STEAM Newsletter – Broadening STEM Access for All
November 15, 2022
November is a busy month full of
celebration. It is National Native American Heritage month and
November 8th was National STEM Day. As a partner of
Million Girls
Moonshot, the California AfterSchool Network is
helping close the gap to make STEAM learning more equitable and
accessible to marginalized and all youth. All month long we
honor the contributions of Indigenous peoples past and present to
STEM.
The celebration of STEM doesn’t stop on November 8th - explore these resources on how you can celebrate STEM in your programs and classrooms:
Native American Heritage Month STEAM Resources:
In This Newsletter:
“YOU Belong in STEM” Initiative
The U.S. Department of Education launched “YOU Belong in STEM,” an initiative that aims to implement and scale equitable and high-quality STEM education for all young people from Pre-K to higher education.
The Department is currently in the process of creating guidance and other technical assistance to elevate STEM teaching and learning, convene STEM partners and thought leaders, elevate bright spots and evidenced-based practices that engender belonging in STEM, and partner with public and private entities to leverage our best efforts and reach.
Email STEM@ed.gov to get involved!
After-School Math Plus Curriculum Training
Workshop Series: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 and Tuesday, December 13, 2022; 9:30 AM - 10:45 PM PST
In this workshop series hosted by Million Girls Moonshot, participants will be introduced to After-School Math Plus, an evidence-based curriculum to support students in developing a positive math identity by exploring mathematics in everyday experiences.
The highly engaging, hands-on curriculum also builds students’ awareness of the importance of math skills for future educational choices and career options. The program engages students in grades 3-8 who are attending out-of-school-time programs.
ACRES Moonshot Virtual STEM Coach
Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Are you an afterschool leader and looking to build capacity for STEM engagement in your afterschool program? Would you like to train your staff through a live, nationally recognized coaching program?
In partnership with the Million Girls Moonshot, the ACRES team is looking for job-secure afterschool program leaders (i.e. Site Directors, Site Coordinators, STEM Specialists, Professional Development and Training staff) who work directly with frontline staff to be trained to become an ACRES Virtual STEM Coach*.
Techbridge Girls Equity Cohort
Application Deadline: Thursday, December 1, 2022
Research states that responsive learning environments can make all the difference in girls’ sustained interest in STEM. To that end, Techbridge Girls created the STEM Equity Learning Community intensive training to equip OST program managers and site directors so that more equitable learning spaces are available for girls, especially Black, Indigenous, and Latina girls, across the U.S.
Launch Update: Return to the Moon with NASA’s Artemis 1 Mission Launch and Splashdown!
NASA is planning the first-ever launch of its new Space Launch System that is being developed to transport the first woman and first person of color to the Moon. Delayed from August, the next window for the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission launch will likely be in mid-November. Keep up to date on this and other NASA launch events here.
IF/THEN Ambassadors – November
Incorporating Role Models
The IF/THEN® Collection is the largest free resource of its kind dedicated to increasing access to authentic and relatable images of real women in STEM. These assets feature IF/THEN® Ambassadors Nicole Jackson, LGBTQIA+ identifying health technologist and Dana Bolles, LGBTQIA+ identifying spaceflight engineering and advocate for disabled people in STEM.
- Ambassador Profile, Long Profile, Nicole Jackson
- Ambassador Profile, Long Profile, Dana Bolles
NASA Engineering Playlist
Activities for Programs
Use the following activities in sequence to support youth in building an engineering mindset with NASA activities.
- Lesson 1: Build An Airplane (Engineering Design Process Activity) - Build an airplane that has ailerons, elevators and a rudder.
- Lesson 2: Build a Satellite (Engineering Design Process Activity) - This lesson provides students with an understanding of satellites, their use and structure, and power systems. In this potentially multi-day activity, students will use the engineering design process to design, build, test and improve a model satellite.
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 in Small Groups – This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for small groups of students.
- Playlist: Science Notebooks for 3rd – 12th Grade – Keeping a notebook can help your students think and act like scientists and engineers. Sample these easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your program.
- Module: S.INQ Up Earth and Space for 6-8th Grade – Earth and Space is an inquiry and exploration-based curriculum that uses hands-on activities focused on the relationships between the earth, the solar system, and human impacts on our global environment.
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: