STEM gifts for MS/HS students

[Anonymous]

My sciencey kid LOVED her little plastic microscope! She used to bring it to the dinner table and examine bits of food

+1 to the Mary Roach suggestion. Lots of teens are into forensic everything thanks to all the crime shows, so maybe start with Stiff. Or for a more space-loving kid, Packing for Mars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Roach books or other books that talk about science concepts in fun ways

The Martian is a great book — fiction but it’s all science concepts

For MS kids some of the snap circuit kids where you can build things like an alarm for your room

Membership to Baltimore science museum for MS kids

Scuba certification course for older kids

Gift certificate to micro center for kids that build their own computers and are constantly upgrading them

Baltimore science museum currently has a Groupon for a year of membership. If you have more than 4 people in your family you can add them on for a pretty reasonable price. That said, I feel like the science center is great for elementary aged kids (definitely take your upper ES kids to do the science experiments and the maker space in the top floor). But my middle school kid is starting to feel like she’s outgrowing some of the museum.

I still buy it when the Groupon comes out. My kids are now 18 and 15. We don’t go to Baltimore anymore but it’s great when we’re visiting other cities (college visits). Makes for a fun afternoon wherever we are.

I think if your kids went a lot as ES than they may be bored with it as MS but if they haven’t been before I think it would still be a lot of fun for a MS kid. I think it’s a lot of fun, honestly.

[Anonymous]

EleCrow.com, which mainly seems to be an electronics manufacturer, also has several STEM kits and also some add-on electronic components. Might need to browse a bit to find the kits.

They also sell on Amazon.com, where various kits have online reviews.

[Anonymous]

I got a soldering kit for my nephew and it’s been handy.

[Anonymous]

For 16+, if they have the interest and you have the money and space, old car to fix up and drive. Two in my family did this. They learned so much. And yes, the skills transfer beyond auto for those who are interested in learning and applying.

[Anonymous]

I got mine tickets to see Don McMillian. Neil deGrasse Tyson is also touring.