STEM and Out-of-School Time Celebrations - April 2019
Math Awareness Month
Started in 1986 thanks to President Ronald Reagan, Math Awareness Month is celebrated in April each year. Celebrate by appreciating the beauty of math throughout the month! Get great ideas for incorporating math in your afterschool program with our Focusing on the M in STEM on-demand webinar.
Global Day of the Engineer
"Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the work that has never been."
- Theodore von Karman, a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer, and physicist
Global Day of the Engineer is a great opportunity to appreciate famous engineers, make connections to STEM careers, and engage in an engineering activity! Learn more about being an engineer by reading What Motivates Students to Pursue an Engineering Career? or 5 Myths About Engineer Majors.
National Robotics Week
Celebrate this year's national Robotics Week (or "RoboWeek") from April 6th to April 14th. Here are some ideas for celebrating in your program:
- Bring awareness of the importance of the US robotics industry and the tremendous social and cultural impact that it will have on the future by encouraging the proper use of technology.
- Offer a mini session regarding technology, its impact, and the potential future course of it through online videos or a presentation.
Encourage a Young Writer Day
Nowadays, technology's influence has played a huge role in how our younger generations interact with writing. It is important to promote writing regardless of the way in which it is accomplished. Check out these ideas for sparking interest in writing:
- Host a writing seminar in which students can learn the basics of writing.
- Continue educating outside of the classroom through having a story write-up that uses a STEM-related topic.
- Learn about keeping science journals with our Let's Put That in Our Journal video-based learning module.
National Parks Week
Celebrate National Parks Week from April 20th through the 28th. This week is meant to explore America's treasures. Find your local parks and share their history and its impact on your community.
Environmental Education Week
Along with National Parks Week, Environmental Education Week is important to celebrate and get students excited about. EE Week works to celebrate all of the educators who are making a difference in the world of environmental education and STEM learning by providing them with the tools and resources they need to continue inspiring the next generation of lifelong environmental learners.
Afterschool Professionals Week
Take time to recognize the great staff who work in your program during Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week. Considering sharing the video below through your social media channels to remind stakeholders why afterschool professionals are important to young people. Also, don't miss our upcoming webinar on April 10, Celebrating the Impact of OST Programs. Can't make it to the live webinar? The webinar recording will be available for on-demand viewing after April 10.
Earth Day 2019
"In nature nothing exists alone"
- Rachel Carson
Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate with your students! We are fortunate enough to live among nature's gifts on Earth. Admitting our failures to conserve nature in general. Check out these ideas and resources for celebrating within your program:
- Learn more about taking learning outdoors with our Get Minds Moving - Move It Outdoors on-demand webinar.
- Encourage your students to draw their favorite animal and share why they chose it.
- Create and present a short presentation about the importance of Earth's nature. Check out the Save the World video for help!
- Promote climate and environmental education through literacy. Take a look at A Mighty Girl's Top Children's Books on the Environment.
- End plastic pollution by coordinating a cleanup of plastics and trash around your school or a park. Check out National Geographic Kids Plastic Pollution resources for more ideas and resources!
- Take action and guide your students to plant a tree in your community.
National DNA Day
"DNA was the first xerox machine"
- Kenneth Ewart Boulding
National DNA Day provides two opportunities for celebration: one, the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003; and two, the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. Here are some ideas for celebrating the 16th anniversary of National DNA Day:
- The American Society of Human Genetics offers a variety of resources to help you get Involved in DNA Day.
- Check out the DNA - The Double Helix game created by the Nobel Prize organization for a fun way to learn about DNA.
- Learn how to extract DNA from strawberries and help children understand the work of scientists by watching our Using Science Tools - Supporting Science Practices on-demand webinar.