botics club. And, just for girls, check out
Girls Who Code, which offers free after-
school programs for 3rd-12th grade girls.
4) Challenge her to teach herself.
Many online opportunities exist to help
your child boost her technology skills. For
example, she can learn to code on Code.
org and Tynker. She can create games
and animations at Scratch. She can build
a website using WordPress and upload
photos and videos. She can use the open-
source MIT App Inventor to create soft-
ware applications.
5) Read with your kids. Let books
open your kids’ eyes to new ideas and
fresh perspectives and introduce them to
unsung heroes/heroines and unfamiliar
places.
6) Tap into your personal and pro-
fessional network to connect your kids
with any STEM professionals you might
know. Invite them to dinner for a casual
chat over family dinner. Doing so gives
your kids a better understanding of ca-
reer possibilities, such as civil engineer,
computer programmer, architect, financial
planner, environmental scientist, or veteri-
narian.
7) Bring science to life with hands-
on family fun trips. Visit a planetarium,
arboretum, zoo, factory, science muse-
um, nature trail, or observatory. Explore
STEM concepts at work though hands-on
exhibits, demonstrations, and interac-
tive experiences. In nature, bring along
a notebook to record observations or
sketch pictures.
8) Encourage your child’s inter-
ests. Does she enjoy building model
rockets or playing with gears? Buy her a
science kit for her birthday. Does he love
to cook? Dig into the chemistry of cook-
ing by researching culinary-science ques-
tions, like why apples turn brown once
they’re cut.
9) Participate in school STEM
events. Your child’s school might hold
family math night, science fairs, or tech
nights. Make it a point to go together,
participate in activities, and ask questions
to help connect your child with STEM
concepts.
10) Create a “maker box.” Stock
your home with supplies that encourage
creativity, building, and invention. Some
ideas: small cardboard boxes and tubes,
PlayDoh, PVC plastic pipes and connec-
tors, LEGO’s, string, wooden building
blocks, Duct Tape, Lincoln Logs, pipe
cleaners, etc.
11) Assign her a tech role. If your
child has a knack for technology, ask her
to help you figure out your smartphone
or show you how to download photos to
your laptop. Dub her your family’s tech
guru to instill confidence!
12) Plant a garden. Get down and
dirty with your kids as they learn about
science and math from gardening. They
can calculate how big the garden plot
should be, measure the planting depth of
seeds, chart the growth of a tomato plant,
record the weekly rainfall, and predict
which plants will yield the most produce.
Talk about the life cycle of a plant, dis-
cuss photosynthesis, and identify parts of
a plant from seed to stem.
Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist and
copywriter. Her work has been published
in The New York Times, Eating Well, USA
Today Go Escape Florida & Caribbean,
Good Housekeeping, Parents, and doz-
ens more.
n iagara c hartEr s chool
A Choice for Parents, a Better Opportunity for Children
Niagara Charter School is a FREE
public school with an extended school
day and academic year. It is the only
charter school located in Niagara
County. Niagara Charter School offers
an engaging curriculum and a posi-
tive school environment that
supports all students. We serve
students in grades K-6 and pro-
vide them with the education
and skills needed to succeed in
the 21st century. Niagara Charter
School strives to prepare our stu-
dents with success now and for
the future!
Niagara
Charter
School is an EL Education
school. This model chal-
lenges students to think
critically and take active
roles in their class-
rooms and communi-
ties, resulting in higher
achievement and greater
engagement in school.
Our approach to curriculum makes
standards come alive for students by
connecting learning to real-world
issues and needs. Academically rigor-
ous learning expeditions inspire stu-
dents to think and work as profession-
als do. Our classrooms are alive with
discovery, inquiry, critical thinking,
problem-solving, and collaboration.
Learning is enhanced with multiple
opportunities for fieldwork and work
with local experts.
Applications are available online
at: www.niagaracharterschool.org
or you can call us for more informa-
tion. Apply before April 1, 2019 to be
included in the lottery for the 2019-
2020 school year. English-language
learners and students with disabilities
are encouraged to apply!
2077 Lockport Road
Niagara Falls, NY 14304
(716) 297-4520
www.NiagaraCharterSchool.org
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December 2018 WNY Family 27