight February 2nd.

Where: The competition's online platform nsf.gov/GenNano, where you can learn more about the challenge, access resources, register and submit your written entry and comic or 90-second video. Three finalists must attend and present their superhero at the 2016 USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., April 16-17, 2016. All expenses will be paid for the student and a parent.


For more details, check out the Entry Guidelines.

Monday, January 25, 2016

STEAM Skill Building with Keva Blocks

Screen time is a constant struggle around my house. My kids are constantly yammering, "Can I please get on the iPad/Kindle/computer?" We had to go to a firm schedule of 1 - 1.5 hours a day from this time until this time for it to work, and only if all their school work is complete and they've done chores and some reading. Their other excuse is that they are bored. So I've set out to find new products that keep my kids engaged and busy when they aren't on tech, and I'm going to share them with you. Today, I'm all about Keva Blocks!

This post uses affiliate links.

A few months ago, I bought a set of Keva Colors (aff). It comes with 120 planks, all the same size in four different colors. It's all about the stacking. You don't use glue, nor do they come with connectors. The set does, however, come with an idea book, and both my kids used it to create various masterpieces, including these:


But really, the sky's the limit with these blocks because your kids can build whatever their imaginations come up with. My daughter made this barn and corral. 


And my son also built this marble run...


I love this set because there's no age limit and because it embodies the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts of engineering and arts. My kids must use their own creativity and ingenuity to build. It's not easy to make stairs with planks, you know!

I also love how much time they spent playing with it! So as far as I'm concerned, this set of Keva blocks gets an A+.

I looked it up and Keva has a whole collection of blocks (aff) in various play sets. I'm looking forward to buying another one simply because my kids had such a good time with this one and I love how great it was for developing their engineering skills...and their creativity!

If you're looking for a product that is fun, educational and keeps your kids entertained while they are off tech, you might consider Keva blocks.

Have fun building!

Monday, November 16, 2015

The 2015 MommyMaestra Holiday Gift Guide





Happy Holidays!!

I'm super excited about the next few weeks because it is time for my annual holiday gifting series! You know what that means, right? Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing reviews and giveaways of some of my favorite educational products that I recommend for your children.

As a parent, I need help deciding on great gifts to give each holiday. I scour gift guides both online and in print. So today, I'm starting off by sharing my 2015 MommyMaestra Holiday Gift Guide! You can flip through it below.

This year, I decided to focus heavily on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) products because WE NEED MORE LATINO STUDENTS TO PURSUE STEAM CAREERS!! (You can find my gift guides from the last two years here because they are still awesome, too!)

So the gift guide is here and FULL of educational (some bilingual!) goodies for children. From babies to teens, there is something in this gift guide for all the kids in your life. Just click on the links in the guide to learn more and purchase any of the items. When you click on the guide below, it will open up in a full-screen view. To exit, just type the escape button ("Esc") on your keyboard.

Enjoy!!

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Nominate Your Student for the Latino Youth Summit

Latino Youth Summit

Parents and teachers of STEAM geniuses! Don't miss this opportunity for your child or student. You have 5 days to nominate him or her.

Nominate a Hispanic student excelling in science, technology, engineering, arts, or math to showcase his/her work during this year's 7th Annual Latinos in Technology Innovation and Social Media (LATISM) conference.

Help us celebrate the contributions of Latino Students. Nominations will be accepted until October 5th, 2015.

For more information join our Twitter Party every Thursday or visit http://conference.latism.org/latino-youth-summit/

We'll be waiting for you at the usual 9:00 PM (ET). 

WHAT
LATISM is pleased to host the first National Latino Youth Summit on October 28, 2015 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the STEAM Fair and engage in several hands-on interactive activities related to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math principles (STEAM).

WHEN 
Thursday, October 1st - 9:00 PM (ET)

WHERE
Twitterlandia! 
Follow #Latism and #LATISM15 with @Latism @AnaRC @WendyRivera_Esq

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