If you have a low or no budget going into your STEM classroom but are wondering what lessons to teach kids, my go-to is Makerspace lessons. There is some prep work to gather supplies to make it happen, but it’s one of the best ways to have hands-on lessons in your classroom that are still engaging. I’ll be sharing my top three favorite themes when teaching Makerspace to students in K-5. These are units where every grade level has its own lesson to jump into, along with what you can do if you onl...
Jun 27, 2025•9 min•Ep. 199
We are back at it with some fun interviews this summer! I took a little break from interviewing, but missed it, and I had so much fun with who I talked with for today’s interview. I chatted with Kara Houston, who is a proud member of SelfCAD. If you haven’t heard of SelfCAD before, it is a cloud-based CAD modeling (or computer-aided design) that allows students to model, sculpt, slice, and print online. You might know this most for 3D printing as you get started, but they have other forms of cre...
Jun 19, 2025•28 min•Ep. 198
If you're in back-to-school mode and starting to set up your classroom, this quick tip will help you think through how to organize your Makerspace or STEM supplies for the year. In this mini-episode is a clip from Episode 150, and I’m sharing how I set up my supplies to stay organized all year long, without constantly resetting things for every lesson. Whether you have a full Makerspace or just a few bins of supplies, these simple strategies can help make your space more functional and your stud...
Jun 17, 2025•14 min•Ep. 197
If you're in back-to-school mode and starting to set up your classroom, this quick tip will help you think through how to organize your Makerspace or STEM supplies for the year. In this mini-episode is a clip from Episode 150, and I’m sharing how I set up my supplies to stay organized all year long—without constantly resetting things for every lesson. Whether you have a full Makerspace or just a few bins of supplies, these simple strategies can help make your space more functional and your stude...
Jun 12, 2025•8 min•Ep. 196
These 5 Makerspace activities are quick, easy, and collaborative and focus on things that roll. By using simple materials, you can have fun lessons that students well remember even after the school year ends! Resources Mentioned: Download this freebie with 20 End of School Year Makerspace STEM Challenges Cardboard Straw Maze Paper Plate Coaster Cardboard Wall Maze Mini Golf Course Cardboard Race Car Online Game that works like a Cardboard Wall Maze: Tinker Ball Head to the show notes for a full ...
May 15, 2025•9 min•Ep. 195
It’s the end of the school year, which means it can be a crazy and overwhelming time in your STEM classroom. Even with the kids excited about summer break, you can still keep them engaged and learning in your STEM classroom. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 3 end of year science activities that you can easily implement in your classroom. Even if your school year has ended, these are great activities to use if you’re teaching summer camp or have your own kids home with you for the summer. Resource...
May 01, 2025•12 min•Ep. 194
Summer is just around the corner and if you are looking for some ways you can map out your STEM Teacher Professional Development for 2025, I have some ideas for you. From free to paid, virtual and in person, I have a good mix to help you dive in deeper with a variety of topics. STEM Teacher Bookshelf book lists 2023 & 2024 2023 List 2024 List Elementary STEM Coach Podcast Playlists Spring International STEAM Summit hosted by Wonder Workshop (May 14-16, 2025) Teacher Seller’s Summit (June 26 ...
Apr 25, 2025•12 min•Ep. 193
Earth Day is April 22. It’s a good way to teach students ways to take care of the Earth. I’ll be sharing with you 5 STEM lessons that you can teach to celebrate this day or even lessons you can use year round. Earth Day Engineer Inspiration Board Recycling Plant Makerspace Lesson Ways to Take Care of the Earth-3D Printing Lesson Environment Inventions-3D Printing Lesson Light Pollution Podcasting Lesson Earth Day Bulletin Board Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictur...
Apr 17, 2025•10 min•Ep. 192
Are you planning on having a long-term sub soon in your elementary STEM space? I recently completed long-term subbing for 4 months in K-5 STEM, and have a lot of insight as to what you should (and shouldn’t do) while you are prepping to be away. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode191 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and commen...
Apr 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 191
Math manipulatives are an often overlooked tool in the STEM space. You may have some hiding in your cabinets or other areas in your school right now that you're missing out on! I'm sharing 3 easy ways I've used math manipulatives for various STEM lessons that you and your students will enjoy. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode190 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HER...
