STEAM Newsletter – Computer Science for All!
December 6, 2022
Welcome to the last STEAM Newsletter of 2022! This December, in partnership with the Million Girls Moonshot, we will be celebrating Computer Science Education Week!
Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11, 2022) is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. The CSEdWeek theme this year highlights the progress that has occurred in computer science education over the last decade. There have been many great achievements in making computer science education more equitable and accessible for all learners – let’s continue making strides!
Celebrate computer science this week and all year long by incorporating these activities into your programs:
In This Newsletter:
CyberStart America
CyberStart America is a FREE online program that gives high school students the opportunity to learn cyber security skills while competing for scholarship money. No prior tech training is needed for teachers or students to sign up!
Hour of Code
Organized by Code.org, the annual Hour of Code campaign is a global movement in 180+ countries that introduces young people to computer science through fun, age-appropriate learning activities.
Million Girls Moonshot has partnered with Code.org to expand this reach into afterschool. Explore the afterschool guide and register as an Hour of Code site!
Examining K-12 CS Education from the Teacher’s Lens
Wednesday, December 8, 2022; 1:00 PM PST
Join CSTA and Kapor Center for their upcoming webinar to share findings from a 2022 national survey of PreK-12 computer science teachers. They will be sharing the current landscape of PreK-12 CS teachers, including their demographics, teaching background, school context, professional development, instructional practice, and identity-inclusive computing practices.
Exciting Mid-December California Space Opportunities from NASA!
Sunday, December 11, 2022 and Thursday, December 15, 2022
Bring the excitement of real live space exploration milestones to your afterschool program youth and families!
Sunday December 11: NASA’s Artemis 1 Lunar Spacecraft splashes down off the San Diego coast around 9:40 am PT, and will be retrieved in partnership with the U.S. Navy.
- Watch the splashdown and recovery LIVE on NASA TV and YouTube, starting at 8:00 am PT
- Meet the recovery team for Artemis in this video
After-School Math Plus Curriculum Training
Tuesday, December 13, 2022; 9:30 AM - 10:45 PM PST
Register for the second part of 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.
Be a part of groundbreaking AAPI Youth Leadership research!
Survey Closes: Friday, December 23, 2022
The time for AAPI girls and gender-expansive to tell their stories is long overdue. Help in this crucial work by sharing the survey with AAPI girls and gender-expansive youth in your community.
Girls Leadership, along with research firm Evaluation Studio and the AAPI Youth Research Council, are embarking on a national study to change this and learn how ethnicity and culture impact the leadership development of AAPI girls.
Cal Water H2O Challenge
Registration Closes: January 31st, 2023
The Cal Water H2O Classroom Challenge is a FREE project-based learning competition for California classrooms and school-based clubs grades 4-6. Teach your students about water conservation while competing for a $3,500 classroom grant and more!
IF/THEN Ambassadors – December
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. Kim Swennen, Software Engineer and Sarah Wilson, Biomechanical Engineer in celebration of Computer Science Education Week!
- Ambassador Profile, Long Profile, Binary Code Bracelet Activity, Kim Swennen
- Ambassador Profile, STEM Journey, Educator Guide, Sarah Wilson
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: