MASS STEM WEEK 2020 DESIGN CHALLENGES
The STEM Advisory Council coordinated with seven organizations across the state to offer schools and afterschool programs a menu of options for STEM-focused Design Challenges during Mass STEM Week 2020.
Click here to watch presentations by the Design Challenge hosts during MSEN’s September 30th Quarterly Meeting, and click here to view the slides from those presentations.
WPI STEM Education Center
Click Here: I Am STEM, STEM I Am!
Early Education, Elementary School, Middle School
Website: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/stem-education-center/professional-development/at-wpi/stem-week-2020
Design Challenge Description:
The "I Am STEM, STEM I Am!" challenge (for PK-5 students) focuses on solving problems in books and is designed to empower students to become proud problem solvers. All lessons are aligned with grade-level ELA and math/STE standards, can be done in the classroom or remotely, and use every-day & recyclable materials. The I am STEM lesson library will be available to all educators before, during, and after STEM Week.
Contact Name and Email: STEM Education Center at WPI: stemcenter@wpi.edu
Museum of Science (in partnership with EiE)
Click Here: Safe, Clean, Accessible Necessity of Water
Early Education, Elementary School, Middle School
Flyer: Click here
Design Challenge Description:
To allow educators and students to see themselves in STEM, the Museum of Science, one of the world’s largest science centers and New England’s most attended cultural institution, and EiE, an award-winning leader in Pre-K-8 curriculum, have developed three engineering design challenges to share with educators and students across Massachusetts. These activities engage learners in standards-based design challenges to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
PreK-2: PreK through grade 2 learners, as engineers, will learn about the needs of an animal that is native to Massachusetts. What does it need to live? How do humans impact its habitat? What can be done to protect it? Can we use the Engineering Design Process to find a solution?
G3-5: Learners, as engineers, in grades 3 through grade 5 will research various animals to identify and analyze what they need in order to survive within a local ecological network. As their investigation begins, students will be alerted about an increase of pollution in local waterways! How has this human impact affected our food web ecology? What can we do to help? Maybe we can use the Engineering Design Process!
G6-8: Learners, as engineers, in grades 6-8 will identify and research the different water and wastewater systems in their own neighborhoods and investigate the human impact on their local environment. How does a wastewater system work? How do humans impact the quality of water? What can we do to help?
Contact Name and Email:
Jill Olson, EiE Director of Operations and Professional Development: jolson@mos.org
Kids in Tech
Click Here: Cybersecurity - Keeping Our Networks Secure
Early Education, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Design Challenge Description:
In this STEM Week Challenge, Kids in Tech asks students to think their way through standards-based activities to consider how the internet works and how they can use the internet safely. By participating in puzzle-solving games, students will explore how individuals can use the internet to obtain information and how they can make sure their personal information is safe. We have activities specifically designed for K-5, 6-8, 9-12 around a variety of cybersecurity topics.
Free, K-12 offering for all schools and out-of-school time agencies 10+ instructional hours of hands-on learning where students cover a number of topics in CyberSecurity Student learning experience designed to be delivered in a remote/distance learning setting to provide the most flexibility to schools but can also be implemented in the classroom setting Educators can also join our Private Facebook Group to share their stories and get support around the Challenge
Contact Name and Email: Olu Ibrahim, Executive Director: info@kidsintech.org
MIND Research Institute (in partnership with STMath)
Click Here: Math Maker Project - Play, Create, Share
Elementary School
Website:https://www.mindresearch.org/math-makers
Design Challenge Description:
Focused on elementary levels, students engage in math-related games and work with local game design industry leaders. Students then launch their games and capture gameplay data that will receive feedback.
Contact Names and Emails:
Kim Mogavero, Director, Social Impact Grants & Compliance: kmogavero@mindresearch.org
Brandon Smith, Product Director - Lead Mathematician, MIND Research: bsmith@mindresearch.org
FitMoney
Click Here: STEM Business Plan Challenge
Middle School
Website: https://www.fitmoney.org/stemchallenge
Design Challenge Description:
STEM and Financial Literacy are critical components of a quality education as we prepare today’s students to become the innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators of tomorrow. The FitMoney team has created a design challenge that gives Middle School leaders the opportunity to critically think about and create solutions to address the current issues students face today. Through a socially conscious lens, students will draft a product design, and learn the critical elements to starting a successful business venture to produce, market and sell their product.
Challenge: How can we get kids to wear masks more often and correctly?
Contact Name and Email:
Jessica Pelletier, Executive Director: jpelletier@fitmoney.org
Wade Institute for Science Education (in partnership with the National Marine Life Center and the Lloyd Center for the Environment)
Article: The Survivor Island STEM Week Challenge Engages K-College Students in Inquiry-Based Learning
Click Here: Survivor Island
Middle School, Elementary School, and High School
Website: https://www.wadeinstitutema.org/stem-week-survivor-island-challenge/
Design Challenge Description:
Your class has been stranded on a deserted island and the only source of freshwater is quite a distance from your encampment. You must find a way to move water to the encampment and then filter it to make it safe to drink.
The Survivor Island STEM Week Challenge integrates inquiry-based science concepts and the engineering design process in an engaging and exciting way! Teachers will receive a curriculum guide and support from the three sponsoring organizations. Participate in the pre-challenge teacher workshop and receive a kit of materials for the challenge.
The challenge is designed for middle school students but is easily adaptable to upper elementary or high school students. The challenge can take place in either the classroom or remote learning settings.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual “challenge showcase” on the last day of STEM Week!
Contact Name and Email:
Wade Institute for Science Education: wadeinstitute@wadeinstitutema.org
Gale Force Education
Click Here: The Empowered Design - Power Grid Explorations
High School
Website: https://www.powergridkit.com/partners/mass-stem-week-2020
Design Challenge Description:
Bring the excitement of power engineering to your high school student wherever they are. Life may not seem normal right now, but electricity is flowing and the lights are on—thanks to the power grid. Engage your students in exploring the grid and how it works through a hands-on design challenge designing generators, model houses and a mini power grid.
Contact Name and Email:
Michael Arquin, Director & Founder, KidWind Project: michael@kidwind.org