Feb 26, 2025•13 min•Ep. 190
Whether you are planning a classroom Valentine's Day party or looking for some fun, themed lessons, you're going to love this episode! There are a variety of activities in this episode that you can implement for Valentine's Day that are low-prep, but highly engaging. You most likely have most of these materials already in your classroom! Candy Heart Baskets Valentine's Day Engineer Inspiration Boards Ping Pong Heart Roll Digital Tangram Puzzles Heart LEGO Marble Maze Cuisinare Rod Hearts TpT Sho...
Feb 11, 2025•16 min•Ep. 189
It seems like January is the cold winter month where you are stuck inside, in many parts of the world, trying to keep your students entertained. Take this as a great opportunity to help students make connections to their environment and plan out STEM lessons that are connected to snow! In this episode, I’ll be sharing with you a variety of lessons you can do over the course of a week, or if you see classes once a week, that will take you the entire month. Snapshot of the week: Day 1: Winter-Them...
Jan 21, 2025•21 min•Ep. 188
We are back for another new year for the Elementary STEM Coach podcast, starting with the questions you wanted answered on Instagram, @naomimeredith_, and others that popped up in my email. I will be answering the questions you wanted the answers to in this fun, new episode. Are you [Naomi] teaching STEM in a classroom again? Should You Apply for a STEM Position? Listener Tip: Using Google CS First with Scratch What are Naomi's Favorite STEM Books? [Professional & for Kids] What are the Best...
Jan 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 187
Another year of Hour of Code has arrived. Are you ready for it? If not, that's okay because, in today's episode, I am sharing three hours of code lessons you can implement in your classroom. These lessons do not require you to be an expert coder, and they are easy to implement. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode136 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podca...
Dec 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 186
I’m sharing three turkey-themed STEM lessons perfect for Thanksgiving week, plus a bonus LEGO activity to engage your students. These low-prep ideas pair with the books The Great Turkey Race, How to Catch a Turkey, and Turkey Trouble , incorporating creativity, engineering, and storytelling. Whether it’s building turkey catapults, or designing turkey disguises, these activities are easy to adapt for all ages and guarantee holiday fun in your classroom. Make sure to listen to the end because I sh...
Nov 19, 2024•9 min•Ep. 185
In this special episode , I’m recording from an exciting new location—my mobile STEM trailer! This trailer is something I’ve dreamed of since 2020, and I’m thrilled to share how this vision came to life. Join me as I give you a behind-the-scenes look at my journey, from hunting for the right vehicle to the inspiring reasons behind creating a mobile STEM classroom. I’ll share some fun stories, like my search for this trailer and how I’m setting it up to reach even more students in our community. ...
Nov 12, 2024•15 min•Ep. 184
After being a classroom teacher for 6 years and stepping into a K-5 STEM role, there was a lot that I didn't know and also realized I would be concerned about. Over the years as a passionate STEM educator, there are a handful of things that scare me about K-5 STEM education that might scare you, too. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode183 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice mes...
Oct 29, 2024•8 min•Ep. 183
If you are looking for Fall-themed STEM stations that aren’t Halloween-related, but still celebrate the time of year, I got you covered in this episode! I’ll explain how I organized the stations with a group of students and how they rotated through. Then, I’ll share with you the three, easy-to-prep pumpkin STEM stations that you can try with students. In my group, I had kids from 4 years old to 10 years old mixed together, and they all had a blast! Head to the show notes for a full transcript of...
Oct 22, 2024•10 min•Ep. 182
I’m diving into the spooky spirit with three fun and easy science experiments you can try with your students! Whether you’re planning a Halloween-themed lesson, a special event like trunk-or-treat, or want to add some excitement to your classroom, these activities are low-prep and big on fun. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode181 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HER...
Oct 16, 2024•9 min•Ep. 181
Are you looking for fun ways to celebrate Halloween in your STEM classroom without any chaos or your students bouncing off the wall? In today’s episode, I’m sharing seven spooky STEM activities that your students will love. Whether you’re looking for fun activities for a Halloween party or to incorporate some fall-themed activities into your lessons, these spooky STEM activities are perfect for your STEM classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all t...
