Offer the Gift of STEM

STEM Explorers Brainometry
Ages: 5+
Skills: Math, creativity, fine motor skills, problem-solving
Where to Buy: Amazon

Unlock your child’s problem-solving skills with this 3D puzzle set. This engaging kit includes 34 colourful shapes and challenge cards, offering fun activities that enhance shape recognition, critical thinking and fine motor skills. With ten STEM challenges, kids will train their brains through sorting, geometry and spatial puzzles.

National Geographic Rock and Mineral Kit
Ages: 8+
Skills: Geology, curiosity, science
Where to Buy: Well, Walmart

Ignite a love for geology with this rock and mineral starter kit. Filled with 15 different specimens like tiger’s eye and blue quartz, this kit gives young explorers a hands-on look at the wonders of Earth’s minerals.

Math Link Cubes
Ages: 5+
Skill Building: Counting, comparison, fine motor skills
Where to Buy: Staples

Math Link Cubes can be nostalgic for parents and caregivers because it’s how many of us learned how to count in school. Math Link Cubes provide an affordable and versatile way for children to practice beginner math skills, colour sorting and much more.

K’Nex STEM Levers and Pulleys Set
Ages: 8-15+
Skills: Engineering, problem-solving
Where to Buy: Amazon

This set empowers kids to explore core physics and engineering concepts, including lever and pulley systems. It encourages your child to think like an engineer, testing and perfecting their designs while learning the essential science behind how simple machines work.

National Geographic Solar System
Ages: 8+
Skills: Science, space exploration, creativity, curiosity
Where to Buy: Amazon

This solar system kit makes space education an exciting, hands-on STEM project. Kids will customize and assemble all the planets using the included paints and decals. As they arrange the model’s movable arms, the included poster teaches them fascinating facts about space science. It’s the perfect way to blend creativity with deep learning about our solar system.

BBC Micro:bit and Create AI
Ages: 8+
Skills: Creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, curiosity about AI
Where to Buy: PiShop

The micro:bit v2 is a pocket-sized computer that makes learning feel like play. With its free CreateAI tool, kids can experiment in safe, age-appropriate ways to see how artificial intelligence works. Along the way, they develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence, while sparking curiosity about the technologies shaping their future.

Magnetic Tiles
Ages: 3+
Skill Building: Creativity, building, mathematics, and engineering
Where to Buy: Amazon

An Actua favourite every year, the magnetic tiles help children gain foundational knowledge in STEM and related skills. By playing with these, kids can develop their understanding of geometry, colour and shape recognition, design skills and 3D spatial reasoning at an early age.

Gears Building Set 
Ages: 3-10
Skill Building: Motor skills, critical thinking, problem-solving
Where to Buy: Amazon

Spark endless building possibilities with this gear construction set designed to introduce little engineers to mechanics and building through fun, screen-free play. Young builders can confidently create intricate moving experiments on their own while developing fine motor skills, critical thinking, problem-solving and reasoning.

National Geographic Rock and Mineral Kit
Ages: 8+
Skills: Geology, curiosity, science
Where to Buy: Well, Walmart

Ignite a love for geology with this rock and mineral starter kit. Filled with 15 different specimens like tiger’s eye and blue quartz, this kit gives young explorers a hands-on look at the wonders of Earth’s minerals.

National Geographic Chemistry Set
Ages: 4+
Skills: Science, chemistry, curiosity
Where to Buy: Amazon

Spark curiosity with this starter chemistry set, designed to introduce kids to science through fun, hands-on play. Featuring 50 interactive experiments using safe, everyday household ingredients (such as baking soda and vinegar), and illustrated instructions, young experimenters can confidently conduct activities on their own while building a love for science.

Battat Education- Bright Explorer
Ages: 3+
Skills: Curiosity, math
Where to Buy: Indigo, Walmart

Brighten up playtime and learning with Bright Explorer. This light-up sensory box features a surface that changes between five vibrant colours. Kids can explore a variety of shapes, enhance observation skills and have a deeper understanding of size, colour and texture. This gift is perfect for imaginative play and sensory learning.

Electronics Exploration Kit 
Ages: 8-12
Skills: Physics, engineering, exploration
Where to Buy: Amazon

Ignite a passion for engineering with this snap-together electronics kit. Kids can safely build 140+ real-world projects, including a fan, RGB lamp, and flying saucer, to learn the basics of electrical engineering.

Sphero Mini
Ages: 10+
Skills: Block-based coding, Javascript, creativity
Where to Buy: Amazon

The Sphero Mini is a tiny, app-enabled robot that makes learning playful and engaging. Kids can guide it through mazes, design challenges, and group activities, sparking creativity and teamwork. Used in Actua outreach camps across Canada, including northern, remote, and Indigenous communities, it helps children strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a fun, hands-on way.

Osmo Genius Starter Kit
Ages: 6-10+
Skills: Coding, math, problem-solving
Where to Buy: Amazon

The Osmo Genius Starter Kit uses interactive technology to connect physical play with digital learning. With five games – Tangram, Newton, Masterpiece, Numbers, and Words – kids develop math and literacy skills, experiment with physics, and practice creative thinking. It’s a powerful tool for strengthening problem-solving skills through hands-on, tech-enabled exploration.

Osmo Genius Starter Kit
Ages: 5+
Skills: Problem-solving, curiosity, interactive learning
Where to Buy: Amazon

This robot uses technology to help kids develop essential skills while they draw. With 100 themed drawing cards—from animals to vehicles—it encourages creativity, strengthens hand-eye coordination, and supports problem-solving.

Elanco Snap Circuits
Ages: 8+
Skills: Engineering, math, problem-solving
Where to Buy: Amazon

Take your child’s creativity and curiosity to the next level with the Snap Circuits Kit. This toy allows kids to build over 300 projects, including an AM radio, alarms and doorbells. Whether building fun gadgets or playing electronic games with friends, this kit offers endless hours of educational fun and hands-on learning.

LeapFrog Magic Adventures Microscope
Ages: 5-10
Skills: Science, exploration, critical thinking
Where to Buy: Best Buy, Toys R Us

Explore the microscopic world with this real 200x magnification microscope. Kids can examine plants, animals, minerals, and more. The kit includes a reusable slide set and sample tray, and includes fun quiz and game modes to make learning interactive.

Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz
Ages: 3+
Skills: Physics, building, creativity
Where to Buy: Well

Air Toobz is a fun STEM toy that lets kids build a network of tubes and connectors, creating pathways for foam balls to travel. Using a kid-safe, adjustable fan, children can experiment with airflow, making the balls flow through loops, swirls and cycles. As they design their creations, they’ll develop problem-solving skills, spatial reasoning and some understanding of physics.

The STEM Girl Book Series 
Ages: 4+
Skill Building: Curiosity, creativity, confidence-building
Where to Buy: The STEM Girl

Jennifer Ladipo, Actua’s National Program Manager, is also the author of four STEM books for kids. With beautiful illustrations and diverse characters, these books have stories that help children explore, solve problems and have fun with STEM.

Berry Picking at Four Mile Bay
Ages: 7-9
Skill Building: Curiosity, land-based learning, science
Where to Buy: Inhabit Education Books

Perfect for young readers, this book captures the joy of family traditions on the land and berry picking. Actua’s 2024 summer STEM camps in the Canadian North brought this story to life with hands-on activities. Youth explored cloudberries through chemistry, mapping cloudberry locations with pH tests and coding Ozobots to collect berries on their maps.

Wild Eggs: A Tale of Arctic Egg Collection
Age: 6-8
Skills: Science, land-based learning
Where to Buy: Inhabit Education Books

In this book, Akuluk spends time with her grandfather hunting for wild eggs and discovering the unique Arctic animals and environment. Actua also included this book in the 2024 summer STEM camps in the Canadian North, where campers explored the diversity of egg shapes and colours of the Arctic Murres and then used oil and water paints to create their own designs.

The Curious Why
Age: 5-7
Skills: Science, confidence-building, curiosity
Where to Buy: Amazon

Through rhyming words and bright illustrations, this book reminds children that there is always something new to discover, asking big questions like, “What makes a bee sting?”, “How are crayons made?” and the value of asking “Why?” It’s a joyful read that can open young minds to a remarkable world of possibilities.

Math Therapy: 5 Steps to Help Your Students Overcome Math Trauma and Build a Better Relationship With Math
Ages: 14+ and educators
Skills: Math, confidence-building
Where to Buy: Amazon

Math Therapy by Vanessa “The Math Guru” Vakharia offers a unique path for teachers to guide students through math trauma and help them embrace math as an achievable skill. Having overcome her own struggles with math and gone on to be known as “The Lady Gaga of Math,” Vanessa introduces teachers to the five M’s of Math Therapy: Mythbust, Moderate, Motivate, Makeover and Measure. Written with humor and backed by educational research, Math Therapy is a guide to building students’ confidence, changing how they see math, and ultimately empowering them to believe that anything is possible—even a love for math!

Ada Twist, Scientist: A Picture Book
Ages: 5-7
Skills: Science, confidence building, curiosity
Where to Buy: Amazon, Indigo

This book by Andrea Beaty shares the story of Ada Twist. Perfect for the budding scientist, Ada Twist, Scientist follows an endlessly curious second grader whose passion for discovery often lands her in hilarious trouble. With the full support of her family and teacher, Ada learns that staying curious and thinking through problems is the most important part of any STEM adventure.

Rosie Revere, Engineer: A Picture Book
Ages: 5-7
Skills: Engineering, confidence building, creativity
Where to Buy: Amazon, Indigo

This book by Andrea Beaty shares the story of Rosie Revere. By day, Rosie is a quiet thinker, but at night, she’s a fearless inventor with big dreams of becoming an engineer. When her great-great-aunt Rose—who once riveted planes in WWII—shares her dream of flying, Rosie sets out to make it happen! This heartwarming story celebrates creativity, resilience and the courage to try again, making it a perfect read for young inventors and dreamers everywhere.

Smitten by Giraffe: My Life as a Citizen Scientist
Ages: 13+
Skills: Science, confidence-building, empowerment
Where to Buy: Anne Innis Dagg Foundation, Amazon

From a childhood fascination with giraffes to pioneering research in Africa, Anne Innis Dagg’s book is one of resilience and discovery. Anne shares her groundbreaking studies in zoology and her fight against sexism in academia. Despite her achievements, she faced constant barriers, ultimately choosing the path of a “citizen scientist” and advocating for women in the sciences. This inspiring memoir explores her love for giraffes,  contributions to biological science and bold activism, all while shedding light on the historical challenges women face in STEM.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
Ages: 6+
Skills: STEM, curiosity, empowerment
Where to Buy: Indigo, Amazon

This book seamlessly weaves charming illustrations and educational narratives, spanning from ancient to modern times. Explore insightful infographics on lab equipment, current gender ratios in STEM and a beautifully illustrated scientific glossary. This book is a celebration of the fearless pioneers who have paved the way for the future generation of female scientists, engineers, doctors, astronauts and more. A perfect gift to ignite the curiosity and passion for STEM.