November 8th marks a very special day here at Teknikio. Why, you may ask? Because it’s National STEM day! 

National STEM day celebrates all things Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It also celebrates curiosity, as this is oftentimes the starting point for individuals to venture into STEM-related activities to find answers to their burning questions. 

Why is it so important? A career in STEM is the leading occupation, projected to grow two folds faster than any other occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is why it is important for kids to engage in STEM early on, as it can lead to promising careers later on, especially for women. Currently, women make up only 27% of the STEM workforce, which creates a huge gender gap in the strongest and highest paid jobs. 

Here at Teknikio, we like to encourage STEM education for all students regardless of gender. And in light of our favorite national day, we wanted to share 5 different simple activities where you can incorporate STEM to spice it up!

5 Ways to STEM using Teknikio Features:

It doesn’t take much to start a STEM project. You can apply electronics and technology to simple things, even if all you have is just a piece of paper. Take origami, for example. Can you imagine having your origami creatures move around on your desk? With Teknikio’s Activating Origami Set, you can bring your handmade origami creatures to life! 

Who says you can’t apply STEM to fashion? If you have basic sewing skills (or even if you don’t!), there are several projects you can do at home where you can create fashion wear using electronics. You can check out Teknikio’s website for some step-by-step tutorials on the different items you can build, such as a fancy Diamond Necklace that lights up when you wear it!

I think it’s safe to say that most people like some type of music to groove to (we know we personally love tunes that make us want to get up and dance!) You can get creative by combining both technology and music, such as the Glow Guitar, where you can build your own guitar that helps you learn how to play! 

Who doesn’t love the Internet? It’s our gateway to information, networking, you can find the answer to almost any of your burning questions. Internet of Things (IoT) is pivotal to STEM as it  can allow us to be interconnected to exchange information and communicate in real time. You can take a look at our very own IoT ecosystem, Tekniverse, where you can create an end-to-end IoT program or build any one of the projects listed on our inventions database.

With holidays just around the corner, you might be wondering what gifts you want to buy for some of your family members, or even for yourself! Holiday gifts and decorations are some great and simple DIY project ideas where you can integrate STEM. We personally love making Shivers the Penguin, which uses eco-felt pieces and reusable electronic components to create a shivering penguin!