It was exactly 53 years ago astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin made history when they became the first human beings to set foot on the moon. This month the Million Girls Moonshot commemorates that “giant leap for mankind” as it remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements. We look to the future, to the next generation of engineers and scientists. What will be their “giant leap”? And most importantly, how do partners and program providers support young people on their journey in STEM?

If you are interested in becoming involved in the Million Girls Moonshot in your state, please connect with your statewide afterschool network. 

IF/THEN Collection Assets

For Apollo 11 Landing (July 16 - 24)

These assets feature IF/THEN Ambassador and Spaceflight Engineer, Dana Bolles, and can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, and for conferences presentations.

• Ambassador Profile of Dana Bolles
• This is What a Scientist Looks Like Poster of Dana Bolles 
• Draw Her Life of Dana Bolles

For Shark Week (July 24-31)

These assets feature IF/THEN Ambassador and Shark Researcher, Jess Cramp, and can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, and for conferences presentations.

• Long Profile of Jess Cramp
• On-the-Job 1 of Jess Cramp
• Camp GoldeBlox Episode of Jess Cramp

Don’t know where to start in the IF/THEN Collection? Here are some tools to help you!

• IF/THEN Collection Video Tour
• Collection Scavenger Hunt
• User Guide

Booster Packs

AUDIENCE: FOR PROGRAM PROVIDERS AND FIELD STAFF

• Click2Engineering Community of Practice

This community of practice is a component of Click2Engineering, an asynchronous, module-based online professional development program for after-school educators. Participants in this community of practice get to be a part of developing future learning experiences and will have special access to existing Click2Engineering resources, including new curriculum and one-on-one coaching opportunities! Online meetings will include learning, working with materials, reflection, and sharing your ideas with others. You will grow your understanding of engineering and increase your confidence and ability to lead engineering sessions with youth

SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

 

• DiscoverE Future City

Throughout the fall, participants work in teams of at least three students, an educator, and volunteer mentor to bring their vision of their future city to life. What do they see, hear, smell, and feel? From this starting point, they will design a futuristic city with innovative solutions to some of today’s most pressing sustainability issues. This strategy enables organizational partners, volunteers, and educators to effectively reach millions of students, parents, and young adults with the message that engineers work with smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and create things that matter.

SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

 

• Techbridge Girls Curriculum & Training

Techbridge Girls (TBG) is an award-winning national nonprofit bringing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to all girls across the U.S. For 20+ years, TBG has reengineered the way STEM education is taught, centering our girls’ brilliance and potential, emphasizing increasing STEM access, belonging, and persistence for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color) youth from systematically marginalized communities. TBG will offer three different curriculum training programs for afterschool staff: 1) Ignite for 3-8th grade youth, 2) Inspire for 4-5th grade girls, and 3) Changemakers for 6-8th grade girls.

SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

 

• Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum and Training
  In this workshop series, participants will be introduced to evidence-based strategies to support students in developing a positive math identity by exploring mathematics in everyday experiences. The highly engaging, hands-on experiences of After-School Math Plus (ASM+) also build 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.
  SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

 

• Teen Science Cafe

Teen Science Café programs are a free, fun way for teens to engage in lively conversations with STEM experts that explore the advances in science and technology that affect their lives. In these events, teens socialize over teen-friendly food and drink and have a lively conversation with local scientists and engineers about current cutting-edge developments in their fields, all in a relaxed and informal out-of-school setting. Teen Science Cafés are for teens, by teens. A core group of Teen Leaders, with the committed mentorship of an Adult Leader, plan and run the café programs. They welcome as diverse of a teen crowd as possible—diverse in ethnicity, culture, gender, and motivations for learning about science. Teen Science Cafés are not just for the science geeks; they are for all curious teens. Along the way, teen organizers gain a host of leadership skills. Cafés are typically run about an hour and a half once per month during the school year. Stipends are provided to selected sites to support the implementation of Teen Science Cafes.

SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

Featured Webinars

Engineering Mindsets 

AUDIENCE: FOR PARTNERS AND PROGRAMS

• Webinar Recording: Deep Dive into each Engineering Mindset Practice with Dr. Christine Cunningham

RECORDING 1, RECORDING 2, RECORDING 3

• Webinar Recording: The M in STEM: Making Math Meaningful with the National Girls Collaborative Project

 

Role Models And Mentors as an Equity Strategy

AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORK STEM/MOONSHOT STAFF, PARTNERS AND PROGRAM PROVIDERS

• Webinar Recording: Incorporating STEM Role Models in Afterschool

with the National Girls Collaborative Project Team

• Webinar Recording: STEM Role Models in Action! With the National Girls Collaborative Project Team 

• Role Models Matters Training for STEM Volunteers

Ready to train volunteers and role models in your Network, school, or afterschool program? COMPLETE THIS REGISTRATION FORM to gain access to the Role Models Matter training developed by Techbridge Girls.

Quality Trainings

AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORK STEM/MOONSHOT STAFF & AFTER SCHOOL EDUCATORS  

PEAR Trainings

PEAR staff provides ongoing technical assistance, quarterly data reports, and online data management support for all DoS observers for two years post-certification.

 

DOS Program Planning Tool Training

The DoS-PPT is a free resource for facilitators of out-of-school and in-school STEM

learning programs. The planning tool provides a brief introduction to each

dimension of the DoS framework, sample videos, and examples to guide the use of

DoS when preparing activity plans for youth. During this training, participants will:

1. Develop high-level understanding of the DoS Framework, dimensions of quality
2. Working with the PPT learn how to plan high quality STEM learning experiences using the DoS Program Planning Tool
3. Work with the newly revised DoS Program Planning Tool to identify and plan for high-quality program and activity planning practices.

Dates and times are:

• August 2 and 4th 2:00 - 3:30pm EST (attendance required both days)

JOIN ZOOM MEETING; ID: 86096341901 and Passcode: 872162; (US) +1 646-876-9923 and Passcode: 872162

 

DOS Certification Training

The training process involves a two-day live webinar training, completion of video calibration exercises, a one-hour live calibration session, and successful completion of two practice observations in the field. PEAR staff offer live, webinar DoS training monthly and in-person training for state networks or organizations can be arranged as needed for an additional cost. PEAR staff provides ongoing technical assistance, quarterly data reports, and online data management support for all DoS observers for two years post-certification. Dates and times are: 

• July 13-14, 2022; 10am-4pm ET. (register by June 29)
• October 19-20; 10-4pm ET. (register by October 5)

REGISTER HERE

 

Recertification Training for DOS Observers

Please note that observers that have been certified for two or more years need to complete recertification to make sure they are continuing to use the tool reliably. Dates and times are:

• August 9, 2022; 10-1pm ET (register by July 26)
• November 8, 2022; 10-1pm ET (register by October 25) 

REGISTER HERE

 

ACRES July and August Cohorts

ACRES is a nationally acclaimed coaching program that builds knowledge and skills so after school educators, librarians and anyone who works with youth in out-of-school settings can confidently facilitate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) experiences for youth. More information found here. 

 

June Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions

Questions are the beginning of a path towards 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 new summer 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. *The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Stipends are offered to participants who complete feedback surveys before and after a module.

Cohort dates and times are: 3:00 to 5:00PM EST on the following Wednesdays 

6/15/2022, 6/29/2022, 4/20/2022; REGISTER HERE

 

June Cohort: Modeling Engineering Practices

Engineering has become a staple of STEM programming for youth. How can we confidently bring engineering into our programming and support youth as they engage in problem solving? In this module, participants gain first-hand experience with engineering by solving a design problem. They examine the components of the engineering design process and discuss ways to model the process with youth.Asking Purposeful Questions is a prerequisite to this skill. *The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Stipends are offered to participants who complete feedback surveys before and after a module.

Cohort dates and times are: 1:00 to 3:00 EST on the following Thursdays 

6/17/ 2022,7/1/2022, 7/22/2022; REGISTER HERE

 

July Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions

Questions are the beginning of a path towards 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 new summer 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. *The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Stipends are offered to participants who complete feedback surveys before and after a module.

Cohort dates and times are: 10:00 to 12:00 EST on the following Tuesdays 

7/26/ 2022, 8/9/2022, 8/23/2022; REGISTER HERE

 

Transformative Practices

AUDIENCE: For Network STEM/Moonshot Staff, Partners, and Program Providers

APPLICATION: Share the following resources about transformative practices with partners and programs in your state. Use them to create professional development for afterschool programs and educators in your state.

Equity and Inclusion

• Article: Article: Black Girls Create: Developing a Culturally Responsive Maker Program for Black Girls article describes the development and pilot implementation of a culturally responsive maker afterschool program for Black girls. 
• Book: Social Justice Reading For Kids : NPR - Looking for summer reading for youth in afterschool? Check out these recommendations from writer Ibram X. Kendi

Engineering Mindsets

• Article: What STEM Mindset Is … and Why Everyone Should Have One - This article describes how 21st century skills, growth mindset, and habits of mind all contribute to a STEM mindset
• Website: DiscoverE | Engineering activities for kids, resources for teachers and volunteers, and more! Build a beverage holder that won’t hurt the environment, learn about the many careers in engineering, and meet an engineering role model in a short video. 

Families

• Toolkit: Engaging Families in Mathematics Education - Families are a child’s first educator and this role does not halt on day one of school. Families lay the foundation for future educational success. Researchers have identified four best practices for engaging families effectively in mathematics education.
• ??Toolkit: Community Math Night Facilitators’ Toolkit - The Appalachia Regional Education Laboratory (REL) developed this toolkit to help K–5 elementary school educators plan and implement the Community Math Night program to engage families in interactive math activities, build positive math attitudes, and create a community of educators, students, families, and other caring adults to support math learning. The toolkit includes planning and organizational resources, relevant research, and step-by-step instructions and printable materials for the interactive activities.

STEM Transitions, Handoffs, and Coordination

• Toolkit: Brokering Youth Pathways: A Toolkit for Connecting Youth to Future Opportunity from the Hive Research Network - This toolkit shares ways in which various out-of-school educators and professionals have approached the challenge of brokering. We provide a framework, practice briefs and reports that focus on a particular issue or challenge and provide concrete examples, as well as illustrate how our partners worked through designing new brokering routines in partnership with our research team.

Activities for Programs

AUDIENCE: For Programs and Youth

APPLICATION: Share the following STEM activities with programs and families for additional STEM learning in your state. 
 

• Activity: After-School Science PLUS - Download Building with Wonderful Junk and take the challenge!  Build a bridge or a platform that meets a set of requirements and test it. Challenge the kids to add to the activity (For example build a bridge that will hold a student up 6 inches from the floor). 
• Activity: Student Design Activity: NASA's Favorite House Plants for Space Stations and You - The Grow Network : The Grow Network - Select a plant to grow and keep a record of its change over time. Design a flowerpot for space—what shape works best? How deep does it need to be? What do scientists need to consider to grow plants in space? 
• Student Design Activity: Design A Crew Module - Use materials that are easy to find at home to build a crew capsule for spaceflight. Practice the engineering design process to improve on the original design. Grades 4-8. 
• Student Design Activity: Straw Towers to the Moon - Let your kids’ imaginations run wild.  Build the biggest tower, or the best balanced, or the most attractive…change the criteria to change the design. Grades K-8. 

• Student Design Activity: Landing Humans on the Moon Educator Guide - These easy to do activities for grades K-8 use engineering design process to problem-solve solutions for survival on the moon. 

Additional Professional Development

AUDIENCE: NETWORKS AND PROGRAMS

Webinar Recording: NGCP Archived Webinar: Families & STEAM: Strengthening Relationships & Building Partnerships - Family engagement in STEAM can come in many forms — STEAM nights, science fairs, family newsletters, etc. But how can you move into a deeper partnership with families in the service of STEAM learning? In this webinar, we’ll hear from practitioners and researchers who are working to deepen engagement with youth and their families to intentionally support equity in and access to STEAM opportunities. You will hear about strategies, examples, and current research, and will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Mizzen by Mott Moonshot Connection

AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORK STEM/MOONSHOT STAFF, PARTNERS AND PROGRAM PROVIDERS

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!  You’ll find it in Mizzen here.

Featured Activities & Playlists

• Playlist: STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home
• Playlist: STEM Activities for K-5th Grade
• Balloon Rockets Challenge