Classroom Lessons
SECTION 1
STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit
Section 1 of the STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit consists of 10 classroom lessons. These lessons are grouped into 4 modules by the broad STEM career fields of:
Space, Earth and Nature, Computer Technology, Engineering
The objective of these lessons is to "spark" students' interest in the STEM fields by providing students with examples of influential STEM women and men role models.
Unit Introduction
In this lesson, students complete the “K” and “W” section of a STEM KWL Chart and then share them in a class discussion. Students then write a few sentences and draw a picture describing what scientists do. This introductory lesson assesses students’ prior knowledge about STEM, preparing them for the STEM Careers of Women and Men Role Models Unit, and uses multiple fun activities, like writing and drawing.
Module 1: Space
In this lesson, students first have a discussion about Space. After this discussion, students take notes during a slide presentation about STEM Space Careers of women and men role models. To end the lesson, students write a paragraph detailing their favorite Space career. This lesson introduces students to influential women and men in Space careers in an engaging way with videos and pictures, and gets students thinking about their favorite fun Space career by writing an opinion paragraph.
In this lesson, students first review the STEM Space careers by completing a STEM career matching worksheet. After this review, students perform a class experiment about gravity. To end the lesson, in a think-pair-share, partners complete a prompt sentence on the board and discuss their favorite part of the experiment. This lesson introduces the STEM Space topic of gravity in an engaging and fun experiment, helping students get first-hand experience with a topic many of the STEM Space careers women and men deal with on a daily basis. The think-pair-share activity also helps students reflect and share their favorite part of the gravity experiment.
Module 2: Earth and Nature
In this lesson, students first have an affinity mapping discussion about Earth and Nature. After this discussion, students take notes during a slide presentation about STEM Earth and Nature Careers of women and men role models. To end the lesson, students write a paragraph detailing what they learned about STEM Earth and Nature careers. This lesson introduces students to influential women and men in Earth and Nature careers in an engaging way with videos and pictures, and gets students recalling what they learned about Earth and Nature careers by writing a factual paragraph.
In this lesson, students first review the Earth and Nature careers by completing a STEM career matching worksheet. After this review, in groups, students design a new animal using assigned traits in a Design-an-Animal Activity. To end the lesson, groups present their new animal to the class. This lesson introduces the STEM Earth and Nature topic of animal traits in an engaging and hands-on group activity, helping students get real-world experience with a topic many of the STEM Earth and Nature careers women and men deal with on a daily basis. Having groups present their new animal to the class also helps students gain practice in presenting, something students will need to do later on in Section 3 during their "Living Museum" presentations.
Module 3: Computer Technology
In this lesson, students first have a discussion about Computer Technology. After this discussion, students take notes during a slide presentation about STEM Computer Technology careers of women and men role models. To end the lesson, students write a few sentences about their favorite type of Computer Technology to use and present it to the class. This lesson introduces students to influential women and men in Computer Technology careers in an engaging way with videos and pictures, and gets students writing and presenting about their favorite type of Computer Technology.
In this lesson, students first review STEM Computer Technology careers by completing a STEM career matching worksheet. After this review, students perform an individual coding computer activity. To end the lesson, students have a brief class discussion about the coding activity. This lesson introduces students to the STEM Computer Technology topic of coding in an interactive and engaging activity, helping students get hands-on experience with a topic many of the STEM Computer Technology careers women and men deal with on a daily basis. The discussion at the end of the lesson also helps students reflect and think more deeply about the coding activity.
Module 4: Engineering
In this lesson, students first have a snowball discussion about Engineering. After this discussion, students take notes during a slide presentation about STEM Engineering careers of women and men role models. To end the lesson, students write a paragraph detailing what Engineering career they would like to have and what they would design and build. This lesson introduces students to influential women and men in Engineering careers in an engaging way with videos and pictures, and gets students thinking about a potential career in Engineering by writing an opinion paragraph.
In this lesson, students first review STEM Engineering careers by completing a STEM career matching worksheet. After this review, in pairs, students perform a paper airplane design experiment. To end the lesson, students have a brief discussion about the paper airplane design experiment. This lesson introduces students to the STEM Engineering topic of designing and building in an interactive and engaging activity, helping students get hands-on experience with a topic many of the STEM Engineering careers women and men deal with on a daily basis. The brief discussion at the end of the lesson also helps students reflect and think more deeply about the paper airplane design experiment.
Unit Lesson Review
In this lesson, students complete the “L" section of a STEM KWL Chart and then share them in a class discussion. Then, in groups, students will play the game Jeopardy, themed to the STEM careers role models. Having students complete the "L" section of the KWL Chart and play Jeopardy lets students understand how much knowledge about STEM careers they have learned during the previous lessons.