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March resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

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March resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

March means Women’s History Month! Women’s History Month is a wonderful time to honor the stories, achievements, and legacies of the amazing women who shaped STEM fields as we know them today. By educating ourselves about the past, we can create a bright future for women and girls to follow in their footsteps and forge new pathways to innovation.

WEBINARS

ACRES Training Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 3/14/2023, 3/28/2023, 4/11/2023 10:00 am-12:00 pm EST/ 7:00-9:00 am PST

Questions begin a path toward 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 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. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. REGISTER HERE Code: AC288PQ

ACRES Training Cohort: Facilitating Engineering Practices Thursdays: 3/16/2023, 3/30/2023, and 4/13/2023 10:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

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, you’ll gain first-hand experience with engineering by solving a design problem. As a participant, you’ll 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. REGISTER HERE. Code: AC289EP

ACRES Training Cohort: Facilitating Math Practices Wednesdays: 4/12/2023, 4/26/2023, and 5/10/2023 11:00 AM-1:00 PM EST / 8:00-10:00 am PST

Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines in our afterschool programs. In this module, afterschool educators will explore and practice strategies for making math engaging and accessible. 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. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. REGISTER HERE Code: AC228PQ

ACRES Training Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 4/17/2023, 5/1/2023, 5/15/2023 6:00 pm-8:00 pm EST/ 3:00-5:00 pm PST

Questions begin a path toward 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 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. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. REGISTER HERE Code: AC288PQ

PEAR DIMENSIONS OF SUCCESS (DoS) Training & Certification April 20, 2023 10:00am-4:00pm EST/ 7:00 am-1:00 pm PST (Registration deadline is April 6th)

Developed by PEAR, the Dimensions of Success (DoS), is a research-based observation tool that measures the quality of students’ STEM learning experiences. The DoS training and certification  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. Certification is provided at no cost Network and program leads affiliated with the Moonshot. REGISTER HERE

PEAR DIMENSIONS OF SUCCESS (DoS) Recertification March 28, 2023 1:00-2:30 pm EST/ 10:00-11:30 am PST

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. REGISTER HERE

Click2Engineering Spring Community of Practice April 5, April 19, May 3, and 17 2023

The Click2Engineering community of practice (CoP) introduces out-of-school time educators to the basics of engineering and leading engineering activities with youth. The CoP is organized around the 10 Practices for an Engineering Mindset, and includes hands-on engineering activities, developing engineering experiences for youth, and learning skills to facilitate engineering practices.  The CoP is four meetings over 8 weeks. REGISTER HERE

Click2CS Virtual Workshop: Supporting Productive Failure April 26, 2023 3:00-4:00 pm EST/ 12:00-1:00 pm PST

Knowing how to help youth see how failure can be productive is critical for developing an engineering mindset. Join this virtual workshop to learn how you can create learning experiences that support youth and help them persist through their frustration and learn from failures. By engaging in authentic engineering work, youth develop engineering identities and the mindset to solve problems and change the world. REGISTER HERE

Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Training Thursdays: April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, and November 28, 2023 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

Date and Time

Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Topic Areas

April 18

1-2 p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: Everyday Math & Exploring Jump Ropes

Collect data about participants’ jump rope techniques. Use the data to create bar graphs, draw conclusions, and ask questions about jumping rope.

May 16

1-2 p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: The Whys of Jumping Rope

Conduct surveys about why people jump rope and use data to create bar graphs and Venn diagrams to represent people’s answers.

June 20

1-2 p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: How Far Can You Go?

Create line graphs and use data to make predictions about how far jumpers can travel in a set amount of time.

July 18

1-2 p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: Going to Great Lengths

Observe patterns, create a scatter graph, and analyze data to make predictions about connections between jump rope length and jumper height.

August 15

1-2 p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: Designing a Math Investigation

Use bar graphs, line graphs, scatter graphs and Venn diagrams to explore different ways of answering math questions about jumping rope.

September 19

1-2 p.m. EST

MusicMath: Unexpected Math, Creating Rhythms, and Making Rhythm Patterns

Create musical patterns, then repeat the patterns and think about how to represent the patterns using words, pictures, and symbols.

October 17

1-2 p.m. EST

MusicMath: Composing Music (with Math!)

Experiment with repeating patterns and create new arrangements using similar sounds in different sequences.

