Edge on Science is once again offering in-person, week-long summer STEM programs at Lasell University. Programs are for students entering Grades 3-12 and grouped by Grades 3-5, 4-9, 5-7, 5-9, 6-9, 7-9, 8-10, 10-12 depending on topic. Days are 9AM-4PM with extensions 8AM-6PM. Register here by January 15 for discounts.
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MassRobotics JumpStart seeks female STEM technical volunteers for mentoring and career support for high-school students from underrepresented backgrounds
The MassRobotics Girls High School Jumpstart Program is still seeking female STEM professionals (including graduate students) to volunteer to offer mentoring, skills training, and career support for its third cohort of high-school students from underrepresented backgrounds. Apply here for either of two ways to volunteer:
- Volunteers with technical expertise in Solidworks, MathWorks, programming, fabrication and 3D printing needed for occasional Saturdays, in-person at MassRobotics
- Mentors to aid with networking skills and career support who can commit to a minimum of 2-4 hours per month (virtual).
Newton Free Library: Engineer with EXPLO — Hurricanes, Jan. 26
The Newton Free Library invites students in Grades 5-7 to Engineer with EXPLO with a session on January 26, 4PM-5:30PM. Space is limited and registration is required. EXPLO is a nonprofit helping young people take charge of their learning.
Volunteer as a judge in ‘Future City’ middle-school civil engineering competition, Jan. 21
Future City is a four-month civil-engineering program for middle-school students, culminating in an annual design competition in January. This year, it will be January 21 at Wentworth Institute in Boston. The program seeks professional engineers (and others with relevant technical backgrounds) to volunteer as judges to evaluate the student teams’ work. Volunteers can be working professionals, retirees, or college/graduate students with experience in STEM, urban planning, architecture, or related fields. Email Reed Brockman at newengland@futurecity.org.
Mustang Math Online Math Competition, Apr. 29
Mustang Math — a nonprofit organization of high-school and college volunteers — runs annual mathematics competitions in-person in Washington, DC and in California, as well as an online competition, which this year will be on April 29 (9AM-4:30PM PST). The competitions are centered on teamwork and collaboration. Teams of four students address challenging/interesting problems and develop strategies to master the unique and fun game-like rounds — including a logic-based puzzle round, a strategy-filled hexes round, a race-like gallop round, and the ‘Mystery Mare’ round. Students entering the online competition register individually or in teams, are consolidated into teams of four, and are placed in one of three divisions based on the highest grade level (6, 7, or 8) of team members.
New England Sci-Tech: STEM Clubs and Courses/Workshops
The New England Sci-Tech (NEST) STEM education center (16 Tech Circle, off Route 9 in Natick) offers clubs:
- STARS – Amateur Radio Club – Open to all ages, beginners to experts
- Space Science Club – For all ages
- Entrepreneurship Club – For teens and young adults
- Rocketry Club – Model rocketry for all ages.
- Battlin’ Bots Club – Robotics competitions on Fridays, 6:30-7:30PM
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Youth Inventors Workshop – Saturdays 9-noon
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Cubes-in-Space – Saturdays 9:30-10:30AM
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New England Weather Balloon Society (NEWBS) – Saturdays 1-2PM
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Space Science Club for Youth – free program for youth
…and courses/workshops in Electronics, Ham Radio, Programming, Robotics, and Space Science.
Tufts Summer Intensive Programs for High School Students
Tufts University offers several summer STEM pre-college intensive programs for students entering Grades 10-12 next fall, as well as students graduating high school in June. There are both residential and commuter options for each program. Admission is competitive based on grade transcripts, two letters of evaluation, extracurricular activities, and an essay.
- Adventures in Veterinary Medicine — an intensive program to introduce students with a passion for animals, health, and science to the veterinary profession. July 9-21 or July 23-August 4.
- Lab Science Investigations: Antimicrobial Resistance: July 23-August 4.
- Engineering Design Lab: July 9-12 or July 23-August 4
- Engineering Investigations: July 9-12 or July 23-August 4
- Coding Academy: July 9-21
- Mini-Med School: Careers in Medicine: July 9-21, Clinical Experience: July 23-28, Advanced Topics in Medicine (virtual): July 10-22
In addition, Tufts offers many pre-college summer STEM courses. For more information, email precollege@tufts.edu or call 617-627-2926.
Kids 4 Coding: Weekly In-Person Summer STEM Programs for Ages 7-12
This summer, Kids 4 Coding will offer fun, engaging, and collaborative programs on a weekly basis, in-person at Roxbury Latin School and the Cambridge Matignon School. (See video.) Courses include Python, Java, JavaScript, Machine Learning, AI, AR, Mobile App Development, Game Development, Minecraft, Scratch, and Roblox. Cost per week is $274-$359 for half-day (9AM-Noon or 1PM-4PM) or $514-$659 for full day (9AM-4PM). A $75 discount is available for enrollments by February 15.
Newton Schools Foundation: Year-End Annual Appeal
The Newton Schools Foundation‘s Year-End Annual Appeal seeks funds to support innovative programs in Newton Public Schools. Last year, NSF raised $191,000 and funded 52 projects, including these STEM-related ones:
- Math Challenge Boards for all Elementary Schools: Our goal is 50% of the K-5 student body at each school submitting Challenge Math work. Teachers and staff will be involved by encouraging students to pick math challenge work when they have opportunities for academic choice. The math coach and interventionist at each school will also be involved for students to ask for help/clarification as well as recognizing the students who have completed the challenge work. We have found many positive connections are made through the Math Challenge program–students are excited for the challenges and enjoy interacting with math staff around the work. This is incredibly helpful when providing intervention–math staff are known grown ups with a positive association. Principals will be involved by being in the beginning of each school’s videos and helping to build enthusiasm with the students and families throughout the year.
- Math Fact Automaticity: Hands-on educational games for students to practice math fact automaticity and mental math.
- Representation in Mathematics: We will provide exemplar STEAM biographical and mathematic lessons for teachers K-5, that are inclusive of diverse cultural identities. For the summer we will be doing research into people and their life work and crafting lessons. We will also be gathering and developing mathematical activities which connect to the person’s work, in which students will engage during the lessons. We will also be embedding professional development opportunities for teachers. In the fall, we hope to bring to life and model the lessons in various grade levels, piloting them at our home schools.
- STEAM in the Classroom: Introduce art curriculum into the 6,7 and 8th grades as part of their overall STEM education.
- The Modern Classrooms Project: Summer Institute is a four week professional development workshop which contains expert-led presentations, connections with experts and peers and close work with an expert mentor to build instructional videos, mastery checks and other content materials for 8th grade science classrooms.
- The Calculus Project: Research indicates that success in higher-level high school mathematics is strongly associated with college enrollment and is one of the most reliable predictors of college completion. The Calculus Project aims to narrow the achievement gap in mathematics by increasing the number of African American, Hispanic and low-income students who enroll in and successfully complete calculus in high school.
MassRobotics JumpStart seeks female STEM professionals to volunteer for mentoring and skills training for high-school students from underrepresented backgrounds
The MassRobotics Girls High School Jumpstart Program is seeking female STEM professionals (including graduate students) to volunteer to offer mentoring, skills training, and career support for its third cohort of high-school students from underrepresented backgrounds. Apply here for either of two ways to volunteer:
- Volunteers with technical expertise in Solidworks, MathWorks, programming, fabrication and 3D printing needed for occasional Saturdays, in-person at MassRobotics
- Mentors to aid with networking skills and career support who can commit to a minimum of 2-4 hours per month (virtual).