STEAM Newsletter – STEM is Transforming Communities
November 16, 2021

CAN Newsletter

This November we are exploring how STEM is transforming communities. We hope you started off the month with a blast by celebrating National STEM Day on November 8th! 

Million Girls Moonshot hopes to continue their collective goal of providing a million more girls with STEM learning opportunities to be able to transform our communities to better prepare for tomorrow. In order to stay in alignment with this goal and to celebrate National STEM Day, MGM, in partnership with Afterschool Alliance and NASA, hosted a Q&A session with NASA’s Deputy Administrator and astronaut, Pam Melroy. 

As we explore the waves that STEM is making in our communities, it’s a perfect opportunity to explore MGM’s four transformative practices: 

  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Engineering Mindset
  • Role Models, Mentors and Families
  • STEM Transitions and Pathways

Explore these additional resources on how you can make everyday a day to celebrate STEM: 

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In This Newsletter:

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Engineering Mindsets

MGM shares resources that correspond with their engineering mindset transformative practice:

The Mathephant in the Room – Research is beginning to emerge on areas in which students seem to be experiencing the largest loss due to the pandemic. Initial findings suggest that math may be at the top of the list. Learn how program providers can look at ways that we can help to close those gaps and foster an engineering mindset through parent and caregiver involvement. 

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STEM Transitions, Handoffs, and Coordination

Explore this resource from MGM’s transformative practice of STEM transitions, handoffs, and coordination:

Designing Learning Pathways: A research-practice partnership focused on parent brokering – Learn about an design-led research project to align youth-centered, interest-driven learning pathways with the needs and interests of a local community-based creative arts and technology organization. This case study provides one example of a design-led learning innovation to deepen interest-driven learning pathways for youth. 

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Developing STEM Identities and Making Career Connections
Cohort: December 2nd, 9th, and 16th; 3:30 - 5:00 PM PST

How do you help youth recognize their connection to and role in STEM? How do you help youth learn about STEM careers? In this module by Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM (ACRES), participants experience several easy-to-implement strategies, including a photo-elicitation activity, learn about how youth form their STEM identities, and then learn how to conduct related activities with youth. 

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Celebrate Computer Science Education Week with the IF/THEN Collection
Tuesday, December 7, 2021; 11 AM PST

Looking for new computer science and engineering activities? The IF/THEN® Collection is a free digital library designed to inspire the next generation of girls to pursue STEM careers and features activities and videos of real women STEM professionals. Join the National Girls Collaborative Project as they explore resources in the IF/THEN® Collection to promote computer science and engineering in afterschool programs.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

11 AM PST

Register now!

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Don’t Miss Out On Girls Who Code’s Free Resources!

Are you looking for equitable social-emotional learning practices and free coding curricula to bring to your school, library, or extracurricular programs? Sign up for Girls Who Code’s free Clubs program, and inspire 3rd-12th grade students of all genders to be brave and resilient as they learn to code and positively impact their community.  

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Activities for Programs

Introduce these student design activities into your program to highlight STEM learning!

  • Bouncy Ball Factory – Youth engineer bouncy balls that meet particular criteria. Using the engineering design process, they develop and test their creations.
  • Paper Table – Youth engineer a table from a newspaper that is at least 8″ high and strong enough to hold a book.
  • Take Flight – Using everyday materials, youth engineer a glider that can fly straight for 15 feet.
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Mizzen by Mott

The Mizzen By Mott app delivers inspiring and engaging activities that spark learning in young people. Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Encourage partners to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access STEM activities at your finger-touch! 

Featured Activities & Playlists

  • Playlist: STEM Activities for K-5th Grade
  • Playlist: STEAM Activities for Middle School
  • Helicopter Engineering for 6-8th Grade- Students work in team to engineer an optimal paper helicopter design