November 14

1-2 p.m. EST

MusicMath: Discovering Music Fractions

Identify and represent parts of fractions using music and explore combinations and permutations, or ways of creating variety while still using the same elements.

December 12

1-2 p.m. EST

MusicMath: Orchestration

Use fractions to create musical compositions, then perform the compositions using found instruments (pans, boxes, pencils, whistles). Create new combinations and permutations for the music fractions.

Note: Each webinar will include strategies to support a positive Math Identity (e.g., role models, career connections, family connections, literacy connections).

REGISTER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSION HERE

ACTIVITIES

Activity Playlist

Looking for a sequence of activities you can implement in your afterschool program today? Say goodbye to googling or searching on Pinterest. Use the following activities in sequence to support youth in building an engineering mindset.

Civil Engineering: Civil Engineers manage, design, develop, create, and maintain projects.  design roads, bridges, airports and structures that improve daily life.

  • Activity: Build the Best Paper Bridge - Bridges come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Use this simple activity to demonstrate civil engineering design.
  • Role Model Example: Alecia Boler Davis - Mrs. Davis is a civil engineer who is known for her skills in Operations and Engineering.  In 2016 she became Executive Vice President of global manufacturing.

Biomedical Engineering: Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

  • Activity: My Mechanical Ear Can Hear! - Worn by young and old, hearing aids are electronic devices that amplify sound at different levels for different pitches. Students are introduced to the types of biomedical devices that engineers have designed to aid people with this physical disability.
  • Role Model Example: Lisa Goel - Mrs. Goel is a Vice President, Technology Operations & Business Innovations at Nanobiosym.

Electrical Engineering: Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.

  • Activity: Measure Static Electricity With An Electroscope! - Youth explore how well materials around the house produce static electricity by making a simple, homemade electroscope (an instrument that detects electric charges) and testing it out.
  • Role Model Example: Carlotta A. Berry, PhD - Dr Berry is an electrical engineer who also works in robotics at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She specializes in human-robot interaction, human-robot interfaces, robotics education, mobile robotics, diversity in STEM.  She is part of the Black in Robotics Speakers Bureau

Looking for EVEN More Activities at NASA?! Activity Toolkit: Engineering is Elementary's NASA Partnership free units - A suite of free NASA-funded STEM resources for students in grades 3-8. All resources are research-based and classroom-tested. They are designed to support students’ understanding of space, while helping them see themselves as capable problem solvers.

RECRUIT STEM EXPERTS AS VOLUNTEERS

Less than 50% of high school girls know a woman in a STEM career. Let’s change that - recruit STEM professionals to support the youth you serve today!

VolunteerMatch attracts more than 1M site visits each month, and is easily one of the best ways to find strong role models for the youth you serve.

The Moonshot has partnered with VolunteerMatch to connect STEM experts with OST programs! Create a free VolunteerMatch account and post volunteer opportunities to work with your youth today! Register here to find role models and mentors in STEM. 

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  • NGCP National Webinar "STEM Stories: Women's Experiences Advocating for Equity" - In this webinar recording, participants will hear from NGCP fellows about their experiences working on diverse projects, including the IF/THEN® Collection, NGCP Annual Survey, and supporting State Collaboratives.
  • A Mighty Girl "16 Women Scientists You Should Know" - In this blog post, we're sharing the stories of 16 historic female scientists who have blazed new trails in their disciplines. From determining the size of the universe to unlocking the secrets of the genetic code, these women have forever changed the way we see our world.
  • National Women's History Museum Digital Classroom Resources - Explore classroom-ready resources created by the Museum and through the "For Educators, by Educators" initiative.  There are lesson plans, biographies, posters, primary sources, and more. You can search by topic, theme, or resource type. Select "STEM" from the topic menu for STEM-relevant resources.
  • Not the Science Type Docuseries - Not The Science Type gets to the heart of access and gender inequity in STEM education and STEM fields. This four-part docu-series features four female scientists who are challenging stereotypes and confronting gender, racial, and age discrimination as they rise to prominence. 

TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICES

Toolkit: Women's History Month | Managing American Spaces (state.gov) Resource Toolkit for Women’s History Month contains lesson plans, discussion guides, posters, social media, and movies about the struggle for women’s equality in the United States, as well as, women’s rights globally.

