Close Modal Mass STEM Week October 21– 25, 2024The Museum of Science is proud to participate in Mass STEM Week 2024. Together we will inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone, serving as a critical entry point to the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipelines that will create a more diverse workforce. Organized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education and the STEM Advisory Council in partnership with the Commonwealth’s nine Regional STEM Networks, this year's STEM week focuses on “STEM starts now” – at any age you can learn about STEM, from our youngest learners to adult learners, and STEM jobs and opportunities are here at this very moment in Massachusetts. Women, BIPOC communities, first-generation students, low-income individuals, English language learners, and people with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM industries and make up an increasing portion of the overall workforce, but the demographics of STEM fields have remained largely the same. This creates a society with critical systems and processes that are not reflective or serving our community holistically. Through public awareness and education, the Museum of Science strives to change that, to make STEM fields as diverse as the public they serve.Since its inception, Mass STEM Week has brought together schools, nonprofit organizations, colleges, museums, and employers across the Commonwealth, all working together to expose all students to STEM fields and foster student interest in their own potential futures in STEM careers. Date and Time Monday, October 21 - Friday, October 25 Audience All Ages Location Online View Map Language English Date and Time Monday, October 21 - Friday, October 25 Audience All Ages Location Online View Map Language English Organized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education and the STEM Advisory Council in partnership with the Commonwealth’s nine Regional STEM Networks, this year's STEM week focuses on “STEM starts now” – at any age you can learn about STEM, from our youngest learners to adult learners, and STEM jobs and opportunities are here at this very moment in Massachusetts. Women, BIPOC communities, first-generation students, low-income individuals, English language learners, and people with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM industries and make up an increasing portion of the overall workforce, but the demographics of STEM fields have remained largely the same. This creates a society with critical systems and processes that are not reflective or serving our community holistically. Through public awareness and education, the Museum of Science strives to change that, to make STEM fields as diverse as the public they serve.Since its inception, Mass STEM Week has brought together schools, nonprofit organizations, colleges, museums, and employers across the Commonwealth, all working together to expose all students to STEM fields and foster student interest in their own potential futures in STEM careers. Share your STEM Experience! Follow the Museum of Science on social media throughout Mass STEM Week and share your own photos or videos. Follow and use the hashtags #STEMStartsNow #MassSTEMWeek and #SeeYourselfinSTEM. Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok Close Modal 2024's Mass STEM Week Engineering Design Challenge Engineering Plastic Filters About the ChallengeThis year’s engineering challenge is for youth ages 8–12 and designed to be completed in one hour. During this challenge, youth consider the effects of plastic pollution as they engineer filters to reduce plastic waste entering the ocean. Youth work in small groups and use everyday materials to create a filter that can catch plastic pollution as it enters a model bay. This challenge is an abbreviated version of a longer unit developed by Youth Engineering Solutions. For the complete Engineering Plastic Filters unit and additional resources that may be relevant and translated in Spanish, visit yes.mos.org. Image Challenge Outline Preparation: 35 min. Introduction: 15 min. Introduce engineering. Read and discuss The Problem With Plastics comic. Exploration: 35 min. Create and test a plastic filter. Wrap-Up: 10 min. Reflect on the engineering experience. Optional Kahoot quiz: Impacts of Plastic Pollution Activity Resources Download the MaterialsActivity Guide (PDF)Educator Slides (Google Slides)Comic (PDF) Print Materials (PDF) How-to Video ResourcesPrepare the Model BayTest Filter Want to learn more? Watch the webinar. The YES Professional Development team held a webinar about the design challenge on September 19. Watch the Webinar Recording Ready for a Challenge?Test your knowledge with this interactive Kahoot! Activities from Past STEM Weeks Check back soon for links to past year's STEM Week Challenges! 2022: Plastic Technologies For Grades 6–8 The Museum of Science, Boston, and EiE® are proud to support this year’s Mass STEM Week theme, “See Yourself in STEM.” We take great pride in our mission, “To inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone,” and we believe that together we will create a generation of problem solvers for a better world. To allow educators and students alike to see themselves in STEM, the Museum of Science and EiE have developed an engineering design challenge for educators and students across the state. The design challenge focuses on plastic: what it is, how it’s made, its environmental consequences, and the benefits of making it biodegradable. This design challenge spans the 6–8 grade band. Students learn about the use of plastics in their school, consider the harms caused by plastic use, and design bioplastics with appropriate properties to replace common plastic objects, such as utensils, plates, cups, and cling wrap. Download ResourcesMass STEM Week 2022 Gr 6-8 Engineering Journal (PDF)Mass STEM Week 2022 Gr 6-8 Classroom Resources (PDF) 2021: Various Activities For Pre-K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8 We believe that together we will create a generation of problem solvers for a better world. To allow educators and students alike to see themselves in STEM, the Museum of Science and EiE have developed three engineering design challenges for educators and students across the state. These unique Design Challenges span the following three grade bands: (1) PK–G2; (2) G3–G5; and (3) G6–G8. They contain considerations for age-appropriate scaffolds, allow for flexibility for implementation in virtual environment yet provide clear guidance for educators to adjust the complexity of each challenge based on the grade level of the students they service. Engineering Design Process PosterMassachusetts Food Web PosterPreK–2 PreK through grade 2 students will learn about the needs of an animal that is native to Massachusetts. What does it need to live? How do humans impact its habitat? What can be done to protect it? Can we use the Engineering Design Process to find a solution? PreK-2 Family Engineering JournalG3–5 Students in grades 3 through grade 5 will research various animals to identify and analyze what they need in order to survive within a local ecological network. As their investigation begins, students will be alerted about an increase of pollution in local waterways! How has this human impact affected our food web ecology? What can we do to help? Maybe we can use the Engineering Design Process! Grades 3-5 Engineering JournalGrades 6–8 Students in grades 6-8 will learn about the water systems in their community and identify pollutants that can impact those systems. How does a stormwater system work? How do humans impact the quality of water? What can I do to help? Use the Engineering Design Process to create a solution. Grades 6-8 Engineering Journal
