To celebrate, we’d like to share a few of our favorite memoirs, biographies and autobiographies.
I have always been a voracious reader. Getting lost in a good book is my favorite way to unwind and relax. If you looked at my bookshelf, you would see a very eclectic mix of sci-fi, fantasy, who-done-its, romantic comedy, YA novels and everything in between. It is a strange and wonderful mix of storytelling. The perfect place to get lost when I need to. Most of the time when I settle in for a long read, I reach for fiction. Something far removed from reality. However, I do occasionally crave a bit of inspiration from real-life stories.
I’ll admit it – I love a good memoir. I enjoy the personal approach to storytelling. A memoir helps me reflect on my own life and provides insight and perspective into the lives of others. A good memoir is a story of hope, grit, sacrifice, passion and perseverance.
Currently I am reading three very different memoirs. Each one gives a peek into the lives of some amazing people.
Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, by Sylvia Acevedo. She tells the story of how Girl Scouts changed her life and led her on a path to become a rocket scientist at NASA and the former CEO of Girl Scouts. As a former girl scout myself, I’m enjoying her amazing story and her easy storytelling style.
Bell Labs Memoirs: Voices of Innovation, byMichael Geselowitz, et.al. This book is a series of twelve stories about individuals who were part of the innovative spirit of Bell Labs from the 1950s through the 1970s. It’s interesting to me because of my family connection with the telecommunications industry. Both my husband and I were the last of three generations who worked in telecommunications. It is cool to see how the industry grew and hear from some of the people who made it happen.
InnovateHERs by Barbara Kurshan and Kathy Hurley. This is less a memoir and more of a collection of interviews. Kurshan and Hurley interviewed 29 women entrepreneurs and put their stories together in this book. I enjoy picking it up and reading one when I need a bit of insight and inspiration.
To supplement my list of favorites, I asked the NIU STEAM Team (past and current) about their favorite memoirs and this is what they shared:
The Girl Who Thought in Picturesby Julia Finley Mosca, shared by Stephanie Dietrich. “The picture book version of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca is one of my favorite books to share with kids to inspire them to use their uniqueness to create positive, impactful change.”
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, shared by Kerri Sosnowski, is a moving, often disturbing, look into the life of a woman whose childhood was shaped by alcoholism and homelessness. “This memoir helped frame my perspective on those issues with a better understanding of how children can survive and eventually thrive despite so many obstacles and challenges.”
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, shared by Judy Dymond. “It is an inspiring story for youth that illustrates how one young person made a difference in his community. Everyone has the power to make a difference in our greater community.”
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Raceby Margot Lee, shared by Judy Dymond. “This story is awe inspiring! We need to recognize the talents of those around us. STEAM fields are important to solving the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Educated by Tara Westover, shared by Debbie Kerman, is a moving story of perseverance in the pursuit of your own dreams rather than limiting yourself to following someone else’s plans for your future. “It also reminds us that it’s never too late to do the things you want to do.”
Memories of a Theoretical Physicist, a biographical memoir by Joseph Polchinski, shared by Jack Kraus, is an excellent and inspiring read. “The author does a great job at illustrating the beautiful and rewarding creative process behind the physics he mastered over the course of his life.”
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspirationby Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace, shared by Hal Brynteson. “I enjoyed seeing how Pixar grew into what it is today. Interesting look at the power of creativity.”
Breakthroughby Jack Andraka, shared by Hal Brynteson. “I read it years ago when I was in high school. I remember it having an impact. It was a taste of what scientific research is from the high school perspective.”
Gifted Hands by Ben Carson, shared by Grace Wilson Biokoro, is an inspiring autobiography about a neurosurgeon whose life story inspires people of all ages to cultivate a culture of learning, studying and tenacity. “Anyone, no matter how disadvantaged, impoverished or deprived, has the potential to succeed.”
If you notice any glowing streaks shooting across the night sky over the next couple weeks, there’s no need to worry! The sky isn’t falling – it’s just time once again for the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.
The Perseids peak every year in mid-August, as the earth passes through debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. Comets are prolific litterbugs, and they leave a trail of ice and rock behind them as they travel through their orbits around the sun. If the Earth’s orbit happens to intersect with that trail of debris, we get quite a show as those leftover chunks burn up in our atmosphere.
That’s why our annual meteor showers always occur at the same time each year. Those are the points in our orbit where we cross paths with another celestial object’s orbit. While there are several annual meteor showers throughout the year, the Perseids are one of the most consistently impressive. With up to 100 meteors per hour on a good night, and generally pleasant observing weather, the Perseids provide some of the best meteor views of the year.
