11 gifts to get kids interested in STEM

Sure, getting a gift for the kids in your life isn't rocket science... but that doesn't mean those gifts can't inspiresome future rocket scientists.

We asked representatives from the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Exploratorium in San Francisco for the perfect gifts to give to kids to help them develop an interest in STEM.

Here's what they recommended for the future Katherine Johnsons of the world.

Kits & crafts

1. An engineering primer

A science kit for kids to introduce them to engineering.Credit: amazon

Get all the basics in one kit. Engineers-to-be can build and refine their skills with the Intro to Engineering Science Kit. It includes 25 experiments and building projects, including creating a balloon rocket and a paddle boat. (Good for kids 5 and up.)

Price: $34.92 at Amazon

2. A dough adventure

Kids aged 4 and up can learn about electrical circuit building with the Electro Dough Kit.Credit:

Go beyond sourdough starter: Kids aged 4 and up can learn about electrical circuit building with the Electro Dough Kit, which includes colorful dough they can use to create lights and sounds.

Price: $12.99 at Amazon

3. A lab-coat-ready kit

The Foundation Chemistry Kit includes more than 19 chemistry-related experiments.Credit: amazon

Get them started on chem lessons early: The Foundation Chemistry Kit includes more than 19 chemistry-related experiments, a 32-page lab notebook, and all the lab equipment a young chemist could need. (Good for ages 8-12.)

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Price: $44.95 at Amazon

4. A mini dinosaur dig

Let kids chisel away as they excavate 12 different stones containing fossils and minerals.Credit: target

Let kids chisel away as they excavate 12 different stones containing fossils and minerals with the Dig It Up! set. The curious paleontologist can make sense of their discoveries with the accompanying field guide. (Good for ages 4 and up.)

Price: $24.99 at Target

5. A bug-filled soap experiment

This bug-infested Amber Soap Science Lab from Stemulators can teach kids 8 and up about molecular structures and bug fossils.Credit: amazon

Don't get toogrossed out: This bug-infested Amber Soap Science Lab from Stemulators can teach kids 8 and up about molecular structures and bug fossils.

Price: $10.95 on Amazon

Games & gadgets

6. A gravity-powered race track

Using more than 100 pieces and 18 construction elements, kids 8 and up can design track systems for marbles.Credit: target

No electronics needed here. Using more than 100 pieces and 18 construction elements, kids 8 and up can design track systems for marbles with Gravitrax in order to learn about the laws of physics.

Price: $59.99 at Target

7. A glow-in-the-dark building set

These 16 glow-in-the-dark Magna Tiles are charged by direct sunlight.Credit: amazon

These 16 glow-in-the-dark Magna Tiles are charged by direct sunlight. Kids 3 and up can let their building brains go wild once they're ready to glow.

Price: $30 at Amazon

8. An electronic circuit project (or 100)

Kids can make a photo sensor and a flashing light.Credit: amazon

Just over 30 electronic parts can lead to more than 100 electronic circuit projects, including making a photo sensor and a flashing light, with the Snap Circuits Junior set. (Good for kids 8 and up.)

Price: $20.63 at Amazon

9. A chemistry lesson card game

Kids 8 and up can get familiar with the periodic table of elements while playing this matching card game.Credit: amazon

Everything's in flux with Chemistry Fluxx, the card game. Kids 8 and up can get familiar with the periodic table of elements while playing this matching card game.

Price: $15.92 at Amazon

Books

10. A book of the basics

Younger readers can pick up the alphabet and engineering key terms.Credit: amazon

Younger readers can pick up the alphabet andengineering key terms (Hint: C is for Carnot Engine.) Written by experts Chris Ferrie and Dr. Sarah Kaiser, the ABCS of Engineeringis good for babies and toddlers.

Price: $8.98 at Amazon

11. A tinkering how-to

The Art of Tinkering  dives deep into what it means to just tinker.Credit: amazon

For the kid, or for that matter, the grownup, who's always trying to take everything apart, look no further. The Art of Tinkering(by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich, co-directors of the Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium) dives deep into what it means to just tinker, with some 150 makers walking through the beauty of creating with what you have. No need to read alone: Parents and kids — or teachers and students — can learn togetherfrom the tinkering tips and tricks found in the book.

Price: $23.49 at Amazon

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