Oct 08, 2024•15 min•Ep. 180
When you teach multiple classes a day, how can you easily set up a classroom incentive that encourages positive behaviors? In this episode, I'll share with you a game I came up with that's easy, fun, and motivating for elementary students of all ages. There is also a bonus clip where you will hear me introduce this incentive with a class and hear their reactions! Link to Behavior Blast Off: https://naomimeredith.com/behaviorblastoff Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, p...
Oct 01, 2024•9 min•Ep. 179
During Parent Teacher Conference season, what is the typical expectation for STEM teachers? While this can vary from school to school, overall there is a common consensus amongst STEM Teachers of what they do during this time. How do I know this? Well, I went ahead and asked YOU and sharing your responses in this episode. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode178 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long ...
Sep 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 178
In this episode, I dive into my Instagram DMs to answer some of the most common questions you’ve asked me about Makerspace. Whether you're an experienced STEM teacher or just getting started, I’m sharing tips on everything from managing materials to encouraging student collaboration. I’ll walk you through how I handle group projects, how students can "buy" supplies using a Makerspace menu, and creative ways to decide who gets to take projects home. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of...
Sep 16, 2024•14 min•Ep. 177
I’m sitting down with two incredible women in STEM, Kristie Reddick and Jessica Honaker—also known as The Bug Chicks ! These two amazing entomologists have a passion for bugs and an even bigger passion for teaching kids and educators how to use insects as a powerful learning tool. Kristie and Jessica share their fascinating journey from grad school to building a career that inspires others to see the beauty and importance of bugs in our world. We chat about everything from conquering fears to ma...
Sep 09, 2024•38 min•Ep. 176
Back to school night for STEM teachers and classroom teachers can look very different.Back to school night expectations for STEM teachers is different for each school. As a STEM teacher, what should you set up for back to school night? In today’s episode, I will be sharing 5 back to school night ideas that STEM teachers can incorporate into their classrooms. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode13 Download my ...
Sep 03, 2024•10 min•Ep. 175
How can you actually get it all done and keep track of everything as a STEM teacher? I'm sharing my tried-and-true systems and hacks to help you stay on top of your busy schedule as a STEM teacher. Balancing the demands of teaching, meetings, and other responsibilities can be overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your productivity and keep track of everything that needs to be done. From managing emails and using Google Calendar to setting timers for yourself and your stud...
Aug 26, 2024•14 min•Ep. 147
No matter how long you have been teaching, preparing for back to school is a lot of work. From setting up your classroom and figuring out systems and routines to attending back-to-school meetings and lesson planning for the first few weeks, it can feel overwhelming even for the seasoned teacher. With so much on your plate, what types of activities should you plan that will be meaningful to your students? In today's episode, I will share five STEM activities you can use in your K through Five STE...
Aug 19, 2024•15 min•Ep. 173
Today's episode is a special one! You'll be hearing a special episode from the podcast "Who Smarted" where they will chat about what causes ocean waves. This is an episode that you can listen with your students and own children. I highly recommend their show! Subscribe to their full show here: https://pod.link/1533462141 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments! TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tp...
Aug 14, 2024•15 min
In this episode, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips and strategies for gathering materials for your STEM classroom, no matter what kind of budget you’re working with. Whether you're starting the school year or need to replenish your supplies midway through, I’ve got you covered. From self-donations and tapping into your school community, to grant writing and borrowing materials, I’ll walk you through how to keep your STEM space stocked and ready for all your innovative projects. Head to the sh...
Aug 12, 2024•9 min•Ep. 172
In this episode, I share my top three essentials for setting up a successful K-5 STEM classroom. Drawing from my extensive experience in various STEM spaces, I discuss the importance of having a group meeting place, planning storage for student projects, and labeling materials for easy accessibility and independence. Whether you're reconfiguring your space or setting it up for the first time, these tips will help you set the stage for a productive and engaging STEM classroom. Head to the show no...
Aug 05, 2024•9 min•Ep. 171