To watch a meteor shower you don’t need a telescope, or any other special equipment. In fact, the best equipment available is a clear sky and comfy blanket to lie on. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, though their tails will always point back towards the constellation Perseus – because that is the direction the earth is moving through the debris field. So the best way to observe them is to find a nice clear area with a good view of the sky, and to lie back so you can see as much of the sky as possible. The Perseids are scheduled to peak on August 12, though meteors can still be seen a week or so before and after the peak. If you’re very lucky, you might even spot a great green fireball as a larger meteor heats up the air, causing it glow at it streaks through!
So, if you’ve got a stack of wishes just waiting for some falling stars, keep your eyes on the skies, and you just may get your wish.
Parents and educators alike are always focused on how to get our kids ready for their futures. We grapple with the question – how do we build the skills they need to be successful in whatever career path or life path they decide to take? This is a serious question that requires serious action. However, sometimes we let the seriousness of this question overshadow the fact that fun can be a key part of serious learning experiences. This is especially true in those middle school years when our kids are stuck between the innocent exploration of childhood and the growing responsibilities of becoming a young adult. Here at NIU STEAM, we do not believe that fun and career preparation need to be separate. In fact, they go hand-in-hand. One of the best ways to build future-ready skills is through fun experiences that keep kids motivated and wanting to come back for more.
So, what does it mean to be ready for the future? Educators and experts across the state of Illinois have done extensive work on the subject of College and Career Readiness and have identified a list of skills that are essential to success no matter the field, industry or career path. These Cross-Sector Employability Skills, or simply Essential Skills, are commonly referred to as “soft-skills” and include competencies in teamwork, communication and problem solving. You can read the full list of Essential Skills here, and what you see on the list should not be surprising. The challenge is not in identifying these skills but in building these skills in our students. Even with our youngest students.
How do we help students build these skills – knowing that kids want to be kids? They want to have fun! (OK, adults want to have fun, too, but that is a different blog post.) What motivates our kids to learn and be successful might be different than what motivates us as adults. Many kids are in it for the fun. The joy. The exploration and discovery. For some reason someone decided that college and career prep can’t be fun. That these are serious topics that require a serious learning environment. So they are many times kept separate. We feel doing so is a disservice to the students we are trying to help prepare for their futures. At NIU STEAM, we recognize the fact that kids want to explore and try things and have fun doing it. We know that serious learning can also be serious fun. Our summer camps are designed to create a fun, exciting, exploratory environment while also giving campers the opportunity to those essential skills.
Let’s look at our middle school camps for some examples.
Camper will build teamwork, problem solving, decision making, and adaptability in the Role Playing Games Camp (July 17 – 22). Anyone who has ever played a role playing game such as Dungeons & Dragons knows that to survive the quest and vanquish the big bad, you must have a good questing party who works together to solve each problem (or troll) that comes your way. You must have a good team. The skills you use to succeed in your quest are the same skills you need to succeed in life. Why not practice them while immersed in a grand adventure?
The Exploring Drones Camp(July 17 – 22) can be a great place to explore possible careers with drones but it is also an opportunity to practice planning and organization, critical thinking and problem solving as campers design, build and navigate an obstacle course.
Those are just two of the many examples of how our NIU STEAM camps provide a fun and engaging experience while at the same time build student’s future ready skills. So, do we call our middle school camps college and career preparation camps? No. Are they? Absolutely!
The experiences our campers have will help them develop the skills that they need to be successful in their future. At camp, as they get their hands dirty and explore new ideas, they’ll also be working together in teams, solving problems, planning and organizing their thoughts and ideas – all while having fun. Our goal is to give each kid a camp experience that will help them be future ready and motivate them to keep learning and keep exploring.
On Monday, June 20th, NIU STEAM camps will take time to honor Juneteenth, a day set aside to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. While the holiday dates back to 1865, it’s gained recognition since 2021 when President Joe Biden established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. With education and self-development being a common theme across many Juneteenth celebrations, the holiday offers great opportunity to learn about African American history and culture and to encourage an appreciation for all cultures.
Below are some ideas for families to take part in the celebration.
Read and research– NIU professor and subject specialist librarian Robert Ridinger curated a Junteenth Reading Listto help people learn about Juneteenth through literature.
Plan a celebration with family and friends – Food and clothing have traditionally been important elements of Juneteenth celebrations. Historically, families and friends gathered and shared meals created in honor of this special occasion. Host a Juneteenth celebration and invite friends and family to prepare a special dish to share. Plan some activities synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations to entertain one another and carry on some of the traditions that date back to the earliest celebrations.
