The Nebraska 4-H STEM Reading Connections Program

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Through Stories

Mother and son reading together

 Nebraska STEM Imagination Reading Program

We are here to help you develop children and youth’s love for STEM through imagination guides.

This program provides all caregivers (early childhood professionals and parents) with books, guided questions, and expanded learning resources to support literacy development, enhance relationships, and to make a connection with your local library.

Each year the theme changes, but the imagination guides always include the following:

  • Conversation Starters
  • Creative Arts
  • Infant & Toddlers
  • Nature
  • STEM Connection
  • Story Extensions
Child reading a picture book with a parent

2023 Summer Reading Program  All Together Now

Build relationship skills needed each and every day with each and every interaction.

In our world today, emotional intelligence is vital to building relationships in both early childhood and adulthood. This year's STEM Imagination Guides focus on topics such as friendship, unity, and diversity to help children begin to build the skills needed each and every day with each and every interaction. The reading guides align with Nebraska’s Nebraska's Early Learning Guideline domains.

Download All Imagination Guides

My Mouth is a Volcano Book Cover

My Mouth is a Volcano

Listening

STEM Connection: Echolocation

Download this Guide

Can Cat and Bird Be Friends? Book Cover

Can Cat and Bird Be Friends?

Kindness

STEM Connection: Scent Jars

Download this Guide

Thank You, Omu! Book Cover

Thank You, Omu!

Friendship

STEM Connection: Magnets

Download this Guide

Sorry (Really Sorry) Book Cover

Sorry (Really Sorry)

Unity

STEM Connection: Chain Reactions

Download this Guide

The Monster Parade Book Cover

The Monster Parade

Emotions

STEM Connection: Discovering Reactions with Emotions

Download this Guide

Sweet People Are Everywhere Book Cover

Sweet People Are Everywhere

Community

STEM Connection: Egg Science

Download this Guide

I Am a Kindness Hero Book Cover

I Am a Kindness Hero

Helpfulness

STEM Connection: Color Mixing

Download this Guide

Each Living Thing Book Cover

Each Living Thing

Stewardship

STEM Connection: Bug Hotel

Download this Guide

The activities engage the children. The connection between the activities and the book content is easy to grasp. These guides encourage play and the children are eager to participate.

Early Childhood Educator

Archived STEM Imagination Guides

2023 Library Commission Theme: All Together Now 

Looking for engagement for school-aged children in your care? This program is available to youth development and early childhood professionals, afterschool clubs, summer school and camps, libraries, and parents. Resources provide engaging learning opportunities to spark an interest in STEM concepts and 4-H.

Download 2023 4-H Resources

4-H 2023 Reading Connection Resources

  1. Head: Heading Into This Together
  2. Heart: I Am Enough
  3. Hands: Gumball Machine/Marshmallow Catapult
  4. Health: An Apple a Day

Archived 4-H Summer Reading Connection Resources

No endorsement of products or services by 4-H is intended or implied.

Want to request this program? Please send an e-mail to Jennifer Hansen.

Three girls doing a science activity
Jackie Steffen Portrait

Jackie Steffen
Nebraska Extension in Cedar County
Early Childhood
jsteffen2@unl.edu

Sarah Roberts Portrait

Sarah Roberts
Nebraska Extension in Dixon County
Early Childhood
sarah.roberts@unl.edu

Sarah Roberts Portrait

Ingrid Lindal
Nebraska Extension in Saline County
Early Childhood
ilindalchavarria2@unl.edu