Teach Beside Me

Educate Creatively- Hands-on teaching ideas

Counting Hands-On Learning Math Play Preschool Printable Spring Summer

Summer Math: Flower Counting Activity

I have a fun summer math activity for you today. This Flower Counting Activity can be used in a variety of ways to help kids work on counting, number recognition and even addition!  Plus, it's just plain adorable, isn't it? This would be great for a spring or summer themed day.   In the summer, we like to keep up our learning a little with a few basic learning activities each day. We do this in the morning before my kids run off to play with neighbors.  Math and reading skills are ... continue reading...

craft Engineering Hands-On Learning Science STEM

Three Little Pigs STEM Project for Kids

My kids and I have loved doing different Fairy Tale STEM projects over the years. Today I have a Three Little Pigs STEM project. I've had this idea in my head for a long time and am excited to finally do it!  We had such a blast with this engineering activity. I made a little set of Three Little Pigs printable figures that you can use to add a little extra fun and imagination into this activity. My youngest loved this.  She played with her houses for a long time re-enacting the story with ... continue reading...

Art craft Hands-On Learning Play Science Sensory Summer Toys tutorial

Homemade Paintball Bombs (Science + Art)

This is a little science art project that I dreamed up but wasn't really sure if it would work. After our experiment with turning juice into a solid, my mind started reeling with other possibilities! So, this is the result, Homemade Paintball Bombs!  They worked and they are pretty darn awesome! I put this project into my upcoming book, Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids. For more awesome projects combining science and art check it out!  It's in Pre-sale now! Watch them in action ... continue reading...

Art craft Math Science Technology writing

Homemade Pantograph Drawing Machine

Combine science, art and math in this cool pantograph drawing machine project! This project is featured in my new book, Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids! Have you ever seen a drafting machine?  It is a tool used in technical drawing that rotates. My grandpa used to sketch inventions and blueprints and had this awesome drafting table that I used to just love!  I made a similar type of tool to play around with the kids this week called a pantograph. It is much simpler and made of ... continue reading...