Join a local celebration – Juneteenth Community Celebration, in collaboration with NIU’s Center for Black Studies will take place at Hopkins Park in DeKalb on Sunday, June 19 from noon-4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Celebrate in Chicago with cultural events, popup markets, picnics and more. Check out the range of Chicago celebrations here.
And here are links to some of the celebrations happening around northern Illinois!
Whether this holiday is new to you or you’ve been celebrating for years, everyone can pause and reflect on the importance of this day and celebrate the hope it brings.
At NIU STEAM, we love to engage our campers using the outdoors as a hands-on classroom! This July, we’ll be taking our middle-school campers out to NIU’s Lorado Taft Field Campus near Oregon, IL, for camps centered on drones, the science of food and role-playing games.
To start with, here’s a little history of the Lorado Taft Campus.
NIU has been providing residential outdoor education experiences at Lorado Taft since 1954. The field campus is located near Oregon, IL, on the bluffs of the Rock River and on more than 140 acres of forested land. In addition to the many woods and trails, our campers enjoy the large gulley crossing campus, fields, rock outcrops, flowers, wildlife, and – of course – the beautiful view of the Rock River. Campers at Lorado Taft stay in climate-controlled dormitories with bathroom and private shower facilities in the buildings. More information about the facilities can be found at: https://www.niu.edu/taft/facilities/index.shtml.
What about the food?
If you’re wondering about the food, our Lorado Taft campus is well-known for delicious, home-cooked food served family style. Our cinnamon rolls are famous! The dining hall is peanut/tree nut free and – with advance notice – the staff at Lorado Taft can accommodate most special dietary needs.
Tell us about Drone Camp!
Campers who choose our Exploring Drones session will become experts as they practice their drone flying skills and drone terminology, as as they engage in a game of drone Simon Says. They’ll also investigate the difference between passive programming (which involves coding your drone to carry out a set of predetermined actions, without any interaction from the environment) and active programming (in which your drone is coded to observe its environment and perform actions based on its observations). Finally, campers will learn to take video with their drones and then use some basic editing software to create a short movie, documentary or other media of their choosing.
What about Role Playing Game Camp?
Campers in the Role Playing Game camp will use their creativity and imagination to overcome challenges and create interesting stories. They’ll imagine, design and 3D print their own character mini and then design a dice box to store and transport their dice and character. Throughout the week, campers will practice storytelling and improvisation while engaging in quests with fellow campers.
What’s The Science of Food all about?
At NIU STEAM’s Science of Food camp, campers will conduct lab investigations to learn about the science behind the foods we eat. For example, what causes something like “enzymatic browning,” a process that occurs on foods like an apple, once it’s been cut open? How does this browning process impact some foods, and are there ways to prevent it? Campers will also investigate how much added sugar they’re consuming in the sugary drinks and how those add extra calories while offering no nutrients or fiber. They will even get an opportunity to make their own fresh fruit drink!
Camp registration is open now!
If you have a student entering grades 6-9, register today for one of these interactive camps on the beautiful campus of Lorado Taft. We’ll participate in night hikes and tell stories around the campfire. We’ll also take advantage of the super dark skies for stargazing. Campers will be amazed at the difference in the skies as we head out just west of DeKalb. NIU STEAM will provide transportation to Lorado Taft, from the DeKalb campus and will return campers to DeKalb on Friday for family presentations and pick up.
To learn more about these and other NIU STEAM camps, visit niusteamcamps.com.
National Creativity Day is coming up on May 30. To celebrate, we’d like to introduce you to one of our creative STEAM instructors, Becky Griffith.
How did you become interested in studying art?
I have always been interested in art, even at a young age. I can always recall a time when I was making something: coloring, sewing doll clothes, making sculptures out of anything I could find. In middle school, I was the only student to join art club. I felt freedom and support to explore my creativity through material and accessibility. I have held that passion to explore throughout my life and gained a better understanding of who I am and my own personal narrative.
What are some of the skills, knowledge and education needed for a career in art?
The biggest skills that are needed in an art career are the ability to dive into a project and the resilience to try again if your art does not come out the way you wanted. Technical skills can be mastered through making.
Why is it important for students to learn about art?
Art is an amazing form of communication. Developing the skills to be able to visually conceptualize their work in STEAM areas creates a foundation for better understanding.
What are some things you really enjoy about your role as a STEAM educator?
I love being able to root my lessons in other content areas, connecting science, technology, engineering, and math. Teaching art through this lens also enhances my own personal understanding of other content areas. I also love being able to share the messy projects with students, allowing for an authentic and playful way to explore.
