The Boston Public Schools Science Department and Northeastern University’s Center for STEM Education seek volunteer judges for the 71st Citywide Boston Science and Engineering Fair on March 4, 8AM-Noon at Northeastern University’s Cabot Physical Education Building. Sign up here to be a judge. The public is invited to view the students’ exhibits 1:30-2:30PM.
Category Archives: Opportunities
CEEO February Vacation Workshop in Game Design, Grades 3-6
Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) will offer a February vacation workshop in game design for students in Grades 3-6, February 21-24, 9AM-3PM, at 200 Bostn Avenue in Medford. Students will work in teams using tools such as Scratch and LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 to create multi-modal board games. The cost is $400. Register here.
RSM Foundation Offers International Math Contest, Grades 3-8
The RSM Foundation, a non-profit promoting K-12 STEM activities and affiliated with the Russian School of Math, is sponsoring its second International Math Contest for students in Grades 3-8. The first round, which opens on February 6, is a 30-minute Online Challenge consisting of fun and challenging problems based on international math curricula. Top scorers in the first round will be invited to the final round on April 9 for a Math Olympiad of non-routine math problems that promote and reward deeper thinking, math ingenuity, and creativity. Registration is free, and there is an optional performance report (see sample) available for $10 ($20 after January 22). Visit rsmfoundation.org to view last year’s problems or sign up for practice problems. For more information, email contest@rsmfoundation.org.
WGBH Seeks Earth-Science Teachers as Digital-Media Advisors
WGBH seeks fifty K-12 earth-science teachers as advisors next year for its collaboration with NASA to create free digital media tools in its Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms initiative. Apply by February 8. For more information contact carolyn_jacobs@wgbh.org.
Educators: Register for Project WILD Workshop, Feb. 11
Educators of K-12 students — both in and out of school — are invited to a free professional development workshop about Project WILD, an award-winning, interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. The workshop will be held February 11, 9AM-3:30PM, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (183 West Main Street in Westborough). It’s designed for school teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, nature center/museum staff, home educators, after-school programs, etc. Bring lunch and clothes suitable for indoor and outdoor activities. Register by February 1 by contacting Pam Landry (pam.landry@state.ma.us or 508-389-6310) or Barbara Shumaker (shumakerb@westboroughk12.org).
4th Annual Let’s Build Engineering Extravaganza, Feb. 4
Let’s Build is a family volunteering initiative bringing engineering into Needham’s elementary schools by training family and community volunteers to support classroom design challenges. Its major fundraiser, the Let’s Build Engineering Extravaganza, will be held February 4 (snow date February 11), 10AM-2PM at Hillside Elementary School (28 Glen Gary Road in Needham) for Pre-K, elementary, and middle-school children and their families. Admission is $5 per family. Let’s Build is currently seeking volunteers and community presenters, so email info@letsbuildengineering.org if you can help. Scheduled activities include the Needham HS robotics team, What’s Inside a Flashlight? at the Take-Apart Table, ballerinas teaching the science of pirouettes, build your own bubble wand, and create hoppers with Olin College students.
Empow Studios: LEGO Robotics Club, Saturdays in Lexington
Empow Studios in Lexington hosts a LEGO Robotics Club for Grades 2-8 on Saturdays, 1-2:30PM. This cooperative, welcoming club uses LEGO MindStorms EV3 kits and provides experience to prepare kids for FIRST LEGO League (FLL) participation starting in August. Registration is open starting any month, at a cost of $80 per month.
MSMR Student Competition: Enter a Poster, Essay, or Website
The Massachusetts Society for Medical Research will hold its 26th Annual Student Competition, in which New England students in Grades 7-12 learn about a breakthrough in life sciences and report about it via a poster, essay, or website — as if reporting for the What A Year website for science discovery. Awards of up to $500 will be made in two levels: Grades 7-8 and Grades 9-12, with education grants for the teachers/advisors of the winning students. Entries are due by May 8. See the student packet.
EcoTarium’s New Exhibit — City Science: The Science You Live
The EcoTarium (222 Harrington Way in Worcester) will open its new exhibit, City Science: The Science You Live, on January 17. Hands-on, interactive exhibits encourage exploration of the science we encounter every day but rarely stop to consider.
Technovation Teams: 5 Middle/High School Girls + 1 Mentor, Feb-Apr
The Technovation Challenge is a worldwide, 12-week technology entrepreneurship competition in which each team of five middle- or high-school girls identifies a problem in the local community, builds a prototype mobile app for it, develops a business plan, and pitches it to potential investors. Teams meet for 3-4 hours weekly with female mentors from the tech/business community, February-April, in preparation for regional and worldwide events in May and June. Last year, one of two Technovation teams at Newton South HS, the TechnoLions, placed second statewide and went on to compete in the national finals. If you’re interested in participating as a student, teacher/coach, or mentor, sign up now but no later than March 8. For more information, email info@technovationchallenge.org.