Monthly Archives: December 2011

Mass State Science & Engineering Fair Dates & Registration

Posted on December 18, 2011 by newtonstem in Events, Opportunities

The Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair is for students from all Massachusetts public, private/parochial, and home schools.  Each school may send two outstanding student projects directly to the State Fair — one individual project and/or one team project (2 … Continue reading →

New NPS Deputy Superintendent is Strong on STEM

Posted on December 17, 2011 by newtonstem in Recommendations

Dr. Ann Koufman-Frederick has joined Newton Public Schools as the system’s first Deputy Superintendent for Teaching & Learning.  We’re fortunate to have an educator with a strong background and interest in STEM in this new position overseeing Newton’s K-12 curriculum … Continue reading →

Grant Opportunity: Clean Energy Education & Workforce Development

Posted on December 16, 2011 by newtonstem in Opportunities, Resources

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released a Workforce Development Request for Qualifications (PDF) on December 12: “Workforce Capacity Building and Youth Pipeline Opportunities.”  It seeks proposals that, in the aggregate, will:

Eric Olson’s Recommendations for a STEMmy Holiday

Posted on December 9, 2011 by newtonstem in Resources

Brandeis Professor Eric Olson offers these ideas for holiday activities: Make an Electric Motor: Start with this YouTube video because it explains (briefly) how it works, and then consider following the instructions in this video or this one, which has … Continue reading →

More STEM Gifts and Activities for the Holidays

Posted on December 9, 2011 by newtonstem in Resources

Newton teacher Sarah Nitsche recommends these websites for great STEM-related holiday gift ideas: GreatSchools.org has videos about their Best STEM Toys for ages 3-5, ages 6-8, and ages 9+. STEMfinity.com is an online store selling hands-on kits in a range … Continue reading →

Holiday Recommendations for Elementary-School STEM Books

Posted on December 8, 2011 by newtonstem in Recommendations

Many thanks to Horace Mann school librarian Patti Karam for compiling the following holiday booklist of twelve STEM-related recommendations for elementary-school students, in response to our request for ideas for STEM holiday gifts. (Note:  The ones marked OSTB are Outstanding … Continue reading →

Holiday STEM Ideas for Gadgeteers and Makers

Posted on December 7, 2011 by newtonstem in Resources

We asked Newton parent and engineer Kevin Osborn for his ideas for STEM holiday gifts and activities during the holiday break. He responded with these ideas for gadgeteers of all ages (more details on his blog): Instructables.com has thousands of … Continue reading →

FLL RoboNautica Championship, Dec. 17 in Worcester

Posted on December 7, 2011 by newtonstem in Events

The official Massachusetts FIRST Lego League robotics championship tournament – RoboNautica – will be held on the campus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Saturday, December 17.  The following Newton FLL teams qualified for the event at the Newton Qualifier on … Continue reading →