Girlstart Bookmarks

 

As the fall semester comes to a close, Girlstart students are looking forward to the future and beyond! This week was an exercise in planning and goal-setting. Students created bookmarks to inspire themselves to achieve their dreams!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students discussed the coming stages of life, from middle school to their careers. Girls set goals for themselves along the way, such as “learn a new language” or “become a marine biologist.” Each student was encouraged to connect their achievements to eventually achieve their career goals. However, reflection didn’t end there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, girls discussed family and friends: who they expected and hoped to see by their side as they achieved each goal at each stage of life. With a plan for the future in hand and the motivation to put it into action, Girlstart students are more prepared to find their unique path and succeed!

 

Rocket Launch

 

This week at After School To-Go, we’ve given girls three challenges to test their skills at designing and building their own paper rockets. Up, up, and away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students learned concepts that are vital to the Aerospace Engineer career. Aerospace engineers who work specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers, who develop new technologies for use in space exploration and space flight. This week was unique in that students were given the opportunity to design their first challenge! Girls determined a launch angle and stomped on a water bottle launcher to propel a pre-made rocket into the air. For the second challenge, girls were given materials to build their own rocket. Students based their designs on the pre-made rocket that was launched in the first challenge, as well as on their memories of rockets they had seen.

 

 

Students put their designs to the test with the water bottle launcher and recorded the height and distance their rockets traveled. The final challenge was a test of accuracy. Students modified their rockets with fins then launched them one more time. Students observed the straightness of their rocket’s flight and brainstormed future modifications. At Girlstart, it IS rocket science!

Suspension Bridges

 

This week at After School, students learned about the Civil Engineer career! Civil engineers plan, design, construct and maintain structures such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, and pipelines, and analyze their impact on the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students worked in groups to design a bridge using cardboard rolls, string, paper, and rubber bands. Once they built their suspension bridges, each group was given a toy car to simulate driving in real life. Another test of the bridge was the use of washers as weights: some bridges held up to 30 washers before collapsing!