The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and EDC seek teams of about five teachers in the same school to participate in a three-year Computer Science (CS) and STEM Integration and Collaboration (CS-STEM) Program funded by National Science Foundation to integrate computer science with science and mathematics education in Grades 1-6. Teams from 10 districts will be chosen. Teams will contribute to the design, development, and piloting of 18 STEM Integration Modules to facilitate integration of computational thinking in elementary mathematics and science. Schools must submit applications, including statements of their school district’s support, by January 13. Participants receive stipends and travel reimbursement. For more information, email mathsciencetech@doe.mass.edu.
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Newton Parks & Recreation Offers LEGO Minecraft on Sundays
As part of its winter recreation programs at Newton South HS, the Newton Parks and Recreation Department will offer LEGO Minecraft on Sundays, January 3 – February 7 in two sessions: Grades K-2 at 1:15-2:45PM, and Grades 2-5 at 3:15-4:45PM. Novice and experienced Minecrafters are welcome. Cost is $125. Register online or mail/drop off the registration form to Newton Parks and Recreation, 246 Dudley Rd., 02459. For more information call (617) 796-1500.
TEALS Partnerships for Computer Science: Schools Apply by Jan. 31
Technology Education And Literacy in Schools recruits, trains, and places volunteer teaching assistants in high-school classrooms to support partner schools and teachers in offering computer-science courses on a sustainable basis. In Massachusetts last year, TEALS worked with Billerica, Boston, Cambridge, Mashpee Medford, Revere, and Watertown. Schools must apply by January 31 for TEALS partnerships for the 2016-17 school year. Schools will be selected by the end of February. Volunteers will be recruited February-May and trained June-August. The TEALS mission:
- Help high schools build sustainable computer science programs so that they will be able to offer CS programs on their own
- Increase the number of AP Computer Science test-takers nationwide and across all demographics
- Represent students of all demographics and backgrounds with a specific focus on engaging underrepresented populations
- Provide access and exposure to computer science courses for students who otherwise do not have a pathway to study CS
Register Now for ‘STEM in the City’ Summer Day Camp at Wheelock College
Registration is now open for STEM in the City, a summer day camp at Wheelock College in Boston for students entering Grades 8 or 9 next fall. Students may register for one or two weeks during July 18-29. The focus is on STEM career and college awareness, with field trips to companies and organizations as well as laboratory classes and tours of Wheelock’s facilities. Week 1 will focus on Marine and Space sciences, and Week 2 will focus on Environmental and Health sciences. The cost is $400 per week. Register online.
Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 7-13: Hour of Code
As mentioned earlier, Hour of Code is a global movement to get everyone learning the basics of computer programming, and it main focus is during Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13. Materials for self-guided instruction for children and adults are available online. BostonTechMom has more information here.
MIT Women’s Technology Program for Grade 11, Applications Available Dec. 7
MIT’s Women’s Technology Program is an intensive, four-week summer residential academic program for girls currently in Grade 11 to explore engineering through classes, labs, and projects. Separate programs are available for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (40 students) and Mechanical Engineering (20 students). Applicants must have strong curiosity about one of these fields (but no direct experience in it yet) and also excel in math and science. Applications will be available online on December 7 and will be due January 15. There is no fee to apply. The cost for attendees is $3,500. Financial aid is available. For more information, first check the program’s FAQ and then email wtp@mit.edu.
Science Club for Girls: 4 Days Left for Junior-Mentor Challenge Grant
As noted earlier, December 9 is the deadline for Science Club for Girls‘ fundraising challenge, through which donations will be matched 3-for-1 for SCfG’s very successful Junior Mentor program. This program funds near-peer mentors in Grades 8-12 to inspire younger girls to dream big and get excited about STEM. These funds are doubly effective: They offer leadership training to 90 Junior Mentors for job preparation, teamwork, and communication skills — and they offer inspiration and STEM education to the 600 younger girls who are mentored. The drive ends in four days and has raised $3,255 out of the $5,000 needed. We’re asking NewtonSTEM readers to step up with tax-deductible donations of any amount.
Newton Community Education Winter STEM Programs
Newton Community Education is offering many STEM-oriented after-school programs this winter at various Newton elementary, middle, and high schools. Search the online course catalog for these classes:
- Chess: Bowen, Burr, Cabot, Countryside, Horace Mann, Mason-Rice, Peirce, Ward, Williams, Zervas at Carr
- Advanced Chess: Cabot, Mason-Rice
- Chess Intensive: Newton North HS
- Code to the Future: Angier, Zervas at Carr
- CodeCampKids: Day MS, Oak Hill MS
- Digital Art & Animation: Angier, Countryside, Newton North HS
- Frozen Science — Paws/Jaws/Claws: Bowen, Burr, Countryside, Horace Mann, Mason-Rice, Peirce, Underwood, Ward, Williams
- Game Design with Scratch: Bowen, Burr, Mason-Rice
- Girls Discovery Lab — Paws/Jaws/Claws: Bowen, Franklin, Cabot
- LEGO Imagineers & Discovery Lab: Angier, Bowen, Burr, Cabot, Countryside, Franklin, Horace Mann, Mason-Rice, Ward
- LEGO Robotics: Cabot, Franklin, Horace Mann, Mason-Rice, Ward, Zervas at Carr
- Math Mania: Countryside, Horace Mann, Lincoln-Eliot
e Inc.’s 2nd Annual Winter in the Rainforest, Dec. 12, 19 & 31
e, Inc. will again present Winter in the Rainforest at the Charlestown Navy Yard on December 12 and 19 (11AM-3PM) and on First Night, December 31 (11AM-4PM). Explore the tree canopy, visit a bromeliad, make a jungle terrarium. The cost is $5 for children and $1 for adults. The e, Inc. Discovery and Action Center is at 114 16th Street in Charlestown — the last right turn and the last light in the Navy Yard before the Mystic Bridge.
Registration Open for jrCode’s Winter Classes
Registration is now open for jrCode‘s winter courses geared for Grades 2-8, from the novice to the more experienced, in Wellesley, Brookline., and Medfield. If you’d like to bring jrCode’s curriculum to your community, contact ruthkeyes@jrcode.com.