At the November 4 TEDx@BeaconStreet event in Brookline, Masha Gershman gave a terrific talk called Uncertain Times Call for Certain Math, about the roots of “Russian Math” as a vehicle for opening children to their full potential.  Masha is the Director of Outreach for Newton-based Russian School of Math.  You can view the talk here.

The National Science Teachers Association has prepared its first-ever list of Best STEM Books for the year, following a year of study using criteria described here.  Each of the 31 recommended books for 2017 (pdf) “reinforces STEM thinking — modeling innovation, demonstrating authentic problem-solving and assimilation of new ideas — all while exploring solutions that show progressive change or improvement.”

As part of its research for this year’s FIRST LEGO League (FLL) theme of Hydro Dynamics, an FLL team of 6th graders at Brown Middle School — the Hydro Dragons — has created a website to raise awareness of the problem of lead in drinking water. Take a look. If you have questions, ask them on the site’s blog, and the team will attempt to answer them.

In addition to recommendations last week and the week before, there’s now a great list of STEM gift ideas from Boston Tech Mom.

Following last week’s recommendations, NewtonSTEM readers have suggested more ideas for STEM gift ideas for the holidays.  Please continue to send suggestions to info@newtonstem.org.

• Family membership to Charles River Museum of Industry
• Books by Glenn Davison on kite building and kite flying
• Soldering kits at You-Do-It Electronics in Needham
• Wearable/sewable electronic kits, also at You-Do-It Electronics in Needham
• Blacksmithing classes at Prospect Hill Forge

A Newton-based First LEGO League robotics team of 4-8th graders is conducting research aimed at reducing the amount of water people use on their lawns. They are asking the public to respond to this 8-question survey on water usage to help the team with its research and efforts to save the environment. The note that the Environmental Protection Agency has said, “if the average sized lawn in the United States is watered for 20 minutes every day for 7 days, it’s like running the shower constantly for 4 days or taking more than 800 showers.”

We’re starting early this year with a grab-bag of suggestions from friends for STEM-related gifts for the holidays. In no particular order, STEM-infused friends recommend these oldies-but-goodies:

Brandeis Professor Eric Olson recommends a 1971 classic, The Great International Paper Airplane Book. “This book really delighted me as a kid. Some of the designs are really easy to make, others are much more challenging, some are familiar, some are truly bizarre.  It’s a lot of fun.”

LigerBots mentor Jonathan Young recommends:

• Hoberman Spheres (or the mini version)
• Code Names (and the picture version)
• Blokus
• Apples to Apples

LigerBots mentor Pam Wright recommends:

• Settlers of Catan
• Learning Resources Tumble Magnetic Marble Run is a newer, but less robust version of the classic Frigits, which unfortunately is out-of-stock everywhere!

Please send your recommendations for STEM holiday gifts to info@newtonstem.org.

The Newton North HS Science Team will rake your leaves to raise funds to pay for its competition fees, supplies, and travel.  Contact team vice president Ethan Gahm at ethangahm@gmail.com to discuss time and price.  Help the team and get a clean lawn!

The August 21 solar eclipse will be visible in totality from within a 70-mile-wide band across the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina, for a couple of minutes in each location.  From elsewhere — and before and after those brief minutes of totality within that band — the eclipse will be partial and thus will present a danger to anyone viewing the sun without proper eye protection. NASA’s advice on viewing the eclipse safely includes a list of reputable vendors of solar filters and viewers. Avoid off-brand, sub-standard “eclipse glasses” that are reportedly being sold. Since retinas do not sense pain, it’s possible to incur severe damage to eyesight without being aware of it at the time. Watch safely, so you can see future solar eclipses, too — including the one over Newton on May 1, 2079 at 6:06AM!

The MetroWest STEM Education Network (MSEN) invites all interested parties to take a 5-10 minute online survey of needs in STEM education and workforce development. MSEN is a regional network of schools (at all levels), businesses, and non-profit organizations to address STEM education and workforce needs, under the management of the state Department of Higher Education and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.