As a STEAM educator, what are some ways you’ve been able to help students better connect with and explore their own imagination and creative abilities?
By incorporating and utilizing my knowledge and skills in art into my lessons, students can expand on their curiosity and learning. It is exciting to see the excitement when students can understand concepts while working with art materials they may not seek out on their own.
What advice would you give to students interested in studying and working in an art field?
Do it! Make art and share your art. There is an amazing community waiting to support your creativity.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend time with my family, friends, and my cat! I participate in my own artistic practices, go to antique and thrift stores, and watch scary movies.
National Creativity Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation while problem solving, is celebrated each year on May 30. Why do you feel it’s important to emphasize creativity and innovation in problem solving? How do you incorporate this into your work with students and teachers?
It’s important to celebrate creativity because sometimes people forget to foster their own creativity. I feel that when we engage in creative and hands-on activities, we not only increase our happiness, but can solidify problem-solving skills, resilience and an inquisitive mind.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Actually, it was the late 1970s in northern Illinois.
I sat in a packed theater and discovered a galaxy that unlocked a life-long love of science, engineering and storytelling. I remember how the entire theater booed when Darth Vader first appeared on screen and how we cheered when Luke’s proton torpedoes hit their mark and destroyed the Death Star. Every second of the 121-minute movie was amazing!
After that my life was not the same. Forget being a princess trapped in a tower waiting to be saved by a prince. I wanted to be a space princess who flew around the galaxy fighting for the rebellion. Every day at recess, my friends and I became Luke, Han, Leia and Chewy. We saved the galaxy time and time again. My Star Wars story is not unique. Like many kids from my generation, Star Wars was a huge part of my childhood. It was also the main reason I was fascinated by space, technology and the magic of movies.
Fast forward twenty-five years and I saw it happen again with my own kids. The Clone Wars introduced them to the Star Wars Galaxy, and they became just as obsessed as I was, if not more so. Like any good nerd mom, I used Star Wars to spark real-world curiosity in my little padawans. We designed our own spaceships and traveled to distant planets far, far away. I like to think that because of that, they both grew up with a love of sci-fi and a passion for real-world STEAM.
Every year, on May the 4th, Star Wars Fans young and old collectively celebrate all things Star Wars. It is a day filled with nostalgia, Star Wars puns and a shared love of the universe. This is also the perfect day to use the stories, ideas and concepts from that universe to inspire your students to explore STEAM.
Here are just a few ideas to launch your saga.
World Building – One of the best parts of the Star Wars universe is exploring the vast number of planets and intergalactic species. From the deserts of Tatooine and the frozen landscape of Hoth, to the technology encrusted city-planet of Coruscant or the lush forest moon of Endor, each planet has unique ecosystems, biological and technological inhabitants, cultures and histories. With some research and imagination, students can add to the universe by creating a world of their own. Have them describe the global climate and the various species that call it home. They can create 2D or 3D models of the planet and various regions or create maps of the planet’s surface. For a writing activity, they can discuss how their planet is similar to or different from the planets in our solar system.
Ship Building – Every Star Wars fan, young or old, has a favorite ship. I dreamt of piloting the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field while my kids wanted to speed through the desert in a pod racer or defend the galaxy in a Jedi starfighter. Some ships were symbols of hope while others struck fear into the hearts of rebels everywhere. Students can explore science and engineering concepts by designing a ship that would be the envy of every galactic pilot. You don’t have to limit it to just space crafts. There is a huge variety of transportation technology found in the Star Wars stories. How would they get around on or get off of their new planet?
Droid Design – I can’t talk about the wonders and charm of Star Wars without mentioning the droids, the self-aware robotic companions and helpers found in every corner of the Star Wars Galaxy. The droids in Star Wars come in every shape and size and serve a wide variety of purposes. Exploring the use of droids is a fun way to dig into robotics and artificial intelligence her on Earth. Have your students research the types and classes of droids found in Star Wars. What purpose did they serve? What were the main features of the droids and how did it help them do their job? Students can compare the droids of Star Wars to the robots we see in the world around us today. Have them discuss if we have any robots today that could be considered Droids. One of our favorite lessons here at NIU STEAM is the Build a Bot activity. In this activity, students are given a task (clean the house, take care of the yard, etc.) and asked to design a helper robot. Change the challenge from designing a helper bot for today to designing the droid of the future and see how their ideas soar.
