Vermont Afterschool is proud to be partnering with STEM Next to make out-of-school STEM opportunities a reality for Vermont’s young people, to help them thrive in STEM and beyond. Through afterschool and summer programs, we believe every child should have STEM opportunities that inspire curiosity, innovation, and the critical thinking skills for whatever comes next.
March brings new ways to spark curiosity, explore careers, and connect STEM learning to the real world through space exploration, health sciences, and computer science. These opportunities are designed for afterschool and summer programs looking for flexible, engaging, and career-connected STEM experiences.
Start the school year by building a positive classroom culture with hands-on engineering experiences that foster collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. In this interactive webinar, educators will explore the Engineering Design Process and complete a design challenge to create a pencil case that holds five pencils and survives a four-foot drop test. Participants will leave with engaging, classroom-ready engineering activities. Click here to register for FREE.
From Vivify STEM, check out these 10 activities with strategies to bring STEM careers to life in afterschool and summer learning programs. All activities connect to real work careers and connect STEM directly to youth interests.
STEM Next aims to raise awareness of research-based practices proven to increase the quality of STEM learning experiences for youth and is committed to strengthening career awareness and exploration in out-of-school time so youth are prepared for whatever comes NEXT.
CareerXplorer from LabXchange at Harvard University unites education and industry in an interactive career exploration tool built for learners. CareerXplorer unites K–12 education, higher education, and STEMM industries in one streamlined career exploration tool that emphasizes career-connected learning through interactive content.
This article offers three easy ways to immediately connect STEM to careers in afterschool and summer programs. From connecting existing STEM lessons to careers and inviting guest speakers, learn how to connect STEM lessons to the real world and increase student engagement and interest in STEM.
One way to explicitly connect STEM to careers is through videos where youth are able to see the real work of STEM professionals. PBS Media has thousands of videos that introduce youth to STEM careers, including interviews with people currently in STEM careers. Include one video that relates to each STEM activity in your afterschool or summer program.
Tilly Lockey is one of the youngest and most inspiring women in STEM fields, known for championing the fusion of AI, technology and human empowerment. A UK-based artist and bionic arm ambassador, she co-developed the AI-powered Hero Arm with Open Bionics from the age of nine, helping transform the future of prosthetics. After losing both hands to meningococcal septicaemia as a baby, Tilly turned adversity into innovation, creating lightweight, muscle-responsive bionic limbs that prioritise individuality and function. Ready to build your own prosthetic arm? Check out the resources below:
Hands On Activity: The Power in Prosthetics (Grade 3–5) — Youth create a functional prosthetic hand that will be useful for day-to-day tasks. The prototype will need to include moveable fingers that bend to pick up a small Styrofoam cup, a large foam die, and a whiteboard eraser. Youth will be paired into groups of two to begin planning, designing, and building their prototype. Each group will then test and evaluate their prototype by using it to pick up materials as listed above. Youth will improve their prototype as needed.
Hands On Activity: Make a Robot Hand Using Drinking Straws (Grades 3–8) — Imagine how cool it would be to build a robot hand that could grasp a ball or pick up a toy. In this robotics engineering project, you will learn how to use drinking straws, sewing thread, and a little glue to make a remarkably lifelike and useful robot hand. What will you design your robot hand to do? Pick up a can? Move around a ping pong ball? It is up to you! With these starting instructions, you can design any type of hand. You will simulate human finger anatomy as the basis for a fully functional robot hand that is easy to build and does not require complicated tools.
Middle schoolers don’t have to pick a career yet—but research shows they’re already curious and eager to explore what’s possible. This article provides 8 concrete ways educators can spark career exploration and knowledge in middle school youth. Click Here to Read the Article.
