Book Review: She Can STEM

March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a great time for kids and adults alike to learn more about women in history that we should already know about.

Talking about women in STEM is popular because it’s a field that’s only going to continue to grow and girls aren’t always exposed to it as a career option for them, or they don’t see stories about women in STEM they can aspire to.

The book She Can STEM by Liz Lee Heinecke introduces readers to 50 women in science from throughout history to show that women have always been a part of biology, chemistry, ecology and physics.

Each person highlighted is given a two-page spread, with a full-page illustration and a page long biography exploring their role in science, where they lived and how scientists do similar work today. There’s also a STEM related idea for readers to try.

For example the first woman in the book, Tapputi-Belaktikallim, was the manager of a royal household in ancient Mesopotamia, who also made perfume for the royal family, making her the world’s first known chemical engineer. The experiment asks readers to crush flowers to release their essential oils, which would have been done to make ancient perfumes.

Some of these scientists are people you’ve probably heard of, like Marie Curie, Rachel Carson and Rosalind Franklin, but most of them are names you probably don’t know (unless you’re a scientist). To name a few chosen at random:

Mary Agnes Chase, an expert in grasses who traveled the world and documented more than 20,000 species of grass
Ruby Payne Scott, an Australian radar expert whose research on sunspots and radio astronomy helped scientists discover black holes and understand the effect solar storms have on earth
Oceanographer Sylvia Earle, the first woman to lead the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, she’s also the person who has walked deepest in the ocean while untethered
Valerie L. Thomas, whose illusion transmitter was the forerunner of today’s 3-D technology
Aparajita Datta, an Indian ecologist whose work showed that hornbill birds were largely responsible for seed dispersion within their habitats, which has led to efforts to protect the birds
Raychelle Burks, a chemist who developed a chemical sensor similar to the fictional tricorders used on Star Trek

While the biographies of each scientist are brief, they give readers a jumping off point for further learning and scientific experimentation of their own. They might also open up your mind to areas of scientific inquiry you didn’t even know existed, like olfactory chemistry, crystallography and the study of termites.

About the book: 112 pages, hardcover, published 2024 by Quarto Books, suggested retail price $19.99.

Learn about Women Artists

A turkey with a page full of numbers might not sound terribly exciting to a grown-up, but add some crayons and colourful feathers and suddenly maths practice looks a little more inviting. Seasonal worksheets can be a lovely way to revisit familiar skills, especially when children are already enjoying all things pumpkins, autumn leaves and Thanksgiving.

I like printable activities that don’t require a long shopping list or an afternoon of preparation. Paper, a pencil and a few crayons will get you started with most of these Thanksgiving math printable sheets for kids. You can choose a counting page for a younger child, offer addition colouring sheets to an early learner, or find something more challenging for an older sibling.

This collection includes Thanksgiving maths worksheets covering counting, number recognition, patterns, addition, subtraction, graphing and problem-solving. Some links lead to individual sheets, while others offer a selection of worksheets so you can pick the level that suits your child.

They’re useful for November classroom activities, homeschool lessons or a little practice at home. I’d also tuck a couple of colouring-based pages into a holiday activity folder for children who enjoy working on puzzles while waiting for dinner.

There’s no need to print an entire pack just because it’s available. One well-chosen worksheet, a bit of encouragement and time to talk through the answers can be plenty. Choose by the skills your child is practising rather than the grade printed on the page, particularly if you’re using resources from a different country.

Thanksgiving Counting and Number Practice

The kindergarten Thanksgiving maths worksheets from Kindergarten Worksheets and Games offer a selection of seasonal pages covering skills such as counting, number writing, shapes and early addition. I like this option when you want several activities available without having to search for each one separately. Start with a familiar skill, then choose another page if your child is keen to keep going.

Thanksgiving Patterns and Number Order

The Thanksgiving worksheet collection from K5 Learning includes maths pages for patterns, number order and counting, alongside its reading and writing activities. Look for the pattern sheets or the missing-number activity to give younger learners something beyond straightforward sums. These are useful for talking through what comes next and how your child worked it out, rather than simply checking the finished answers.

