CELLCRAFT by BioBuilder

Grade Levels:
Middle and High School; Grades 6-12

Design Challenge Description:
What would you build with biology?

• A new kind of food?
• Sustainable fuel?
• A personalized medicine?

Synthetic biology brings the tools of engineering to the field of biology, influencing our lives and our world. In this week-long challenge, you will learn from scientific researchers about the tools and techniques to reprogram cells with DNA. Then you will put those tools to work and propose a biodesign to meet a local or global need. This program is designed to accommodate online, in-person, and hybrid classroom models.

Program Highlights:

• Four hours of online teaching from BioBuilder’s faculty that you can join in real time or watch later as recorded videos
• In-class and after-school activities including web challenges, design activities, simulated experiments, and a hands-on lab kit to collect and interpret measurement data
• Downloadable chapters from BioBuilder’s textbook and daily assignments to reinforce the science and engineering principles we teach
• CELLCRAFT culminates with an online Project Showcase for everyone to present their biotechnology ideas

Students and teachers who complete this collaborative STEM Week Challenge will join the worldwide community of BioBuilders, opening up more opportunities to design-build-and-test biology.

To learn more about the challenge, view this flyer or watch this short video.

Ready to be creative, think big, and build a better world with biology?
To join the challenge, register using this form, or contact Stephanie Ovitt at stephanie@biobuilder.org.

Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge with CoderZ

Grade Levels:
Elementary, Middle, and High School; Grades 3-12

Design Challenge Description:
CoderZ invites students and educators to complete the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge during Massachusetts STEM Week 2021.

In this 3-hour challenge for grades 3-12, you will be placed in an Amazon Fulfillment Center to solve real-world problems as you get customers their packages (next day of course), using coding and robotics. The Challenge is packed with real-world STEM experiences, including how Amazon Fulfillment Centers use coding and robotics to deliver our orders every day. Your future engineers will see themselves in STEM as they discover how algorithms, machine learning, and more power the Amazon fulfillment process.

Once the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge is complete, transport into an ACTUAL Amazon Fulfillment Center as you take a 1-hour VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP!

Be one of the first 140 teachers to complete this step to receive the $75 gift card. There are three levels packed with missions designed to take your students from coding novices to total pros.

As an extension to the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge, Amazon Future Engineer is providing free access to CoderZ’s curriculum to 1,000 Title I teachers. The roster is filling up fast, so sign up today.

STEM Discovery Sessions for Teachers are designed to show you how to navigate the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge with students, set up classes, invite students, etc. These sessions occur from 3:30 to 4:30 pm EDT and are offered on these days: October 12, 2021, October 13, 2021, and October 14, 2021

Recorded Webinar

Register for October 13

To learn more, visit: https://biz.gocoderz.com/massachusetts-stem-week

Questions? Contact Kathy Scott at kathy@gocoderz.com or 215.589.3954, and to schedule a demo, visit https://calendly.com/kathygocoderz.

FIRST Robotics WPI

Design Challenge Description:
New England FIRST invites students and educators across the Commonwealth to engage with robotics teams through MA STEM week and learn more about how to get hands-on with robotics!

Robotics Road Show During STEM Week 2021
Our NE FIRST Robotics teams will be making appearances at schools, libraries, YMCAs and even local parks (schedule of times and locations will be posted as we get closer to STEM Week). We will also offer virtual demos for those that might not be able to make it out. If you want to schedule a team to come to your school or your community, email first@wpi.edu, and we will do everything we can to make it happen!

NE FIRST / WPI Robotics Grant for Educators
As part of STEM Week, NE FIRST and the WPI Robotics Resource Center are providing grants for educators to bring robotics into their classrooms, along with enriching, hands-on learning opportunities to students historically underserved in STEM. This opportunity will use the FIRST LEGO League Explore and Challenge Program and the SPIKE Prime platform from LEGO.

To be eligible to apply, educators must be working in grades 2-8 in a school-wide Massachusetts Title 1 school. Educators must be willing to run the 12-session course with at least 3 unique groups of students (over 3 years or less) to apply.

Grant applications are open from October 12 at 12PM through November 5 at 8PM.

To learn more about what the grant will include, please see the following links:
Explore Grant: Grades 2-4: https://info.firstinspires.org/class-pack/firstlegoleagueexplore
Challenge Grant: Grades 4-8: https://info.firstinspires.org/class-pack/firstlegoleaguechallenge

To learn more, visit https://nefirst.org/ma-stem-week/ or contact us at first@wpi.edu.

Engineering for Resilience: Exploring Threats to the New England Grid by Gale Force Education

Grade Level:
High School; Grades 9-12
Can be adapted to Middle School and Informal Education
Short Video Overview: https://vimeo.com/589482977

Design Challenge Description:
Gale Force Education brings the excitement of power engineering to your high school student through Engineering for Resilience (EfR), which focuses on the design and operation of New England’s power grid. In a series of challenges aligned to MA STEM standards, students will design, test, and improve power grid system components and a model power grid system.

To learn more or to join the challenge, visit https://bit.ly/2UMvRdN or contact us at michael@kidwind.org.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Smart Assistants and Smart Systems by Kids in Tech

Grade Level:
Middle School; Grades 5-8
Short Video Overview: https://vimeo.com/591175730/a79c220e86

Design Challenge Description:
Kids in Tech’s STEM Challenge will help students in the Commonwealth visualize the concepts of AI, understand how these systems affect the way our world works, and appreciate the potential they have to change the future. Students will utilize two online platforms, Machine Learning for Kids and Scratch, through which they will complete engaging activities that allows them to see what is possible with AI concepts and technology. The challenge will culminate in a project in which students will design their own Smart Cities using AI principles and programming language.

Pre-Challenge Office Hours:
We are here to answer any questions you might have about implementing this STEM Challenge!

September 28, October 1, and October 8:
Session 1 from 12:00PM–1:00PM and Session 2 from 3:00PM–4:00PM

To learn more or to join the challenge, visit us at https://kidsintech.org/stem-week/ or contact us at info@kidsintech.org.

Mass STEM Hub and Project Lead the Way

Grade Level:
Middle and High School; Grades 6-12

Design Challenge Description:
As part of Mass STEM Week 2021, Mass STEM Hub, a program of the One8 Foundation, is providing an opportunity for schools to connect directly with industry professionals to help students deepen their learning and link their coursework to real-world careers. With Student Industry Connects for STEM Week 2021, middle and high school students (grades 6-12) are invited to submit Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and OpenSciEd (OSE) projects from Fall 2021 to receive authentic feedback from STEM professionals on their work. Classrooms that submit projects will also have the opportunity to continue the conversation with professionals through follow-up virtual classroom visits. Not a PLTW or OSE school yet? Middle school students can still participate through a free 10-hour sample PLTW project. Check out this video to hear directly from students on the impact real world feedback can have.

Visit the Mass STEM Hub Student Industry Connects website for more information, including a link to register. Contact connect@mass-stemhub.org with any questions.

Priority registration for non-PLTW or OSE schools by September 22nd, with final registration for all schools by October 8th.

Engineering Design Challenges by the Museum of Science

Grade Level:
Elementary and Middle School; Grades PreK-8

Design Challenge Description:
The Museum of Science is thrilled to support Mass STEM Week 2021. Together we will create a generation of problem solvers and inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone.

Engineering Design Challenges
The Museum has developed three engineering design challenges for educators and students across the Commonwealth in grades PK-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Each of the challenges are age-appropriate and allow for flexibility and adjustments:
PreK-2: Designing a Model Turtle Habitat
3-5: Sustainable Solutions for Marine Resources
6-8: Make it Drain

If you are an educator and are interested in running the design challenge in your classroom during Mass STEM Week, please go to learn.eie.org to create a free account and learn more.

The Museum will be running the design challenges on-site in our new Engineering Design Workshop exhibit during Mass STEM Week on:
Tuesday, 10/19 from 10:00am - 12:00pm (3rd-5th grade)
Wednesday, 10/20 from 10:00am - 12:00pm (PK-2nd grade)
Thursday, 10/21 from 10:00am - 12:00pm (6th-8th grade)

More information about Mass STEM Week coming soon to mos.org. To learn more about the challenge, contact Lesley Kennedy, Manager of Professional Development, at lkennedy@mos.org.

Follow the Museum of Science and EiE on social media during Mass STEM Week and share photos or videos. Use hashtags #MassSTEMWeek and #SeeYourselfinSTEM

How Do We Improve the Health of Our City Using STEAM? by United Way and BoSTEM

Grade Level:
Elementary, Middle, and High School; Grades K-12
Short Video Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZjhJ54MOKQ&list=PLq43hHJrPO59Q5inhwZXhfvTTCW_qDtat&index=2

Design Challenge Description:
In partnership with Boston Public Schools, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley’s (UWMB) BoSTEM initiative challenges students and educators across the Commonwealth to explore social justice for civics by using STEM as the lever for change. The impact of social justice issues on youth has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and our current racial injustice climate. Through this design challenge, teachers will support their students in local data collection and synthesis to build a social justice message and project around equity in the city for issues like our deteriorating environment, lack of affordable housing, transportation equity and food security.

To learn more, contact us at bostem@supportunitedway.org. To join the challenge, fill out this form by Sepetmber 10.

Overview video (runtime: 20:18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naLziaBjkGo&list=PLq43hHJrPO59Q5inhwZXhfvTTCW_qDtat

Hurricane Heroes! Storm City, Massachusetts by the Wade Institute for Science Education

Grade Level:
Middle School; Grades 5-8
Can be adapted to Upper Elementary and High School

Design Challenge Description:
Imagine that a category 6 hurricane has hit Storm City, MA. The city has been flooded by 14 inches of rain and faces several problems that MUST be solved by your engineering team! You must find a way to evacuate people to safety and move floodwaters out of homes and businesses that are without electricity using an innovative design or an alternative source of energy. Students will be challenged to: 1) build a transport vessel that will move 25 people and remain afloat for five minutes and; 2) build a water movement system using gravity or alternative sources of energy to move water 2 km away from homes and businesses.

Teachers, your students won’t have all the fun! Experience Hurricane Heroes! Storm City, MA from the student perspective during an inquiry-based, interactive pre-challenge professional development workshop. Learn how the phenomena-based challenge will allow you to use grade-level appropriate science and technology concepts that address Massachusetts curriculum standards and incorporate engineering concepts with physical and earth science disciplinary core ideas.

Hurricane Heroes! Storm City, MA is designed for middle school students but is easily adaptable for upper elementary or high school students. It can take place in your classroom or in remote learning settings. During the week of October 25th, students will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual challenge showcase to share their innovative solutions to real-world problems.

To learn more or to join the challenge, visit us at wadeinstitutema.org or contact wadeinstitute@wadeinstitutema.org.

Virtual teacher pre-challenge workshop dates are Saturday, September 18th (8:30AM–1:30PM) OR Tuesday, September 28th and Wednesday, September 29th (3:30PM–6:00PM).

All registered teachers will receive a curriculum guide and support from the three sponsoring organizations. Massachusetts teachers who participate in the pre-challenge teacher workshop will also receive a kit of materials for the challenge.