Blog

Hands assembling a cardboard linkage with a servo for a motorized scene

Robotic Linkages with Servos

Linkages make great story machines on their own. Here is what happens when you add a servo, and the printables that make it easy.
Matt Barinholtz
September 14, 2026
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Scissors, Tape, Pencils: Why Hands-On Skills Matter More Than Ever

Holding a pencil, cutting paper with scissors, tearing tape off a roll—these once-basic childhood skills are disappearing. PBL provides deep learning proven to restore hands-on learning deficits.
Matt Barinholtz
February 24, 2025
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Cascading Confidence: Near-Peer Coaching

Confidence skyrockets and expertise is inevitable when near-peers coach hands-on STEAM projects in other classrooms.
Matt Barinholtz
November 4, 2024
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Building Confidence: Drawing Machines

Educator confidence and learner confidence with hands-on STEM starts with understanding by doing - and simultaneously supports social and emotional (SEL) development and STEM habits of mind.
Matt Barinholtz
July 28, 2024
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Measurable Making: Must, Should, and Could

Educators who integrate hands-on design challenges with social and emotional learning (SEL) goals see small hands with big ideas discover their passions for invention and serious play.
Matt Barinholtz
February 16, 2024
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Made to Keep: The Power of Playful Project-based Learning 

Project-based learning - especially playful projects that are made to keep - builds stronger relationships between learners and educators and turns up the volume on learner engagement.
Matt Barinholtz
October 7, 2023
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Five Essential Hands-on Tools for STEM Classroom Activities

There’s five real “grown-up” tools missing from almost every innovative STEM classroom, and we’ve spent years testing them. Are you ready to open the toolbox?
Matt Barinholtz
September 21, 2023
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3 Cool Kinetic STEM Projects for Afterschool

STEM project ideas are sometimes difficult to implement by yourself - especially when you’re considering purchasing and prepping for larger groups or cohorts.
Matt Barinholtz
May 13, 2023
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