STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models
Lesson Plan Unit
MCLA Capstone Seminar Spring 2020
Evanna Huda
Introducing girls to the fun, engaging world of STEM fields.
Goal of the STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit will engage students, especially girls, in STEM through introducing students to relevant, interesting, and fun STEM careers role models.
4th grade students will be introduced to these STEM careers of women and men role models through interactive lessons, engaging role model classroom visits, and a hands-on final project. The unit is designed to be implemented over the course of about one month in a classroom setting, but can be adapted for distance learning because all the materials are included in the lessons. Although the focus of the unit is on STEM women career role models, to help appeal to girls, STEM men career role models are also included as to not alienate boys.
Why Is STEM Education Important?
Starting at an early age, girls are losing interest in STEM education, due to reasons like unengaging activities, negative stereotypes, and few STEM women role models. By early adolescence, girls are less interested in STEM than boys, leading to girls not pursuing STEM education.
Women are therefore underrepresented in STEM career fields. For example, women hold less than ¼ of jobs in STEM fields like Engineering and Computer Science. This is putting women at a disadvantage, since STEM careers are lucrative and expanding.
Introducing young students, especially girls, to the engaging world of STEM careers is important to help interest girls in STEM, leading to equal representation in the STEM fields.
American Association of University Women (AAUW). 2010. Why so few? Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Washington, DC: American Association of University Women.
How To Get Girls Interested in STEM?
The STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit is constructed on the following four research based strategies for getting girls interested in STEM. The strategies are from SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM:
Make STEM real and meaningful by engaging girls in activities that draw on their interests, knowledge, and skills, helping them form positive STEM identities.
Engage girls in hands-on, inquiry-based STEM experiences that incorporate practices used by STEM professionals, helping them re-define how they see STEM.
Support girls in pushing against existing stereotypes and the need to conform to traditional gender roles, helping them to stop potential STEM stereotypes.
Introduce girls to diverse women role models from varied STEM careers, helping them to see potential futures in STEM careers.
PBS Kids. (2019, June). SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM. scigirlsconnect.org.
Together, these strategies form the foundation for the
STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit.
Hello!
My name is Evanna and I’ve been involved in the elementary education field for many years, holding various teaching positions. I am currently enrolled at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in the Master of Education Program. This website represents the culmination of my research for my capstone project: STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit. I decided to focus my Master's research on STEM careers of women and men role models because teaching STEM role models to students, especially girls, is paramount if we want gender equality in the workforce and in society. Outside the classroom setting, I enjoy yoga, kickboxing, baking, and spending time with my friends and sisters.
Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers for engaging ELA lessons!
Contact me: evannarose.huda@gmail.com