Thanksgiving Colour-by-Number Maths Sheet

This Thanksgiving colour-by-number worksheet from K5 Learning opens directly as a printable PDF. It’s a handy choice when you want a seasonal maths-and-colouring activity ready to print without hunting through a large collection. Keep the colour key visible and encourage children to check each answer before colouring the matching section.

Thanksgiving Colour-by-Addition Worksheets

The Thanksgiving colour-by-addition sheets from 123 Homeschool 4 Me practise addition within 10 while revealing seasonal pictures. These would suit children who are already beginning to add and enjoy having a picture to complete as they work. I’d keep a number line nearby for anyone who needs a little support, and let them take their time with the colouring.

Turkey Colour-by-Subtraction Sheets

These turkey subtraction worksheets from 123 Homeschool 4 Me combine subtraction within 20 with colouring the turkey’s feathers by code. They’re a useful next option for children ready to practise taking away larger numbers. Check the problems before printing so you can choose an appropriate page, then offer counters or a number line if needed.

Thanksgiving Counting and Graphing Worksheets

The first-grade Thanksgiving worksheets from Math Salamanders include counting objects, count-and-colour pages and simple graphing activities. The graphing sheets are particularly nice for moving from “How many?” to comparing groups and noticing which has more or fewer. Choose one of those pages for a little variety, or try the skip-counting sheets if that’s the skill your child is working on.

Thanksgiving Multiplication and Halving Practice

The second-grade Thanksgiving maths worksheets from Math Salamanders include addition and subtraction within 20, multiplication facts up to 5 × 5, and finding half of groups of objects. This selection is useful for children who have moved beyond the simplest counting pages but still enjoy a festive worksheet. Pick a specific skill to practise rather than treating the whole collection as a holiday homework assignment.

Thanksgiving Picture Maths Puzzles

The Thanksgiving maths printables from Math Easily include picture-based puzzles at different levels, with activities using addition, subtraction and multiplication. I like a puzzle format for children who enjoy figuring things out rather than completing rows of similar sums. Preview the generated worksheet before printing, as the available activities cover a range of abilities.

Thanksgiving Maths Sheets for Older Children

KidZone’s Thanksgiving maths pages offer options across grades one to five, including arithmetic, missing-number problems, maths tables and word problems. This is a practical source when you need a seasonal sheet for an older child who has outgrown beginner turkey counting. Choose the operation and difficulty first; the grade labels are a guide, and the site explains how to print its different worksheet formats.

Simple Turkey Subtraction Worksheet

The Thanksgiving subtraction worksheet from Enchanted Little World asks children to solve 18 subtraction problems and write their answers inside turkey shapes. It’s a straightforward option for learners who prefer a clear maths task without an additional colouring code to follow. The page offers a free download without a sign-in requirement, making it convenient for a quick practice session.

Make Thanksgiving Maths Practice a Little More Hands-On

If a child finds a worksheet tricky, bring the numbers off the page. Draw dots, use an age-appropriate set of counters or talk through one problem together before asking them to try another. Sometimes seeing what “take away three” looks like makes more sense than hearing another explanation.

For a crafty extension, our paper fall leaves on CraftBits can become homemade counting materials once the painted paper is dry and cut into leaf shapes. My suggestion is to use them for sorting colours, making patterns or showing simple addition alongside a worksheet. It’s a gentle way to connect a seasonal craft with the numbers children are practising.

Keep the session short enough that it still feels enjoyable. A child doesn’t need to finish every question to have practised something useful, and it’s perfectly reasonable to save the rest for another day.

Whether you’re preparing classroom resources or helping a little one at the kitchen table, these Thanksgiving math worksheets for kids give you plenty of choice. Print a few favourites, put the pencils within reach and leave room for a turkey with rainbow feathers along the way.

Have you read?