To celebrate the return of DeSTEMber next month, we are revisiting our favorite activities from 2017! Click here to explore our Surface Tension Bath Toy activity.
Have you ever seen bugs that can walk on water? Learn how surface tension allows bugs to walk on water and create your own toy raft that will not sink and can be propelled through the water.
activities ,education ,engineering ,experiments ,Fun ,girls ,Girlstart ,hands-on ,kids ,math ,science ,STEM ,technology Twenty fourth-grade girls bent over their projects as the clock inched toward 4:30. They straightened their balloon cars, scribbled in the last couple of words on their dual-language posters and prepared their speeches. The first parents began to wander into the room and the girls took a deep breath. It was almost showtime.
As they waited for their girls to put finishing touches on their projects, parents began to reflect on how Girlstart had shaped their girls.
“My daughter is very energetic and much more hands on now,” said Virginia, a Girlstart parent at Tom Green Elementary. “She’s always asking how things are made and suggesting ideas.”
Across the room, her daughter tested the endurance of her balloon powered car. Virginia smiled.
“It’s just non-stop ideas,” Virginia continued. “She finds different ways to solve problems now. She’s thinking out of the box, instead of just on a simple path.”
Antoinette, another Girlstart parent, said her daughter lights up when she explains each week’s project.
“She’s always been creative so when she tries new ideas and makes them work, it builds her confidence,” Antoinette said. “She has a lot of fun.”
Cars zoomed across the floor, paper rockets soared into the air and birthday cards lit up with the touch of a button in preparation for the showcase.
These are the kinds of projects that girls like Trinity, a Girlstart participant, said made her excited to go to school this year.
“It’s like night and day, their personalities in my classroom and in girlstart,” said Wendy Carrillo, a Girlstart leader at Wooten Elementary. “Girlstart makes the girls so enthusiastic and outgoing.”
The girls’ enthusiasm flooded the room when 4:30 struck. They took their places as the parents got ready to learn about science.
Each group stood in front of the wall of focused, beaming parents and presented their projects. They confidently shared their knowledge of STEM careers and science.
Afterward, the parents applauded and embraced their girls. For a moment, a hint of sadness and finality invaded the room. The STEM crew promptly came to the rescue.
They reminded the girls that even though Girlstart after school had ended for the year, the girls still had deSTEMber to look forward to. And that was definitely something to get excited about.
activities ,education ,engineering ,experiments ,Fun ,girls ,hands-on ,kids ,math ,science ,STEM ,technology To celebrate the return of DeSTEMber next month, we are revisiting our favorite activities from 2017! Click here to explore our Hook, Line, and Sinker activity.
Get hooked on this challenge that will test both your coordination and understanding of science! Help your diver search for sunken treasure as you learn how density and buoyancy work together.
activities ,education ,engineering ,experiments ,Fun ,girls ,Girlstart ,hands-on ,kids ,math ,science ,STEM ,technology The future: it’s scary; it’s exciting; it’s unknown. It’s always one step ahead of us holding the keys to what seems like infinite knowledge. The younger you are, the more vast and daunting the future seems. Where should I go to middle school? Which electives should I take; which clubs should I join? What should I be when I grow up? They all seem to have an impact on this ubiquitous “future” everyone throws around, but what does it all mean, really?
This week in Girlstart, the girls thought about their futures. The curriculum gave them space to dream about what their lives could look like, but it also challenged them. It asked them to consider the tangible steps required to accomplish their goals.
“I want to be a doctor,” one girl announced. Others followed suit, presenting dreams of becoming veterinarians, engineers, and scientists.
The STEM crew’s eyes lit up. As aspiring scientists and doctors themselves, the Girlstart teachers began to nurture the kids’ aspirations.
They passed out ribbons, each representing a different step the girls need to take before launching their careers. First middle school. Then high school, college or trade school, graduate school, and a job. The cluster of ribbons seemed simple yet overwhelming. It’s a short but important checklist.
But then the crew came by with the last ribbon. It’s dark green color stood out in the sea of pastels.
“This last one represents your family and friends,” Aleena said. “Because no matter where life takes you, they will always be the most important things.”
The girls tied it onto their bookmarks, and Aleena’s words rang true. Regardless of which clubs the girls join or which career they choose, friends and family will remain constant. And that’s what’s most exciting about the future.
activities ,education ,engineering ,experiments ,Fun ,girls ,hands-on ,kids ,math ,science ,STEM ,technology 