Check out The Million Girls Moonshot’s November Quality Trainings!

ACRES Moonshot Virtual STEM Coach

• Receive a $500 stipend to attend training plus $1000 for every cohort you coach. Applications due November 23rd — Sign up today!

Are you an afterschool leader and looking to build capacity for STEM engagement in your afterschool program? Would you like to train your staff through a live, nationally recognized coaching program? In partnership with the Million Girls Moonshot, the ACRES team is looking for job-secure afterschool program leaders (i.e. Site Directors, Site Coordinators, STEM Specialists, Professional Development and Training staff) who work directly with frontline staff to be trained to become an ACRES Virtual STEM Coach. As an ACRES Virtual STEM Coach, you will build your organization’s capacity by training 3 to 6 members of your staff in at least 2 ACRES modules. This is your chance to be part of an educational change on how we train and support educators to facilitate high quality, engaging STEM that reaches all youth.

After-School Math Plus Curriculum Training

• November 22 9:30-10:45 PST / 12:30-1:45 EST Register Here Meeting ID: 931 5017 3110
• December 13th 9:30-10:45 PST / 12:30-1:45 EST Register Here Meeting ID: 931 5017 3110

Are you a program looking for an engaging math curriculum and resources you can implement in your afterschool program immediately? In this workshop series, participants will be introduced to After-School Math Plus, an evidence-based curriculum to support students in developing a positive math identity by exploring  mathematics in everyday experiences. The highly engaging, hands-on curriculum also builds students’ awareness of the importance  of math skills for future educational choices and career options. The program engages students in grades 3-8 who are attending out-of-school-time programs.

Techbridge Girls Equity Cohort

Research tells us that responsive learning environments can make all the difference in girls’ sustained interest in STEM. To that end, we created the STEM Equity Learning Community intensive training to equip OST program managers and site directors so that more equitable learning spaces are available for girls, especially Black, Indigenous, and Latina girls, across the U.S.

The 2-hour, virtual STEM Equity Learning Community sessions are scheduled from January to May on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am Pacific | 1pm Eastern. Each participant will receive a $1500 stipend to participate. Apply here by December 1st.

• Attend an informational webinar November 9th 10:15am Pacific | 1:15pm Eastern. Register here

ACRES Training Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions

• Dates: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST on the following Mondays: 11/07/2022, 11/21/2022, 12/05/2022

Questions begin a path towards 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 new summer 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. Register: Use the code AC224PQ

ACRES Training Cohort: Facilitating Science Practices

• Dates: 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM EST on the following Tuesdays: 11/8/2022, 11/29/2022, 12/13/2022

How can we make sure that ‘hands on’ science experiences for youth are also ‘minds on?’ In this module, participants learn how to support youth as they engage in the science practices to learn science ideas, including planning and conducting investigations around testable questions. They’ll talk about the similarities and differences of questioning in science versus questioning in engineering contexts. Register: Use the code AC283SP

ACRES Training Cohort: ACRES Taster Workshop

Dates: 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM EST on Thursday December 8, 2022

Come together to experience a sampling of ACRES skills. This 1-hour virtual taster session will have you reflecting on when you give youth a voice, and thinking about how you can embed math into your daily routines and will showcase lots of virtual tools. Join this live, free, hands-on, and very engaging session and you’ll be sure to leave with lots of strategies to help you facilitate STEM in your afterschool programs. Register: Use the code AC290WS

ACRES Training Cohort: Facilitating Engineering Practices

• Dates: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM EST on the following Tuesdays: 1/10/2023, 1/24/2023 & 2/7/2023

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. Register: Use the code AC285EP

Quality STEM Webinar: Dimensions of Success Program Planning Tool

• January 23rd and 25th 10:30 – 12:-00 PM PT1:30 – 3:00 PM ET (register by January 5, 2023)

The DoS-PPT is a free resource for facilitators of out-of-school and in-school STEM learning programs. The planning tool provides a brief introduction to each dimension of the DoS framework, sample videos, and examples to guide the use of DoS when preparing activity plans for youth. During this training, participants will:

1. Develop high-level understanding of the DoS Framework, dimensions of quality
2. Working with the PPT learn how to plan high quality STEM learning experiences using the DoS Program Planning Tool
3. Work with the newly revised DoS Program Planning Tool to identify and plan for high-quality program and activity planning practices.

Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Training

After-School Math PLUS is an evidence-based program that provides fun, real-world mathematics activities for students in grades 3 through 8. Each unit emphasizes identity development, careers, role models, strategies for family involvement and inclusion of students with disabilities. In this workshop series, will be trained on the implementation and activity guides designed around four thematic units that engage young people. The workshop series is best suited for program front-line staff, site leaders, and staff trainers. It is equally appropriate for those with prior math teaching experience and those who are new to it. Sessions will meet on Tuesdays:

• November 22nd 9:30-10:45 PST / 12:30-1:45 EST. Login:  https://zoom.us/j/93150173110
• December 13th 9:30-10:45 PST / 12:30-1:45 EST. Login: https://zoom.us/j/93150173110

NASA Engineering 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 with NASA activities.  

