MA STEM Week & STEM Bins
Massachusetts STEM Week
Massachusetts STEM Week 2022 takes place from October 17 – 21 (inclusive of the weekend before and after), and is organized by the Executive Office of Education and the STEM Advisory Council in partnership with the state’s 9 Regional STEM Networks (we're part of the Metro West Network). The theme for the fifth annual statewide STEM Week is “See Yourself in STEM,” which is aimed at giving every student the opportunity to envision themselves in STEM-related education or a career as they grow. The Mass STEM Week website has resources and more inforamtion about the week and STEM initiatives.
We will be participating mainly through our Technology Classes but we are marking this week with the handing out of STEM Bins!!!
STEM Bins
During technology classes in the coming week, students will be receiving their STEM bins. These will go back to class with the students for the remainder of the school year and will be collected in June. Students will learn how to use these bins independently this week so there is nothing extra you have to do at all! Additionall, here are some ways STEM bins can be used in the classroom:
Use STEM Bins for morning work/indoor recess: Paperless! No prep! STEM Bins are a simple way to engage and activate those little brains each morning or during a rainy indoor recess.
Use STEM Bins for early finishers: STEM Bins are perfect to fill those small transitions and windows of time between lessons.
Use STEM Bins for literacy centers: STEM Bins can be a big help for your reluctant writers since they allow students to create before writing. Younger students can write words/sentences about their structures, while older students can write descriptive paragraphs and imaginative stories about their structures.
Use STEM Bins for student incentives: STEM bins can serve as a “reward” for students to finish their work. Many students with behavioral issues could be more motivated to make good choices if they know they will get to “play” with their STEM bin.
Here is a quick sheet with additional information and pictures of what is in each grade's box.
STEM bins are a useful tool to help students develop skills of discovery, problem-solving, and innovation. This unplugged activity meets our students where they are developmentally and removes the focus on a screen that can come with technology-related activities.
