Transforming Board Books into STEM Learning Tools for Infants & Toddlers

Infants and toddlers make sense of their world by observing, touching objects, and repeating actions. These early experiences not only form the prior knowledge children will draw on as they learn throughout their lives; they also call for educators to design STEM experiences that genuinely respond to infants’ and toddlers’ innate curiosity.  

In this practical, interactive Online Workshop, educators will explore how board books — a familiar, accessible, and much-loved resource for infants and toddlers — can be powerful springboards for STEM learning.  

So much more than “just for reading”, the simple images, familiar narratives, and durability of board books provide educators with rich opportunities to spark open-ended inquiry, introduce early STEM language, and prompt hands-on investigation. For example, a simple story about rolling objects can lead to investigations with balls and ramps; a book showing animals in water can prompt experiments with floating and sinking; a book featuring shapes or patterns can inspire sorting and matching. 

In this 2-hour Online Workshop, educators will: 

• Learn to identify STEM concepts in a range of board books and transform reading into hands-on explorations. 

• Learn how to transform everyday reading moments into meaningful STEM provocations that support inquiry, language development, and play-based learning. 

• Build confidence designing STEM experiences that meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers — without adding complexity to your program or routines. 

• Understand the critical role of language, repetition, and shared attention in STEM learning for infants and toddlers. 

This workshop is designed for educators working with children birth to three years. Register to gain practical ideas you can implement immediately, deepen your understanding of early STEM learning, and connect with peers in an engaging, interactive session. 

After you purchase a recording, you can view it for 30 days before the link expires.