You want the kids in your care to grow up smart and happy. One way to ward off the pernicious impact of social media is by introducing girls to the wonders of science and the joys of hands-on discovery. Say hello to GirlCratery!
Here’s your brain on science: an adult human has around 7 Octillion atoms!! And if you travel at the speed of light, your mass is infinite, so that’s impossible, unless you circumvent the problem by traveling at ‘warp’, which may also be impossible, but hasn’t yet stopped scientists at NASA from trying!
In the meantime, just for giggles, try overloading your diet with carrots. Your skin will turn orange!
Here’s your brain on social media: OMG, Justin Bieber’s getting married?! That girl looks fat. Oh, wait, is that how I look? Am I fat, too?
To inspire and empower girls to finish challenging projects on their own, GirlCratery has released a hands-on and project-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activity kit - by providing them with both inspirational gadgets and the tools/materials needed to build their own projects. The kit is developed in collaboration with Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways.
You can learn more at https://www.girlcratery.org
Designed for children between the ages of 5-11, GirlCratery’s subscription box contains a scribble bot and catapult self-making kit projects, a light-up gyro wheel and LED bracelet, an invisible pen, and a bendable fidget spinner. Each bundle contains themed stickers and a fun patch, just like all of GirlCratery's boxes, and is tested with real girls in the target age group first.
Despite advances made over the last several decades, women hold less than a quarter of STEM-related jobs in the U.S. - and the reasons for that are many, but may begin in childhood. Nationally, middle school girls perform equally well in math and science - and are equally likely to enroll in high school math and science courses. According to a recent Girl Scouts of America survey, however, parental, teacher, and friend support is especially important for girls to pursue their interests in STEM careers. In another study, conducted by Microsoft, girls also mentioned a lack of female role models in STEM as a major reason they did not pursue careers in the field - a finding confirmed elsewhere.
The Gadgets and Gizmos Crate allows your girl to play while creating projects that help to spike their curiosity and hone their analytical skills. For example, creating Art Bots or Scribble Bots can encourage their sense of exploration and hands-on learning. This straightforward variation from GirlCratery employs pens fastened around a pot and a little motor. The arm spins, moving the Scribble Bot, which may then be instructed to draw a dotted line, for instance. Potential variations are numerous and kids can re-design, test, and improve their ideas.
Catapults, another DIY project included in the kit, are a common STEAM challenge for children - and an excellent way to learn about energy, gravity, and Newton's Laws of Motion. Other GirlCratery boxes include the Camping Crate, the Crafty Crate, the Road Trip Crate, and several more.
The purpose of GirlCratery is to give your girl the resources and teach them the fundamental concepts they need to explore their imaginations and the outside world, either independently or in collaboration with friends, siblings, parents, or other adults.
The difference between STEM and STEAM is the addition of 'arts'. The interconnectedness of disciplines. So, let's say your girl is fascinated by history. Or wants to join the military. Well, she might want to know how exactly the Greeks invented the catapult in 400 BC! And with this kit, she can learn by doing!
Go to https://www.girlcratery.org and see for yourself all the crates available and sign up for a subscription today knowing some new and interesting kit will be sent to you every month. You won't have to worry about your girl's education and playtime so much - and finally, you can catch up on all the social media posting you're dying to do!