  • Toolkit: Math Equity Toolkit - This toolkit layers professional development into “Strides” that educators can take along a path to equitable education. Topics include Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction and Creating Conditions to Thrive.
  • Website: Math Communities – Students, parents, and educators coming together to play with math!  Math Communities creates a virtual community that provides free access to joyful collaborative activities designed by professional mathematicians and math educators  for K-12 students, educators, and families. There are lots of ways to communicate with other folks interested in math.
  • 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.

ASSETS FROM THE IF/THEN® COLLECTION

Here are a few examples of role models to highlight. More can be found in the MEDIA ASSET PACKAGE.

These assets feature IF/THEN® Ambassadors Beata Mierzwa, Molecular Biologist and Artist, and Yamilée Toussaint Beach, Dance Technologist, and can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, and conference presentations.

Celebrate Women’s History Month with these posters from the IF/THEN®, available for use as screensavers or as part of lesson plans. You can also choose to print on your own and hang in your classroom and your facility's walls. 

An afterschool STEM advocacy story

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences By Rachael Van Schoik, Science Action Club Manager, California Academy of Sciences. My advocacy story is Science Action Club’s (SAC) advocacy story. A program within the California Academy of Sciences, a world renowned museum and research...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/15/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Trainings for March 2024 ACRES Coaching: Make Math Engaging Wednesdays: 3/20 and 4/3/2024, 2 - 4 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      03/07/24

Guest blog: Creating tomorrow’s engineers with Design Squad Latinx

By Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach and Marketing Manager of GBH Education. Government, industry, research, and education leaders all agree that a strong engineering workforce is an essential part of the future economy in the U.S. and across the globe. Despite the need for more engineers,...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/04/24

Youth at the helm: Exploring sustainability through teen-led initiatives

By Lindsey DeLorey, Public Events and Youth Programs Coordinator at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has offered a teen program in various forms since the 1960s. Presently known as The Museum Apprentice Program (M.A.P.), it serves as a...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/23/24

Are you ready for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash. By Dennis Schatz, Institute for Learning Innovation and past president of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Do you remember the excitement around the 2017 total solar eclipse? Well, it is going to happen again on Monday, April 8 of this...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/15/24

February resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for February 2024 Click2Engineering: Asking Purposeful Questions Coaching 2/1; 2/15; 3/7 from 12:00 - 2:00pm EST / 9:00 - 11:00am PST Click2Engineering is offering an ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) training on Asking Purposeful Questions in...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      02/06/24

Looking ahead in 2024 – what’s coming up for our afterschool STEM work?

I hope the new year has launched well for all of you! After a year of changes in our afterschool STEM work and team, we are energized about the year ahead! 2023 saw us bringing on Leslie Brooks as our new Afterschool STEM Hub Manager to revitalize our federal afterschool STEM policy work. We...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/31/24

January resources from Million Girls Moonshot

January: National Mentoring Month Talk Technology with Verizon Employees  January 30th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm ET Give your students real-world applications of STEM with a LIVE talk with STEM professionals.  With your students, tune into this live webinar, to learn more about the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      01/29/24

Teen Science Cafés: Teens and STEM experts exploring our world together

Photo courtesy of Louisa Otto, Sanford PROMISE Teen Science Café. By Katey Ahmann, Director of Teen Science Café Network and Kristin Bayans, Manager of Network Engagement at Teen Science Café Network. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/25/24

Introducing the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review

To start off 2024, the research working group of the Afterschool STEM Hub just released the inaugural edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter! This is a new publication from the Afterschool STEM Hub that aims to provide you with the latest and most relevant findings...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/17/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Trainings for March 2024 ACRES Coaching: Make Math Engaging Wednesdays: 3/20 and 4/3/2024, 2 - 4 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      03/07/24

February resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for February 2024 Click2Engineering: Asking Purposeful Questions Coaching 2/1; 2/15; 3/7 from 12:00 - 2:00pm EST / 9:00 - 11:00am PST Click2Engineering is offering an ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) training on Asking Purposeful Questions in...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      02/06/24

January resources from Million Girls Moonshot

January: National Mentoring Month Talk Technology with Verizon Employees  January 30th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm ET Give your students real-world applications of STEM with a LIVE talk with STEM professionals.  With your students, tune into this live webinar, to learn more about the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      01/29/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Special Opportunities On-going and time-sensitive opportunities to engage in STEM learning, media campaigns and professional development opportunities with stipends. Genomics Career Awareness Interest Last year, the Moonshot celebrated DNA Day and exposed hundreds of students to possible...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/07/23

It’s time for takeoff! Applications for the 2024 Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew open on International Day of the Girl

By Veronica Gonzales, STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot is looking for afterschool STEM champions to join the 2024 Flight Crew! The Moonshot has launched a nation-wide search for the Flight Crew - a group of youth advocates promoting the value of out-of-school STEM learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      10/11/23

September resources from Million Girls Moonshot

To help youth see themselves with a future in STEM and to broaden understanding of science history, it is important for students to learn about a diverse range of scientists and engineers. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight a few of the Hispanic and Latinx scientists and...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      09/05/23

MAPSCorps@ Northwestern University: A new nexus for data STEM, civics, and project-based learning

Photo courtesy of Valentin J. Torres. By Nia Abdullah, EdD, executive director of The Equity in Opportunity Research Lab & MAPSCorps at Northwestern University School of Education & Social Policy. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/15/23

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Million Girls Moonshot curates monthly asset packages to suit the needs of afterschool and summer program providers across the U.S. All events, PD, trainings and resources can be found on the Moonshot Toolkit. Upcoming Events Register for upcoming events Find FREE professional development,...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      08/03/23

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

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. The Million Girls Moonshot is aiming for the future, to soar beyond the moon, launching the next generation of engineers and scientists. What...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/07/23

June resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Million Girls Moonshot curates monthly asset packages to suit the needs of afterschool and summer program providers across the U.S. All events, professional development, trainings and resources can be found on the Moonshot Toolkit.  UPCOMING EVENTS REGISTER FOR UPCOMING EVENTS...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      06/23/23

Youth at the helm: Exploring sustainability through teen-led initiatives

By Lindsey DeLorey, Public Events and Youth Programs Coordinator at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has offered a teen program in various forms since the 1960s. Presently known as The Museum Apprentice Program (M.A.P.), it serves as a...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/23/24

Looking ahead in 2024 – what’s coming up for our afterschool STEM work?

I hope the new year has launched well for all of you! After a year of changes in our afterschool STEM work and team, we are energized about the year ahead! 2023 saw us bringing on Leslie Brooks as our new Afterschool STEM Hub Manager to revitalize our federal afterschool STEM policy work. We...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/31/24

Teen Science Cafés: Teens and STEM experts exploring our world together

Photo courtesy of Louisa Otto, Sanford PROMISE Teen Science Café. By Katey Ahmann, Director of Teen Science Café Network and Kristin Bayans, Manager of Network Engagement at Teen Science Café Network. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/25/24

Mapping (climate) justice: Empowering southwest Florida youth through summer STEM learning

Photo courtesy of trubel&co. By Laken Sylvander. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the  intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger      12/13/23

Why civic engagement & youth voice belongs in every afterschool program — including STEM programs!

By Robyn Lingo, Chief of Strategy & Impact, Mikva Challenge. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/06/23

Survey of STEM & community engagement initiatives in afterschool, summer and other out-of-school-time programs

The Afterschool Alliance has launched a new initiative to explore how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs in afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school-time (OST) settings such as science centers, museums, zoos, aquaria, universities, etc. can nurture young people’s...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      10/06/23

MAPSCorps@ Northwestern University: A new nexus for data STEM, civics, and project-based learning

Photo courtesy of Valentin J. Torres. By Nia Abdullah, EdD, executive director of The Equity in Opportunity Research Lab & MAPSCorps at Northwestern University School of Education & Social Policy. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/15/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23

Clemson University Science Outreach Center develops graphic novel to inspire youth-led STEM Justice initiatives

By Renée Lyons,  Director of Science Outreach for Clemson University’s College of Science This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/30/23

A journey of gratitude and personal growth: A reflection on the impact of a transformative youth program

Photos courtesy of NYSCI. By Folashade Teriba, high school student and explainer at the New York Hall of Science. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/09/23

An afterschool STEM advocacy story

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences By Rachael Van Schoik, Science Action Club Manager, California Academy of Sciences. My advocacy story is Science Action Club’s (SAC) advocacy story. A program within the California Academy of Sciences, a world renowned museum and research...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/15/24

Guest blog: Creating tomorrow’s engineers with Design Squad Latinx

By Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach and Marketing Manager of GBH Education. Government, industry, research, and education leaders all agree that a strong engineering workforce is an essential part of the future economy in the U.S. and across the globe. Despite the need for more engineers,...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/04/24

Are you ready for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash. By Dennis Schatz, Institute for Learning Innovation and past president of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Do you remember the excitement around the 2017 total solar eclipse? Well, it is going to happen again on Monday, April 8 of this...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/15/24

Looking ahead in 2024 – what’s coming up for our afterschool STEM work?