Make Movie Magic – Let’s step outside of the Star Wars universe and look instead at the movie magic that brought the stories to life. Many of the practical and digital special effects that are commonplace today exist because of the cutting-edge imagination of George Lucas and his team. Not to mention how John Williams controlled our emotions with every note of his amazing musical score. The visuals, sound and music were completely out of this world! Take some time with your students to watch and discuss the behind-the-scenes footage of the first trilogy. How did they make the spaceships fly or the tauntuans run? Compare the practical effects in the original with the digital effects in the newest movies and shows. Most importantly, let your students create their own movie magic and bring their stories to life with stop-motion animation, digital special effects, sound engineering and their own original musical score. They can experience firsthand how science, engineering, technology and art can make magic happen. Here at NIU STEAM, we have two camps that explore the science and art of media: the Visual Effects camps for middle-school and high-school students and Creative Media camp for middle schoolers. These might be the perfect summer experiences for your future artists, engineers and storytellers.
So, this May 4th, celebrate Star Wars Day with some STEAM fun. These are just a few ways you can celebrate Star Wars Day and ignite in your students a passion for STEAM and hope for our future. May the Force be with you.
Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to begin planting flowers. A fun and simple diy project is making wildflower seed bombs. These can make great gifts, too!
Wildflower Seed Bombs
Materials needed:
2 small bins or bowls
Metal Strainer
Spoon
Wildflower seeds
Egg carton
Paper pulp
Shredded newspaper
Water
Blender (The consistency of the paper can dull the blender’s blades, so it’s best to use an old blender for this work if you have one.)
Begin by making your paper pulp. Shred several sheets of newspaper and place them in a blender with approximately 1 cup of water. (Note: If you begin with too much water, you’ll need to add more paper to achieve the proper consistency.) Use the blender to mix the paper and water to reach a soup-like consistency. The paper should be wet and squishy, but more solid-like than liquid. Dump your paper pulp into one of your small bins.
Once you’ve made your pulp, you’re ready to create your seed bombs. Set out your empty bin next to your bin filled with pulp and place your strainer on top of the empty bin. Grab a handful of pulp and place it on top of the strainer. Press down on the pulp to squeeze some of the excess water into the bin below.
Use a spoon to scoop out some wildflower seeds and place them on top of the paper pulp. Then, scoop out another handful of pulp and cover the seeds with the pulp. Press down on the pulp to press out excess water. Use your hands to squeeze out additional water and shape into a ball. If you see any exposed seeds in your ball, use some additional pulp to cover the seeds. Place the paper pulp in an egg carton to dry.
To plant your seed bombs, select a clear area that gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Scatter the bombs on moist soil and water the area immediately. Continue regularly watering the area as it begins to grow.
These make great gifts for Mother’s Day or Teacher Appreciation Day. Just place in a clear bag, secure with a ribbon and add a card. You can include planting and watering instructions on your card.
Chris Hill Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biomechanics and Neuromotor Control NIU Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
What is Biomechanics and how does it impact us in our everyday lives?
Biomechanics is applying our knowledge of motion derived from physics to a living system, like the human body. This field makes substantial contributions to medicine and health, human and animal movement and performance, and prosthetics. Many aspects of our daily lives interact with or are informed by biomechanics. We see biomechanics at work in sidewalks we walk on, cars we drive and how our phones are designed.
What are some of the different concepts and content students learn about when they study biomechanics?
Students learn primarily about kinematics (i.e. how the body moves) and kinetics (i.e. what causes our body to move). We look at these two concepts in a variety of settings. For instance, we can evaluate what makes some athletes jump higher than others or we can see how shoes influence how fast you run. Moreover, we can also use this knowledge to help people rehab from injury or disease.
What interested you in studying biomechanics?
I was drawn to biomechanics because it allowed me to pursue science, but not lose that direct connection with people. Biomechanics itself is a human-driven science. It is about improving the lives and performance of human beings directly. That is a powerful motivator for those interested in human flourishing.
What are some of the different careers students who study biomechanics go on to work in?
There are a lot of avenues you can purse in the field of biomechanics. For instance, you can work in athletic performance, helping athletes reach their highest potential. You could work for Nike and design shoes for high caliber athletes. You can also work with patients suffering from injury and disease and help them rehab back to normal life. Experts in biomechanics can also work on movie sets doing motion capture for big budget films. And a personal favorite of mine is that you can work with pets, like dogs and horses, and help them get better!
What’s something you’d like all people to know about biomechanics?
Biomechanics is a field that hasn’t gotten a lot attention and is not as well known. However, from the shoes that you wear daily to the athletes you watch on television, the study of biomechanics had a hand in giving you that product or experience. Importantly, biomechanics helps people, and it improves their quality of life.
