Category Archives: Resources

Programming Opportunities for Middle Schoolers?

Resources

A NewtonSTEM reader asks if there are any introductory programming classes in or near Newton for middle-school students.  If you know of any after-school clubs or classes that you would recommend, please email info@newtonstem.org.

Jim Forde of @stemnetwork replies:  “download Scratch and go for it! (BTW…. Free!) http://scratch.mit.edu” Any additional recommendations?

Another reader responds:  “Gentle Knowledge (http://gentleknowledge.com/) offers in-home and online programming classes that specifically target middle schoolers.  As far as I know, they introduce programming to older elementary students and use a curriculum that extends to high school level computer science.”

MIT’s Koch Institute: Outreach Programs for Grades 6-12

Resources

The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT offers free 90-minute programs for groups of up to 50 middle- and high-school students.   Programs include:

  • Introductory discussion: “What Is Cancer?”
  • Tours of Koch Institute laboratories led by cancer researchers
  • Hands-on classroom activities based on current cancer research projects
  • Guided tours of the educational exhibits in the Koch Institute Public Galleries

Email kigalleries@mit.edu to schedule a program for your group or to request additional information.  Reach out early, as capacity is limited.

Local STEM Shopping in Newton: Green Planet Kids

Opportunities, Recommendations, Resources

Green Planet KidsThere are several excellent shops in the area that have lots of science and engineering gifts. If you like kids, toys, art, science, engineering, math, puzzles, games, or anything fun, get over to Green Planet Kids at 22 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands.  This little store is jam-packed with the best toys, art activities, and STEM related kits.  All the items are hand-picked by the owner, Annabelle Ship, and she knows every item she stocks.  I’ve frequently seen someone ask about something, and Annabelle will give them the ins and outs of that particular toy or kit, and then introduce a couple of alternatives. Continue reading Local STEM Shopping in Newton: Green Planet Kids →

Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 9-15: Hour of Code!

Events, Resources

As part of Computer Science Education Week, Kahn Academy and many other organizations are sponsoring Hour of Code to get over 5 million students to spend one hour learning how to code — with the aim that they’ll get hooked on it.  In Massachusetts, over 80,000 students in almost 200 schools will participate — including in Newton:  Learning Prep, Mt. Alvernia HS, Newton North HS, and Solomon Schechter.  Kahn Academy has created a one-hour, online introductory curriculum for grades 3-12 and beyond, as well as a guide for teachers.  Code.org has created a snappy promotional video.  And Computer Science Education Week is offering prizes to educators who host Hour of Code for students.

10th Annual Mass. STEM Summit This Wednesday

Events, Resources

The 10th annual Massachusetts STEM Summit will be held this Wednesday, November 13, 7:30-4:30PM at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.  Registration is at capacity and the waitlist is now closed, but you can sign up for the STEM Summit mailing list to receive information about future events.  This year, the STEM Summit introduces the Resource Room with 39 exhibits by educators and innovators to demonstrate how they incorporate STEM concepts into activities and lessons to engage students from pre-school through community college.

McAuliffe Center Open House: STEM Resources for Educators, Oct. 29

Events, Resources

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will host an open house for K-12 educators and administrators on October 29, 4PM to 7PM, to present its educational resources including:

  • Brand New, Full Dome Digital Planetarium
  • Challenger Learning Center Space Flight Simulations
  • NASA Educator Resource Center
  • Professional Development Workshops
  • STEM Certificate Program

To sign up, either email Alyssa Walker (awalker4@framingham.edu) or register online at www.mcauliffeopenhouse.eventbrite.com.

Resources of the McAuliffe Center include: Continue reading McAuliffe Center Open House: STEM Resources for Educators, Oct. 29 →

MIT’s Scratch: Program Your Own Interactive Stories and Games

Resources

The Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab offers Scratch, a free online graphical programming environment for people (ages 8 and up) to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations.  The lab’s director, Mitch Resnick, gave a TED talk about how young people are using Scratch to learn to code — and to learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.  The Scratch website is an online community where over 3 million Scratch projects have been shared.

DIGITS Program Enters its 5th Year in Newton and Mass.

Resources

DIGITS, a sixth-grade STEM education/awareness program that pairs STEM professionals with sixth-grade classes throughout the state, has opened registration for schools and teachers for its fifth year.  Last year, DIGITS reached 22% of Massachusetts sixth graders through 187 volunteers from 60 companies/organizations/state agencies.

Oak Hill Middle School Science Teacher, Norma Sullivan, has hosted DIGITS professionals for classroom presentations for the past 4 years, and Oak Hill now has three teachers who participate in DIGITS.  Norma Sullivan says of the program, Continue reading DIGITS Program Enters its 5th Year in Newton and Mass. →

PRIMES: Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering and Science for High School Students

Resources

MIT PRIMES is a free, selective, year-long after-school research program serving high school students who live within driving distance from Boston. Students work with MIT researchers on exciting unsolved problems in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology.  They are selected based on their qualifications and solutions to an entrance problem set in math and/or computing.  (MIT encourages those who have solved at least half these problems to apply.)  Admissions applications and letters of recommendation are due December 1 for decision in early January.  To find out more, check out web.mit.edu/primes.

In mathematics you don’t understand things,
you just get used to them.  – John von Neumann