I hope the new year has launched well for all of you! After a year of changes in our afterschool STEM work and team, we are energized about the year ahead! 2023 saw us bringing on Leslie Brooks as our new Afterschool STEM Hub Manager to revitalize our federal afterschool STEM policy work. We...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/31/24

Introducing the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review

To start off 2024, the research working group of the Afterschool STEM Hub just released the inaugural edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter! This is a new publication from the Afterschool STEM Hub that aims to provide you with the latest and most relevant findings...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/17/24

Wrapping up 2023 for the Afterschool STEM Hub

As 2023 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking to the year ahead. In working towards our vision of a STEM learning community where high-quality afterschool programs are respected, well-resourced, and accessible for all youth, in 2023, we created tools...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/18/23

STEM Next Opportunity Fund and Jobs for the Future advocate for investments in out-of-school time STEM

Photo from Investing in Out-of-School Time STEM is an Investment in a Robust, Diverse STEM Workforce. Investing in Out-of-School Time STEM is an Investment in a Robust, Diverse STEM Workforce, a recent report co-produced by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund and Jobs for the Future,...

BY: Leslie Brooks      11/17/23

Afterschool STEM programs: Needed now more than ever

By Holly Miller, Ph.D., senior advisor, Afterschool and Summer Learning at STEM Next Opportunity Fund. We’ve all seen the reports—the pandemic had a significant and negative impact on students, not seen just in lost instructional time, but also in engagement, attendance, social...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/13/23

Empowering the next generation of STEM innovators: Join me in the National STEM Challenge!

By Kari Byron, former Mythbusters and EXPLR co-founder. Did you know that YOU, too, belong in STEM? As one of the first female science presenters on the Discovery Channel, I've seen firsthand the importance of representation in the STEM fields; and the power that out-of-school...

BY: Guest Blogger      10/20/23

The White House budget request, STEM education, research, and afterschool

President Joe Biden has unveiled his FY 2024 budget request. The news is mixed for both afterschool and STEM education. The plan seeks increases across most science agencies and the Department of Education, and retains prior requests’ emphasis on research related to emerging technologies and...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      03/23/23

An afterschool STEM advocacy story

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences By Rachael Van Schoik, Science Action Club Manager, California Academy of Sciences. My advocacy story is Science Action Club’s (SAC) advocacy story. A program within the California Academy of Sciences, a world renowned museum and research...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/15/24

Guest blog: Creating tomorrow’s engineers with Design Squad Latinx

By Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach and Marketing Manager of GBH Education. Government, industry, research, and education leaders all agree that a strong engineering workforce is an essential part of the future economy in the U.S. and across the globe. Despite the need for more engineers,...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/04/24

Youth at the helm: Exploring sustainability through teen-led initiatives

By Lindsey DeLorey, Public Events and Youth Programs Coordinator at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has offered a teen program in various forms since the 1960s. Presently known as The Museum Apprentice Program (M.A.P.), it serves as a...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/23/24

Are you ready for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash. By Dennis Schatz, Institute for Learning Innovation and past president of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Do you remember the excitement around the 2017 total solar eclipse? Well, it is going to happen again on Monday, April 8 of this...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/15/24

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Clemson University Science Outreach Center develops graphic novel to inspire youth-led STEM Justice initiatives

By Renée Lyons,  Director of Science Outreach for Clemson University’s College of Science This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/30/23

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23

September resources from Million Girls Moonshot

To help students see themselves with a future in STEM and to broaden understanding of science history, it is important for students to learn about a diverse range of scientists and engineers. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight a few of the Hispanic and Latinx scientists and engineers...

BY: Chris Neitzey      09/20/22

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

The school year has started for many across the country, and the August assets from Million Girls Moonshot focus on opportunities and resources for Networks and partners to build the capacity of program providers around the four transformative programming areas: 1) Equity and Inclusion, 2)...

BY: Chris Neitzey      09/01/22

Foster STEM learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Research suggests that using STEM learning opportunities in after-school educational settings is important to address the...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/15/22