February is Black History Month, so this month’s book features “Hidden Figures,” written by Margot Lee Shetterly. The inspiring story is about four black women who helped NASA launch men to space. They overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career. The picture book version was illustrated by Laura Freeman....
This project was inspired by Boxitects, written and illustrated by Kim Smith. Boxitects is a picture book about a young brilliant Boxitect named Meg who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes, with a twist: learning to work with others. In this activity, we will be creating from this prompt inspired by the book:...
Use upcycled materials to create a wind turbine tower! This project was inspired by “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," the story of how a boy named William Kamkwamba came together with his friends to create windmills that harnessed energy for his village in Malawi. William tinkered with junk collected from a junkyard and some...
Use upcycled materials to create finger puppets and tell a story! This project was inspired by Zonia's Rain Forest, written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. Zonia’s Rain Forest is the story of an Asháninka girl named Zonia who lives in the Amazon Rainforests of Peru. We follow her adventures through the forest as she encounters...
We’ve created an activity guide on making stenopeic glasses out of recycled materials! This project was inspired by Patricia's Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight, written by Michelle Lord, and illustrated by Alleanna Harris. Patricia’s Vision is the story of the brave Dr. Patricia Bath, an African-American ophthalmologist, inventor, humanitarian and academic who dedicated her...
Let's have an International Kite Festival at home! We’ve created an activity guide on making a kite from recycled materials! This project was inspired by Farmer Falgu Goes Kite Flying, written by Chitra Soundar, and illustrated by Kanika Nair. Farmer Falgu Goes Kite Flying by #ChitraSoundar captures the vibrant Indian International Kite Festival. The colorful illustration is...
We’ve created an activity guide on creating stoplight-inspired door signs! This project was inspired by The Unstoppable Garrett Morgan written by Joan DiCicco, and illustrated by Ebony Glenn. A tale of heroism and inventiveness, Garrett Morgan invented the Safety Hood that firefighters and wartime heroes adapted for use to this day. And if you rode...
We’ve created an activity guide on prototyping transportation vessels! This project was inspired by Rosie Revere, Engineer, written by Andrea Beaty, and illustrated by David Roberts. Rosie Revere, Engineer is a story of a young girl who dreams of becoming an engineer. We can all take a lesson from Rosie to realize that dreams, professions,...
We’ve created an activity guide on making a fun, recycled Super-Soaker to get you through the heat this summer! This project was inspired by Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate. This book is full of engaging images as we journey with Lonnie from learning how...
We’ve created an activity guide on making a gadget to help your senses! This project was inspired by Ada Twist Scientist, written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. Ada Twist is like many young tinkerers we know: inventive, resilient, and very, very curious. She may get herself into trouble sometimes, from drawing diagrams...