Vermont Afterschool is proud to be part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through OST programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot is an initiative of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot seeks to re-imagine who can engineer, who can build, who can make. See below for some information and resources that can help advance this goal!
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This month, MGM celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). Our country owes a lot of our success to many hardworking, innovative AAPI computer scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals. These assets will support Networks and program providers as they pay tribute to and highlight a host of AAPI professionals who have contributed to the STEM fields.
Inventors and Inventions
- Printable Famous Female Inventors and their Inventions for Kids: Learn about famous scientists and inventors and their inventions. This free downloadable, printable booklet has lessons on inventing.
- 5 Tips to Inspire an Innovative Mindset: Whether you’re carving your path to entrepreneurship or have found yourself in an innovation rut, here are five strategies in this article to help you develop an innovative mindset and get your mental gears turning.
- Why Inventing For Diversity And Inclusion Is So Essential: What would the world look like if there was more diversity and inclusion in inventing? Over the past few years, academic research has identified significant disparities in the rate at which people obtain patents. Women (especially African American and Hispanic women), people of color, and individuals from lower income families obtain patents much less often than their counterparts.
IF/THEN Ambassadors for AAPI Heritage Month
These assets feature IF/THEN Ambassadors, Dr. Claire Meaders, Samantha Porter, and Anamita Guha:
- Ambassador Profile of Dr. Claire Meaders
- Long Profile of Dr. Claire Meaders
- Short Profile of Dr. Claire Meaders
- Long Profile Video of Samantha Porter
- On-the-Job Video of Samantha Porter
- Long Profile Video of Anamita Guha
- Short Profile Video of Anamita Guha
Activities for Programs
- After-School Science PLUS: Download Building with Wonderful Junk and take the challenge! Build a bridge or a platform that meets a set of requirements and test it. Challenge the kids to add to the activity (For example build a bridge that will hold a student up 6 inches from the floor).
- Design Squad: Invent it, Build It: Making the world a better place: Research tells us that when kids think their activity helps others it increases engagement. Activities encourage kids to think of themselves as inventors, discuss inventing and engineering, and dispels the stereotype that engineering is boring.
- 10 Simple Yet Thrilling Invention Ideas For Kids: These are highly engaging activities for students including directions and videos. These activities use materials that are easy to find and can be done in a family setting.
- 8 Best Invention Ideas for Children: Try some fun and silly inventions that are very engaging: These activities are free, easy to set up, and use materials familiar to kids.
- 17 Innovative Mathematics Projects that Inspire Students | by Ali | However, Mathematics: A list of some unique, hands-off, and fun mathematical projects for any blooming mathematician.
