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Hello STEM Spark readers! I’m excited for today’s post, as it’s STEM Spark’s first guest post! I have invited my friend and colleague H.A. Burns to pen the first guest post—Burns and I know each other through the Society of Women Engineers. Besides both being engineers, we’re both authors. While I write children’s picture books, Burns writes science fiction books. And her sci-fi books are pretty cool, imagining a future with cyborgs designed with the aid of viruses and bacter

I have learned that September 1 is Back To Hogwarts Day! If you're not in the know about the Harry Potter books, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the school attended by none other than Harry Potter himself. While I do adore the book series, I'm tame in Harry Potterhead fandom compared to others. But when one learns of Back To Hogwarts Day, it is hard not to have a tie-in to your blog regardless of your level of Potterheaded-ness. Also science is magic. So i

Okay, this STEM product review of magnetic building blocks (or as I call them, magnetic tiles) is the first product review here on STEM Spark, and quite frankly my first written review for the internets to read (yes, I know the proper name is Internet, but internets is kind of fun to say) . Generally, when people ask me if I like a toy or product, I respond with a "yeah, I like it", or "meh, it was okay", or "I didn't really like it". I haven't typically elaborated on why I

I believe there really is no age limitation when it comes to science experiments. You just have to put a little more thought into what would be safe for babies and toddlers. That’s why I really liked the rainbow explosion science experiment when a friend shared it with me; I was really excited to do baby’s first science experiment with my then 18 month old son! It's a good twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar science experiment. I explained to my son how the vinegar

Hello! Welcome to my new blog, STEM Spark! Thank you for virtually being a part of the launch for STEM Spark! I'm Suzie Olsen, engineer, author/writer, mother (of humans, not dragons), wife, lover of pun jokes, and so on. While I'm not new to the blog-o-sphere (https://momeezee.blogspot.com/), this blog is a new platform for me to focus on everything in my life that is science, technology, engineering, and math. Hence the STEM part in STEM Spark. I'll be writing about wh

With Arizona teachers walking out tomorrow, which I totally support!, you might find your kid at home and looking for something to do. Or maybe you're in a state where there is no walk out, but you'll need something to do this weekend. Enter Edible Starburst Slime-- the science experiment is sure to give your kids a sugar high and then a sugar crash, so let's call it a win? YOU'LL NEED: Starbursts Powdered Sugar Double Boiler Pot Non-Stick Cooking Mat if you have one Parent

Do you love math? Then count and color with Annie Aardvark in this free coloring sheet! Just click on Annie Aardvark below. #STEM #Free #womeninSTEM