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 Million Girls Moonshot celebrates International World Space Week “Space and Sustainability,” a celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. Each year, Space Week is held October 4-10th to commemorate two important events:

• October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration.
• October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

Join thousands of participants in over 90 countries celebrating sustainability in space, and sustainability from space. Find activities, events, host an event and learn more at World Space Week Association (WSWA).

Space Week Resources

• NGCP Archived Webinar: Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Free Resources – In this webinar, presenters provide an overview of the Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA program and free resources, including a range of computer-based and paper-based activities, print products, and a program cookbook for facilitators.
• NASA’s STEM Resources for K-12 Educators – NASA lesson plans, resources, and opportunities for K-12 educators.
• NASA: A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station – Follow astronauts on the International Space Station in a series of videos as they explain their daily routines. Educators can use this series of videos and resources to enhance K-12 STEM curricula.
• Museum of Aviation: 2022 Space Week Resources – Find information on the Museum of Aviation’s live virtual astronomy presentations, virtual presentations and workshops for educators, and more in celebration of Space Week.

Mizzen by Mott Activities & Playlists

Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Download the Mizzen By Mott app to access STEM activities at your fingertips!

• 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.
• STEM Educators Academy Activity Toolkit from ExpandED Schools — This Activity Toolkit offers hybrid learning engineering design challenges, STEM facilitation skill builder videos, and engineering design activities categorized by content areas. 
• 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.