International STEM Day
On November 8th, we unite to celebrate the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's a day to inspire students to get excited about STEM and the many career paths available in these fields.
Description & History
National STEM/STEAM Day was founded in 2015 by MGA Entertainment, with the intention of inspiring and encouraging students to be more involved in these fields of education, study and work. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics have historically been underrepresented by women and by minorities, so the day is especially targeted toward these groups of people.
In today’s world, STEM occupations account for approximately 7% of the jobs in the United States, and this is likely to continue to grow. In fact, these roles play an important part in the country’s ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace in fields like medical science, engineering, sociology, information security and more.
Professional Learning Resources
Cultivate Curiosity Creating Mechanical Computers & Circuits
An ALA eLearning session about building mechanical computers with students to ignite their curiosity.
Do The Bot: Librarians Using Robots to Impact Learning
An ALA eLearning session about using Spheros, Bee Bots, Dash, and Editson robots to support curriculum in the library.
STEM in the School Library: A Transdisciplinary Connectio
An ALA eLearning session about using Ozobots, Spheros, Microbits, Makey-makey, and Playground Express in the library.
Learner Engagement Resources
Scholastic’s STEM/STEAM Learning and Craft Activities
This user-friendly page contains a wide range of hands-on activities that are aimed at elementary-age students, but they can be adapted for older students.
The Show Me Librarian’s All Things STEAM
Public library leader, Amy Koester, has a long list of activities for children, videos and storytime programs that feature a STEAM activity.
dailySTEM’s Resources
STEM educator, Chris Woods, has a comprehensive list of activities to explore STEM topics that are free and cheap. He also has translations into Spanish and Arabic.
Book Lists
Best Stems Book List
Best Stems Book List from the Children’s Book Council - with links to annual book lists for 2017-2023 for additional titles.
Best STEM Books K-12 (Books published in 2023)
Best STEM Books K-12 (Books published in 2023) from National Science Teaching Association. List includes book covers and brief book blurbs.
Curated Thematic STEM Book Lists from STEMIE
Includes lists for specific identities, which is a great way to highlight contributions to STEM for many identities. Lists are linked in PDF format.
Our Favorite STEM Books for Students and Teachers
From Kid Spark Education - organized by grade bands, PK-8th grade. Also includes a STEM education booklist for teachers.
STEM Nonfiction Books
King County Library curated a list of nonfiction titles for teenagers. Check to see if you have these books to put in your display.
18 Awesome STEM Books That Make Science and Technology Fun for Kids
From Brightly - separated into book lists for ages 4-8 and 8-12.