1. Lesson 1: Build An Airplane (Engineering Design Process Activity) – Build an airplane that has ailerons, elevators and a rudder. 
2. Lesson 2: Build a Satellite (Engineering Design Process Activity) – This lesson provides students with an understanding of satellites, their use and structure, and power systems. In this potentially multi-day activity, students will use the engineering design process to design, build, test and improve a model satellite. 
3. Lesson 3: Women@NASA: Role Models (Role Models and Mentors Connection) Watch a video of one of the women who are engineers and work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. After watching a video, have the youth write a paragraph about the engineer, one wondering what they have about the engineer, and one question they would ask the engineer.
4. Lesson 4: Make a Soda Can Engine (Engineering Design Process) – Students will investigate the action-reaction principle (Newton’s third law of motion) by creating a water-propelled engine. By observing the device in action and changing certain variables, students will explore the properties of engines and the dynamics behind directionality and thrust.
5. Lesson 5: Women@NASA: Careers (Role Models and Mentor Connection) – Many people dream of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.  Hear about the fascinating careers at NASA.  After watching the short video, youth write a paragraph about the career they might want in STEM.

Looking for EVEN More 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.

See IT to Be IT: Pathways to Computer Science Careers

Calling all K-12 educators, mentors, corporate employers with community mentoring programs, and aspiring community scientists! In preparation for Computer Science Education Week (#CSEdWeek), please join Million Women Mentors for See IT to Be IT: Pathways to Computer Science Careers,  a virtual event on Monday, November 21, 2022, at 2 pm ET/ 11am PT.

During the virtual event, Infosys Foundation USA and Learning Blade® will present meaningful and engaging ways in which K-12 educators and mentors can support girls in pursuing a computer science education and computer science careers. Attendees will receive free educational and career awareness resources produced by Learning Blade and funded by Infosys Foundation USA to be used with K-12 students during CSEdWeek.

• Register Here

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.

Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Encourage partners to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access STEM  activities at your finger-touch!  You’ll find it in Mizzen here. 

Featured Activities & Playlists

• Mizzen Playlist: STEM Activities for K-5th Grade in Small Groups – This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for small groups of students.
• Mizzen Playlist: Science Notebooks for 3rd – 12th Grade – Keeping a notebook can help your students think and act like scientists and engineers. Sample these easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your program.
• Mizzen Module: S.INQ Up Earth and Space for 6-8th Grade – Earth and Space is an inquiry and exploration-based curriculum that uses hands-on activities focused on the relationships between the earth, the solar system, and human impacts on our global environment.

• Broadening STEM: Pride in STEM – Pride in STEM is a charity run by an independent group of LGBTQIA+ scientists & engineers from around the world. On this website, find resources, blog posts, events, and more.
• Broadening STEM: 500 Queer Scientists – A database of LGBTQ+ researchers, professors, program managers, and students in a range of STEM fields: engineering, data science, chemistry, psychology, and many more disciplines.There are 1,591 people and counting profiled on this website. This database provides students, educators, and practitioners with an easy way to identify LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM in order to highlight their work and/or network with them

ASSETS FROM THE IF/THEN® COLLECTION

These assets feature IF/THEN® Ambassadors Nicole Jackson, LGBTQIA+ identifying health technologist and Dana Bolles, LGBTQIA+ identifying spaceflight engineering and advocate for disabled people in STEM. These assets can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, and conference presentations.

• Ambassador Profile, Long Profile, Nicole Jackson
• Ambassador Profile, Long Profile, Dana Bolles

National STEM Day resources

We are kicking off November with a blast on #NationalSTEMDay! Explore @NASA challenges, #STEM toolkits, and virtual field trips! @NASASTEM has plenty of resources for K-12 classrooms. Inspire students to reach for the stars. ✨ https://www.nasa.gov/stem

• Webinar: The Genius of Play and STEAM.
• When: November 8th, 2022 at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern
  This webinar presented by The Toy Association in collaboration with NGCP will introduce you to  free resources available through The Genius of Play initiative. This initiative provides parents, caregivers, and educators with research, expert advice, and ready-to-use ideas and activities to engage kids of all ages in a fun and skill-building play.
• Registration: https://ngcproject.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ngcproject/event.jsp?event=707

Resources for #NativeAmericanHeritage Month

Watch to learn how she uses her art skills to visually communicate science. IF/THEN® Collection (ifthencollection.org)

Astronaut @AstroDuke became the first #NativeAmerican woman in space. Nicole Mann from the Wailacki tribe of the Round Valley Indian Tribes hopes her experience will inspire indigenous youth to shoot for the stars. Learn more about this role model here: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann