178. Getting Kids to Think

4/11/2025

Claire is in survival mode as she juggles multiple big STEM projects, including a weather balloon launch to the stratosphere! We also chat about something we’ve both noticed in our classrooms: how students don’t know how to think through a problem. Instead of pausing to figure things out, they immediately ask for help. So in this episode, we’re talking about ways to encourage our students to slow down, think critically, and build those problem-solving muscles.

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Check out our full unedited video above or the edited audio of the podcast episode for the highlights of our conversation below!

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

• 122. How to Motivate Students

• 119. Think Like A Scientist (mystery box)

• 105. Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

• Top 10 STEM Activities for Spring

• Weather Balloon

• 7 Ideas for Teaching Social Studies with STEM

• Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM

• Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

• Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM

Vivify STEM Lessons

• Plant Device (Botany STEM Challenge)

• Weather Balloon Project Guide

• STEM Explorers: Ancient Egypt Chariot Challenge or Chile Solar Car Challenge

• Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars

• Straw Rocket STEM Challenge - K-3 or 4-10

• Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit

• Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM

Other STEM Resources

• TikTok | Weather Balloon and STEM Explorers (ft. Chariot Challenge)

• Instagram | STEM Explorers (ft. Chariot Challenge) and Weather Balloon

• YouTube | Weather Balloon

• Rosie Revere, Engineer book

• More Vivify Recommended STEM Books

• Rube Goldberg Contests

• Teacher Talk: STEM Career Chats (YouTube playlist)

• Email us your questions!

Students work on a Weather Balloon project

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