STEAM Newsletter – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
September 19, 2023
Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place from September 15th to October 15th every year to recognize and celebrate diverse cultures and extensive histories of the Hispanic community and honor the significant contributions they have made to our society and STEAM!
Did you know most likely the device you’re reading this on has a color display? You can thank Guillermo Camarena for that! At 17, he invented and patented his “chromoscopic adapter for television equipment,” which, in use, would adapt black-and-white TVs to color. Later, he sent his first color transmission from his lab in Mexico City on August 31, 1946. The first publicly-announced color broadcast in Mexico was overseen by him, airing on February 8, 1963.
Learn more about Hispanic Inventors and their contributions throughout history!
In This Newsletter:
Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Event Series
Coming in October!
The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s 2023 Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program is coming in October!
The Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program offers opportunities for independent inventors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and intellectual property (IP) professionals to learn about resources available to the Hispanic innovation community. As an attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Artificial Intelligence in Expanded Learning & the Classroom
Check out this brief paper from How Kids Learn Foundation and Temescal Associates to learn about AI terms and resources: Learning About Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Afterschool.
Here is what you’ll learn:
- What is Artificial Intelligence?
- Examples of AI Technology
Click2Engineering: Engineering Mindset Fall Community of Practice
Thursdays: September 14, September 28, October 12, and October 26 11:30 AM - 12:30PM PST
The Click2Engineering community of practice (CoP) introduces out-of-school time educators to the basics of engineering and leading engineering activities with youth. The CoP is organized around the 10 Practices for an Engineering Mindset, and includes hands-on engineering activities, developing engineering experiences for youth, and learning skills to facilitate engineering practices.
Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Training
Tuesdays: October 17, and November 28, 10:00 - 11:00 AM PST
Register for each individual training session here!
Nurturing STEM Identity and Making Career Connections
Wednesdays: September 20, October 4 and 18, 8:00 - 10:00 AM PST
How do you help youth recognize their role in STEM? How do you help youth learn about STEM careers? Participants experience several easy-to-implement strategies, including a photo-elicitation activity that can help youth form STEM identities, and then learn how to conduct related activities with youth.
*The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. Completion of the Asking Purposeful Questions module is a prerequisite for this module.
REGISTER HERE Code: AC360ID
You’re a Computational Thinker
Wednesday September 20th 9:00 - 10:00 AM PST
Learn what computational thinking means and reflect on the ways in which you are already a computational thinker. Learn how you can help youth develop as computational thinkers and leave with strategies you put into use right away.
Workshop Webinars: Equity & Invention in STEM, Entrepreneurship, & Electronic Textiles!
September 21st, October 19th, and November 16th; 4:00 PM PST
Digital Harbor and Lemelson-MIT have teamed up to bring you a series of webinars designed to increase awareness of the power of invention education and reinforce the idea that everyone can invent.
STEM Flights
STEM Flights is a national nonprofit organization that combines STEM education with a free flight experience for middle and high school students. They pair students with Pilot Mentors in their geographic area to receive a flight experience, learn about aviation and STEM careers, and connect with local aviation enthusiasts. Students complete the STEM Flights application, study online aviation and STEM curriculum, and submit a letter of recommendation before they are matched with a pilot.
Student applications are accepted year-round and in all 50 states. Learn more and apply today!
Afterschool and Summer Learning Activities!
Free Activities!
Activities:
- Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven – Use easily found materials to create an oven where students can cook s’mores. The activity answers the question “What has engineering got to do with me?” in a way that is fun.
- Hands-On Math: Fraction Math Trees – This fun hands-on, kinesthetic and visual approach to learning about fractions produces “math art”.
Recruit STEM Experts as Volunteers!
Less than 50% of high school girls know a woman in a STEM career. Let’s change that – recruit STEM professionals to support the youth you serve today!
The Moonshot helps to connect STEM experts with OST programs! Share your program’s volunteer opportunities for STEM experts to work with your youth today! Register here to find role models and mentors in STEM.
No Cost Activities!
Mizzen by Mott Foundation
Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Encourage partners to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access STEM activities at your finger-touch! You’ll find it in Mizzen here.
Featured Activities & Playlists
- Playlist: STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home
- Playlist: STEM Activities for K-5th Grade
- Balloon Rockets Challenge
Check Out CAN’s Other Newsletters!
Access the CAN newsletter archives to view past newsletters today! You may be interested in some of our other newsletters as well: