Save the Date! 

   SE MA STEM Resource Fair

Friday, July 24, 2015

Bridgewater State University

Join hundreds of STEM stakeholders including parents, educators (early childhood and K-16), and representatives of business, government and community organizations at the 2015 SE MA STEM Resource Fair.  Attend and gather resources, connect with potential STEM partners, walk away with hands-on lesson plans, learn about promising practices, and network, network, network! 

Space is limited for this FREE event. Registration will open mid-June and be announced in the June Issue of the Petri Dish.

 Curious Minds Initiative

2015 Summer Courses

Prepare yourself for the new science standards by taking Curious Minds Initiative (CMI) courses this summer. Complete all three CMI courses and earn a STEM Certificate in Inquiry from Framingham State University.

Teaching Science through the Inquiry Process

August 3-7 & November 7, Cape Cod, MA

Learn practical strategies to incorporate more science practices in the classroom. 

Project-Based Classroom Science

August 10-12, Lowell, MA

Discover more project-based units for promoting student research.

Organizing a Science & Engineering Fair

August 13-14, Lowell, MA

Learn about the frameworks and receive guidance for a successful and district supported "Science Fair Project".

To learn more and register, click here. 

"Do it Yourself" at the Cape Cod               Mini Maker Faire

Saturday, May 30, 2015

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cape Cod Community College,

West Barnstable Campus

Bring family and friends to this year's Maker Faire, a festival celebrating the spirit and work of "do-it-yourself" (DIY). Come see the creativity and innovation of established and emerging local makers specializing in DIY technology, arts and crafts, hardware hacking, 3D printing, robotics, urban farming and sustainability, alternative energy, apparel, craft, food, drink and more!

To learn more about the event and see pictures from last year's faire, click here.

5th Annual SEEPP

Spring Enrichment Conference

Keynote speaker 

Dr. Vicki Bartolini, of Wheaton College, discussed the critical role played by our  

Students from Dr. Bartolini's EPS-sponsored course at Wheaton College, "Teaching Preschool STEM", offered a

All STEM Hands on Deck--

Mansfield Parents and Schools Join Forces

In an effort to increase student interest in STEM and exploring STEM careers, the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School and the Robinson Elementary School in Mansfield are enlisting the involvement of Mansfield parents that work in STEM fields.

Joanne Jordan and John Nieratko, Robinson School 

co-principals, and Teresa Murphy, Jordan/Jackson School principal, are working with staff to broaden and strengthen support programs that focus on introducing STEM careers and STEM concepts beginning in early childhood.  An informational meeting was held in March with parents, teachers and administrators to discuss moving forward with this exciting plan.  Read more here.

Weymouth Schools go

"Plugged and Unplugged"

Along with many teachers in the Weymouth public schools, Ms. Lynn Howard, a third grade teacher at the Murphy School, ensured her students participated in the Hour of Code last winter, a one-hour introduction designed to demystify computer science.
 

By accessing the Hour of Code curriculum through her own online coursework, Ms. Howard has been able to provide her students with both "unplugged and plugged in" learning activities.  Using tutorials from Hour of Code she has developed a series of activities that expose students to meaningful computer science experiences.  In addition, Ms. Howard has created a computer science afterschool program for girls and boys in grades 1-4 as part of the Murphy School after school enrichment program.  Working alone or with a partner or group, students write programs to solve puzzles, learn about how to debug a program, and use loops to describe actions that repeat a certain number of times. 

Read more about how this Weymouth educator has incorporated computer programming activities both in and out of the classroom here.  Click here to explore how you can use the Hour of Code in your classroom.

"Dish" About the Ways You Have Implemented STEM Initiatives

The SE MA STEM Network invites educators and administrators to share how they have successfully implemented the MA STEM goals this academic year.  We will share your experiences in upcoming Petri Dish issues in our on going effort to foster and promote dialogue and collaboration with STEM programs and initiatives. For more information or to submit your story, email Dr. Stacey Kaminski at stacey.kaminski@connectsemass.org. 

Don't be shy..we would love to hear your success stories!

A Note of Thanks

Obtain a Ph.D. for free?

You read that right. Three of our country's top universities offer doctorate programs that provide fully funded financial aid packages, including generous stipend allowances.  Click here to learn more about these exciting programs offered at Boston University, Brown University, and Cornell University.