I had the pleasure of presenting at the 2018 Promising Practices- Proven Strategies Extra Learning Opportunities Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The conference was open to schools with established 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). I conducted a session entitled “Teaching STEM Through Children’s Literature“, the session was designed for afterschool staff working with 3rd-5th graders. During the three-hour workshop participants were introduced to approximately sixty plus STEM-themed children’s titles that are ideal for incorporating within STEM lessons. Titles included many from the NSTA list of Outstanding STEM Trade Books for 2017-2018. Participants conducted numerous hands-on-minds-on, inquiry-based STEM investigations during the training from materials science, to reverse engineering, engineering journaling, and exploring electricity-based kits and more.. Throughout the nation afterschool programs are continuing to incorporate more STEM experiences for the students within their programs. From conducting building engineering challenges to robotics STEM is making its way into afterschool programs.  For more information about the conference check out the following link.  The following photos were taken during the hands-on-minds-on, inquiry-based workshop. For more information about scheduling STEM professional staff development for 21st CCLC Staff and K-12 teachers complete the Contact Form on Contact Page.