STEM Week - October 17-21 2022

Massachusetts STEM Week 2022 takes place from October 17 - 21. 

• It is a statewide effort to boost the interest, awareness, and ability for all learners to envision themselves in STEM education and employment opportunities.

• The theme for the third annual statewide STEM Week is “See Yourself in STEM,” with a particular focus on the power of mentoring. 

• Women, people of color, first-generation students, low-income individuals, English language learners, and people with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM industries and make up an increasing portion of the overall workforce, but the demographics of STEM fields have remained largely the same. 

Resources

Early Childhood Center

• The following stations get our youngest students having fun while exploring STEM! 

• A variety of STEAM activities for preschool students!   

Elementary School Activities

• PLTW Zero Waste: Food Waste Unit Resources

  • Overview

  • Teacher Guide

  • Family Letter

  • Slides (to go with lessons)

  • Launch Log

• Computer Science 

  • Want to build computational thinking skills in your classroom? Play Rosie's Runtime; an unplugged coding activity in which students program a robotic dog through a maze, collecting dog bones and avoiding mud puddles along the way! 

• Incorporate STEM & Literacy

  • Looking for some diverse picture books for students to relate to?  We have two sets of read-a-louds that are read-alouds are perfect to get students “seeing themselves in STEM”!  Set 1 and Set 2. In addition, use this journal to have students reflect on all the STEM superstars they have learned about in Set 1. 

• SPECIALISTS: Click here for ideas to incorporate STEM into your classes with recycled materials.

• Time to build! Check out these STEM Challenges

• STEM Challenge: What to do with a box? 

• My Pumpkin Project! 

• DIY Bouncy Ball Project! Kids love slime, this rendition allows them to change conditions and measure the effect it has on the height the ball bounces. Students are using the scientific inquiry cycle. 

• Oreo Moon Phases! This project addresses early elementary science standards and involves cookies! 

• Save Fred the Worm! This engineering design lesson has students use their critical thinking to save Fred the Worm. 

Intermediate School Activities

• Participants will listen to a story about a young scientist, Ada Twist, who asks BIG questions! The story is read to them by an astronaut! Students will respond to thoughtful questions about the text. This activity can be done either synchronously or asynchronously.   

• Help students learn to draw with this STEM Directed Drawing Choice Board!  

• Have your students participate in a STEM Challenge choice board. These STEM challenges can be done at home with minimal materials and help! These are a perfect way to provide students a screen break and allow them to be innovative and creative.  

• Save Fred the Worm! This engineering design lesson has students use their critical thinking to save Fred the Worm. 

Middle School Activities

• This slide deck contains free posters to print that highlight Women in STEM. Use this to celebrate their contributions in class or have students select someone of their choosing.   

• Teachers and students learn more about the Healthcare Career Field! Complete the scavenger hunt using the linked resources. 

• Middle School Student Menu

High School Activities

• Westfield High School Students are invited to attend the STEM Career panel where they will hear from STEM professionals from all over the country.  A STEM career panel will take place Friday, October 21st at 12:30. Sign- up for students is in the career center. 

• This slide deck contains free posters to print that highlight Women in STEM. Use this to celebrate their contributions in class or have students select someone of their choosing. 

• Teachers and students learn more about the Healthcare Career Field! Complete the scavenger hunt using the linked resources. 

Lindsey Ayers, District STEM Coach 

l.ayers@schoolsofwestfield.org 

AS YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STEM WEEK, 

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR SHINING STARS!

We would like to extend a big thank you to the members of the STEM Week Curriculum Committee, Amy Haramut, John Granger, Joanne Hewins, Kate Bust, Jennifer Kubic, Leah Rucki, and Annalise Eak, these activities and lessons would not have been possible without their hard work and support!