3 STEM-Focused Resources to Share with Young Minds This Thanksgiving Break

The holiday season is a time for connection, gratitude, and family. As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, many of us will also find ourselves interacting with the young minds in our lives—nieces, nephews, cousins, or perhaps even our own children. It’s the perfect opportunity to inspire curiosity and creativity while sharing fun, engaging activities that can leave a lasting impression.

As someone passionate about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), I’ve seen firsthand how impactful the right resources can be in sparking a love for learning. This Thanksgiving, why not encourage the next generation to explore, dream, and innovate? Here are three of my favorite educational resources to share with the kids in your life—and each one is designed to make STEM learning exciting and accessible!

1. Mystery Science Videos with Jay Flores

STEM is all about asking questions and discovering the answers—and that’s exactly what my Mystery Science videos (available in English and Spanish) are designed to do. These videos tackle intriguing, real-world questions that kids often ask, like “How were LEGO bricks invented?” or “How do they make imaginary movie characters look so real?" Using easy-to-understand explanations and engaging visuals, these videos bring science concepts to life in ways that spark curiosity and make learning fun.

Why Kids Love It: Each video is an adventure in understanding, giving kids the confidence to explore how the world works around them.

How to Use This Thanksgiving: Queue up a couple of these videos during some post-dinner downtime and watch as the kids in your family light up with excitement over learning something new.

2. "It’s Not Magic, It’s Science!" Experiments

If you’ve ever wanted to show kids how science can feel magical, this series of experiments is the perfect tool. The It’s Not Magic, It’s Science! video series, created and hosted by Jay Flores, showcases simple yet mind-blowing experiments that kids can do at home with everyday materials. From "magically" changing the shape of our Mystery Metal to creating a mini-fizzy rocket, these experiments demonstrate fascinating scientific principles in hands-on ways.

Why It Works: These experiments feel like magic tricks but come with explanations that tie them back to science, showing kids that STEM is all about discovery.

How to Use This Thanksgiving: Set up a mini “science show” and let the kids perform their favorite experiment for the family. It’s a fun way to involve everyone and create memories while learning together.

3. "It’s Not Magic, It’s Science!" Kits and Merch

For kids who want to dive deeper into STEM activities, the It’s Not Magic, It’s Science! kits (available in English and Spanish) are the ultimate resource. These curated kits include all the materials needed for engaging experiments, along with step-by-step instructions and explanations to help young learners understand the science behind the fun. And for those who want to show off their love for STEM, the accompanying "It's Not Magic, It's Science!" merch—like T-shirts, mugs, and more—offers a cool way to keep the STEM excitement alive.

Why It’s Great: The kits make STEM exploration easy and accessible, while the merch fosters pride in being part of the STEM community.

How to Use This Thanksgiving: Gift a kit to a curious young mind and work on one or two experiments together. It’s a meaningful way to spend quality time and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

STEM Learning: A Gift That Keeps Giving

The beauty of these resources is their ability to foster curiosity and empower kids to think critically about the world around them. By sharing these tools this Thanksgiving, you’re not just passing the time—you’re planting seeds of inspiration that could grow into a lifelong passion for innovation.

Let’s make this holiday not just about gratitude for what we have, but about the potential we see in the young minds around us. Together, we can turn Thanksgiving into a time for both connection and creativity.

What’s your favorite way to inspire kids during the holidays? Share your ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re making STEM a part of your family traditions!