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10 Holiday Gifts for Future Scientists

Melissa Jurist, director of K-12 education in the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware, gets emails every year asking her what they should get their STEM-loving kids for the holidays.

Spanning multiple price-points, here are some of Jurist's most popular gift recommendations for the pint-sized scientist in your life.

Most items can be purchased from American Science & Surplus (http://bit.ly/2gCMqEo) or Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/2eZxUFo).

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On Nov 28, 2016
1

Explore physics with prisms (about $10)

Who knew that light has so many colors?  Recommended ages: 4-6.

2

Explore the physical world with a gyroscope (about $8)

Sure, it seems like a toy, but it’s also the foundation for lots of navigational components.  Recommended ages: 7-12.

3

Explore life sciences with a stethoscope (about $7)

Fido, get ready to have your heart rate checked. Recommended ages: 4-6.

4

Explore “making” with balsa ($2-20)

Challenge yourselves to build the tallest structure that will hold 5 pounds with balsa, glue guns and/or straight pins, then add weight until the structure breaks.  Nothing is more fun than destruction. Recommended ages: 7-12.

5

Explore chemical engineering with litmus paper (about $3)

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You’ll know this is a fun gift when your child dips it into almost everything to figure out what’s an acid and what’s a base. (Try shampoos, vinegar, milk…) Recommended ages: 7-12.

6

Explore life sciences with owl pellets (about $4 for two)

Nothing gets kids more interested in STEM than the disgusting. Visit a raptor rescue or local zoo to give context to the pellets and lives of owls. Recommended ages: 4-6.

7

Explore physical science with magnets (about $9)

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Test various household objects to see what’s attractive, or try out the activity above! Recommended ages: 4-6.

8

Get your math on with Fractiles (about $12)

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Fractals exist in nature, art and math. (Yes, they all overlap). Recommended ages: 4-6.

9

Explore “making” with a hammer or tools ($15-40)

Build with scrap wood, sticks, and a hammer and nails/fasteners (and safety goggles). In a few years, maybe they’ll build you an addition.

10

Explore technology with Arduino and Raspberry Pi (about $50)

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“Makers” and “tinkerers” alike love these, and there is a huge online community to help you do almost anything with them, including creating a holiday light show or building a robot. Recommended ages: 12 and up.

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