STEM

STEM along with critical thinking skills, collaboration, and teamwork are skills that are vital to our state’s and our nation’s workforce and economic development. Out of school time (OST) programs support classroom learning by providing an informal setting for additional, hands on, engaging and innovative activities where students are able to explore, learn, make and question.

Principles of Quality STEM Activities

are for all students
are intentional and standards-based (SC STEM Standards)
are active, interesting, and relevant to students
reflect current research and practices
are age-level appropriate
integrate skills from different subjects
incorporate staff training in science teaching
are based on ongoing assessment of student needs and progress

Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

🚀During the month of May, the Million Girls Moonshot celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). Our country owes a lot of our success to many hardworking, innovative AAPI computer scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals.✨

Here are fantastic resources that highlight the achievements and stories of inspiring AAPI scientists and engineers.

More May STEM Activities:

How Does a Wind Meter Work?: Discover the power of wind by making your own instrument to measure its speed and strength! Find out the secrets behind this fascinating device in this fun science project.
Toilet Paper Roll Balloon Car: 🚗 Ready, set, roll! Learn about simple machines while building a Toilet Paper Roll Balloon Car. This hands-on project uses easy-to-find materials and is perfect for classroom or home exploration. Start your engineering adventure today.
Tallest Paper Tower Challenge!: Ready for a towering challenge? Test your engineering skills with the Tallest Paper Tower Challenge! Build a paper tower that can support a heavy weight at the top without toppling over. Get inspired by other students’ creations and unleash your creativity.
Turn Milk into Plastic: Did you know milk can be turned into plastic? Explore the fascinating world of casein plastic with the Turn Milk into Plastic STEM Activity. Create your own casein plastic using hot milk and vinegar and uncover the science behind this historical material.

Special Opportunities

🚀Project Brainy – Summer Application Due May 17 | 5:00 pm EST– Does your out-of-school time (OST) program want to build belonging and engagement in interactive science learning? Join us to increase social-emotional skills for middle school students! Apply here.

🚀Teen Science Cafe Fellows Information Session

Thursday May 23, 2024 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm EST

The Teen Science Cafe (TSC) Fellows initiative is a ten-month training program designed to help informal educators implement Teen Science Cafes in their community. Teen Science Cafe Fellows receive one-on-one support from TSC Guides to launch a cafe program and host three cafe events during the year. Fellows receive a $2,500 stipend to support their work. Register Here to attend an informational webinar to learn more.

🚀NBA Math Hoops

Sign up for May 2024 Training Dates and Times

NBA Math Hoops is dedicated to providing innovative STEM learning experiences that empower educators and inspire students. Educators are trained to implement this program through a board game, a 10 lesson curriculum and technical support to engage middle school youth in STEM and mathematics. Learn more.

Professional Development Opportunities🚀

ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions

Wednesdays: 5/8, 5/22, 6/5/ | 2:00 – 4:00 pm EST

Description: Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop their reasoning through the questions we ask them? This module is a great way to train staff on how to facilitate STEM learning. Experienced educators also love being part of a cohort as a way to connect with other educators across the country, to learn new lesson plans, and to reflect on practice. This is our introductory module and a prerequisite to other opportunities. Register here with Code: AC362PQ (Coach Hannah L)

ACRES Coaching: Nurturing STEM Identity and Making Career Connections

Mondays: 5/6, 5/20, 6/3 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm EST

Description: How do you help youth recognize their connection to and role in STEM? How do you help youth learn about STEM careers? Participants experience several easy-to-implement strategies, including a photo elicitation activity that can help youth form STEM identities, and then learn how to conduct related activities with youth. *The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. Register here with Code: AC331ID (Coach Emma C)

Discover Engineering’s “Chats with Change Makers”

Thursday May 30, 2024 | 1:00 – 2:00 EST

Description: Discover Engineering’s “Chats with Change Makers” invites students to meet engineering role models who are working hard to change the world. Join DiscoverE on Thursday, May 30 at 1pm ET to meet Fredy Barrera Aguilar, Product Development Engineer at TE Connectivity! Your students will hear his stories, ask questions, and learn more about his engineering career. Your host is Kavya, a high school senior and SWENext participant. Register here.

Transformative Practices🚀

The Million Girls Moonshot aims to raise awareness of the following four research-based practices — Equity and Inclusion, Engineering Mindsets, Role Model, Mentors, and Families, and STEM Pathways and Transition — proven to remove barriers to access and quality STEM learning experiences.

Possible Futures — Career Exploration Curriculum

Open source curriculum that complements and enriches both school and afterschool settings 1) expanding career awareness through authentic experiential learning opportunities; 2) encouraging students to explore their diverse interests, talents, and options; 3) enlivening STEM subjects by bringing in real-world and career contexts; 4) empowering students to develop vital employability skills; and 5) engaging students in making informed choices.

8 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose innovations have changed your life (really!)

Stories of life changing inventions like the N95 respirator mask, HIV medications, and USB technologies that are all contributions of the AAPI community of STEM specialists.

Room to Read STEAM Powered Careers Collection

This collection features 10 STEM-themed books and lesson plans for youth grades 1-3, all available for free download in English and Spanish.

Beyond Equity as Inclusion: Framework of “Rightful Presence” for Guiding Justice-Oriented Studies in Teaching and Learning

This article presents a framework to guide the study of teaching and learning in justice-oriented ways. This framework highlights the limitations of equity as inclusion, which does not adequately address the ways in which systemic injustices manifest in local classroom practice. Three tenets for guiding the use of this framework in teaching and learning are offered.

Communicating STEM in Out of School Time Settings

STEM Next Opportunity Fund recognizes leaders in all sectors need to have messaging tools to be persuasive advocates for STEM, particularly in out of school time settings. The video below and the following are robust resources to assist and guide STEM communications more effectively: The Power of Explanation: Reframing STEM and Informal Learning, Telling the STEM Chapter of the Education Core Story: A Communications Toolkit, How to Speak STEM-ish

Key Statistics

Nearly 80 percent of future careers will require awareness of and facility with STEM.
Students in the U.S. rank 25th in math and 17th in science skills among their peers in other industrialized countries.
Only 43 percent of graduating seniors are ready for college math and 27 percent are ready for college science.
Just 32 percent of U.S. college undergraduates are graduating with a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering.