STEAM Newsletter – A Summer of STEM
June 15, 2021
Welcome to CAN’s monthly STEAM newsletter!
This month, the Million Girls Moonshot will focus on tools and resources for Networks, programs, and partners as they implement STEM in summer programming. As programs across the country slowly head back to hybrid and in person programming, this is an opportunity to reintroduce engineering mindset, role models, and reach out to families.
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In This Newsletter:
Calling all California Girl-Serving Organizations!
Virtual Event: June 18, 12:00 PM- 1:30 PM (PST)
The California Girls in STEM Collaborative is hosting a virtual event to foster collaboration amongst girl-serving organizations and to promote equity in Makerspaces. We will hear from several Makerspace advocates on equitable and inclusionary practices in “Making,” invention, and engineering. The event will also provide a chance for organizations to connect and share ideas, resources, and challenges.
Transformative Programming: Incorporating Role Models
This month we are leveraging World Ocean’s Day and International Women in Engineering Day to highlight role models in science and engineering.
Role Model Profile Videos and photos:
World Oceans Day (June 8, 2021)
The below assets are free profile videos of IF/THEN Ambassadors. These can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, embedded on websites, during conferences, and so much more.
Black Girls Create
In her article “Black Girls Create”, author LaShawnda Lindsay, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women, describes the development and pilot implementation of a culturally responsive maker afterschool program for Black girls. Black Girls Create uses social history, culturally responsive pedagogy, and mentoring to engage Black girls in maker-based activities as they learned about Black women who made significant impacts in STEM.
STEM Engagement for Girls in Rural Communities
NIOST’s latest research brief entitled STEM Engagement for Girls in Rural Communities: Research Snapshot summarizes findings from an observation study of GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science), a STEM-focused afterschool program for girls. Data was collected during multiple observations of a program for elementary school-aged students in a rural community in the Northeast. The study investigated the behavior, engagement, and emotional state/affect of girls while participating in the program.
IF/THEN Collection: Curious about Curiosity Camp?
Tuesday June 22, 2021; 11:00 - 12:00pm PST
GoldieBlox is educating and empowering girls by creating engaging content, fun toys and interesting resources. In this webinar you’ll learn more about the IF/THEN Collection and Curiosity Camp resources, produced by GoldiBlox, and how to use them to support gender equity in STEM programs. Hear from the founder of GoldiBlox, Debbie Sterling, and the stars of Curiosity Camp, about why having role models and resources for girls in STEM is important.
Your Input Wanted – Afterschool STEAM Survey
Afterschool grant managers, site coordinators, and site staff: you are invited to participate in pilot-testing a survey that will be administered in Fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 to California afterschool programs.
Free Virtual Summer Workshop on STEM/Digital Wellbeing
Monday-Thursday, July 19-23, 2021; 10 AM PST
The Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab and the Computer Science Department at Wellesley College are hosting a FREE virtual summer workshop for middle school girls about STEM, technology-oriented careers, and healthy social media use. The program will feature guest speakers, including TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year 2020, Gitanjali Rao. Workshop participants will receive Gitanjali’s book, A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM.
Together at Home: Parent and Family Resources
Student Activity: 4 Great Outdoor Activities to Do With Kids This Summer | 4-H These easy activities are designed to be suitable in a COVID conscious environment. Young children play outdoor games, plant a garden, make ice cream, and participate in a scavenger hunt.
Student “STEAM” Activity: Art Infused with STEM Learning Activities Makes for a Colorful Time (kindercare.com) This very simple approach to STEM uses outdoor experiences and art to engage young children in math and science discussions. The activities build on curiosity in young children and are very easy to facilitate.
Mizzen by Mott
Mizzen By Mott inspires, engages and sparks learning in young people. Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Please be sure to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access the activities below.
- Mizzen – Design a Crew Module
- Mizzen – Build An Extension Arm
- Mizzen – Build Your Own Roller Coaster
Check Out CAN’s Other Newsletters!
Access the CAN newsletter archives to view past newsletters today! You may be interested in some of our other newsletters as well: