Dotty's Place

Call Website Contact the organization

Dotty's Place Our mission is to create materials and provide events for young children and their families that center around healthy lifestyle choices.

This is an older picture, but I still love the joy and pride on this child’s face as he shows off his fort.STEM should b...
10/10/2026

This is an older picture, but I still love the joy and pride on this child’s face as he shows off his fort.

STEM should be exciting. Kids can become incredibly focused when they're working on something that matters to them. But I also think they should have opportunities to feel that sense of accomplishment that comes from finishing something they worked hard to create.

Later, when I talk more about Productive Struggle, I’ll come back to that balance—giving children challenges that help them grow without pushing them so far that learning becomes frustration.

For now, I just love that smile.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

I originally created these Dotty’s Place STEM icons for myself. I wanted an easy way to identify the different kinds of ...
10/07/2026

I originally created these Dotty’s Place STEM icons for myself. I wanted an easy way to identify the different kinds of thinking and learning I was seeing during activities.

Then I realized other teachers and families might find them useful, too.

Sometimes STEM is about building or testing. Other times it’s wondering, observing, creating, solving, sharing, or simply looking at something in a new way. These little icons give us another way to notice the learning that’s already happening.

Download PDFhttps://8dd0e956-9c5b-46aa-872b-fcb1b07471ae.usrfiles.com/ugd/8dd0e9_56ffe6d804b04cdeab5794884a86ae4d.pdf

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

At some of my earlier events, I set up folding tables and had kids stand around them to work. For this event, I knew I w...
10/03/2026

At some of my earlier events, I set up folding tables and had kids stand around them to work. For this event, I knew I would have a lot of younger children who might have trouble reaching materials in the middle of the tables. So I tried something different.

Instead of unfolding the tables, I laid the tabletops flat on the ground. I also added a few tarps to give the kids more open space to build and explore.

It worked so well that I carried the idea into my library STEM event. Most of the tables were placed right on the floor, with kids and parents sitting around them. I kept a few chairs available, but overall it made the space feel much more informal and accessible.

Sometimes making STEM work in a new space isn't about adding more. It's about being willing to change the setup to fit the people who are using it.

STEM can travel.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

STEM spaces don't have to look alike.A tarp on the ground, a tray or bin, a rolling cart, or a permanent shelf can all b...
09/30/2026

STEM spaces don't have to look alike.

A tarp on the ground, a tray or bin, a rolling cart, or a permanent shelf can all become places for STEM learning.

The important thing is finding a setup that works for your learners, your activity, and the space you have.

Sometimes a small change in setup can make STEM easier for everyone to access.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

I created this Outdoor STEM Challenge sheet earlier, but I thought it was worth bringing back out for fall. In many plac...
09/30/2026

I created this Outdoor STEM Challenge sheet earlier, but I thought it was worth bringing back out for fall. In many places, the weather is finally becoming perfect for getting outside.

One thing I like about these challenges is that most of them don’t cost a thing. They start with what’s already around you.

Kids can create games, test how things move, build with natural materials, explore water, or invent something completely new. Sometimes a few ideas are all they need to get started and begin creating challenges of their own.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

When I saw this picture, my first thought was, It’s that time again.Those first few weeks of school can be a lot. Kids a...
09/26/2026

When I saw this picture, my first thought was, It’s that time again.

Those first few weeks of school can be a lot. Kids are learning rules and procedures, reviewing things they already know, making new friends, and basically “re-awakening” their school brains. By the end of the day, everyone can be a little tired—including the teacher.

I remember how excited my students would get when we decided to go outside for a while. I didn’t fully appreciate at the time that those moments weren't just breaks. Kids were playing, building friendships, talking, moving, and learning how to be together.

They could get pretty silly.

So could I.

Of course, I would make them promise not to tell anyone how I behaved. 😄

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

In my later years of teaching, I learned to bring educational materials back out during freer times. This gave my studen...
09/23/2026

In my later years of teaching, I learned to bring educational materials back out during freer times. This gave my students a chance to explore them more closely and, most importantly, at their own pace.

Here are a few tips that I learned along the way.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

This picture is from my STEM Library Experience, but it reminds me of visiting my mother’s classroom. She believed in al...
09/23/2026

This picture is from my STEM Library Experience, but it reminds me of visiting my mother’s classroom. She believed in allowing students to do a lot of open discovery. She included books and discussions, but she also felt it was important for kids to touch things, look closely, and have time to interact.

I didn’t always do that. Sometimes I would pass one or two objects around during a lesson, give everyone a moment to look, and then move on.

In my later years of teaching, I learned to bring those materials back out during freer times. That gave my students a chance to explore them more closely and, most importantly, at their own pace.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

This picture is from our STEM Library Experience. I had planned an Arts and Crafts area, but I knew I wanted students to...
09/19/2026

This picture is from our STEM Library Experience. I had planned an Arts and Crafts area, but I knew I wanted students to do more than simply make ART. So I turned it into more of a Maker Space and included materials they could use to create whatever they wanted.

This young girl was really interested in cooking, and it showed in what she created—a very realistic-looking cupcake!

What I enjoyed most was watching her figure out how to put all the pieces together. She even talked with some of the other kids, and they helped one another figure out how to use the materials they wanted.

Sometimes creativity comes with quite a bit of problem-solving.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

When I looked at this picture, I immediately thought about fall and going back to school. Kids can take almost anything ...
09/16/2026

When I looked at this picture, I immediately thought about fall and going back to school. Kids can take almost anything they find and turn it into a game.

But there’s learning happening there, too. Think about the conversations that could come from something as simple as playing in the leaves. Why do leaves change colors? Why do they fall? Why do some float down while others drop quickly?

Sometimes kids are already exploring science through play. They just don’t know the technical terms yet. Come to think of it, I still do this myself as an adult.

Follow Dotty’s Place on Facebook for more simple STEM ideas, teaching reflections, and glimpses of learning in action.

https://www.facebook.com/dottysplaceAZ/

Address

Tucson, AZ

Telephone

+15204576937

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dotty's Place posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Dotty's Place:

Shortcuts

Share

Category