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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The expectation is that you will be live at all sessions and an active member of the coaching cohort.

Teach Engineer Champion

June 9, 2:00 PM

Get ready to play! Join the National Girls Collaborative Project for this fun and interactive webinar.

Learn how to leverage an interdisciplinary STEAM approach to foster young children’s curiosity through authentic play-based learning.

Register Here

ACRES Coaches Corner

The ACRES project is now offering all STEM coaching materials for FREE—giving leaders like you the tools and resources to keep reflecting on the STEM lessons offered at your sites and within your programs. Check out ACRES Coaches Career Corner.

The modules, the handouts, and extensive videos are now yours to use at your own pace. The ACRES team is available to provide support as you carry the work forward. Please reach out to acres@mmsa.org if you have questions or join one of their Zoom sessions where they will give you a tour of what is available. Here’s the form to sign up for upcoming info sessions about the free ACRES resources.

Info session dates/times: 

  • Wednesday, May 21st from 2:30-3:30 PM 
  • Wednesday, June 11th from 4 PM – 5 PM 

Featured Opportunities

Ongoing and time-sensitive opportunities this quarter to engage in STEM learning.

Genomics Learning Journeys 

STEM Next is excited to partner with Illumina to introduce Genomics Learning Journeys—an engaging new resource designed to immerse youth in the captivating world of DNA science.

These free, hands-on activity bundles are specifically created for afterschool and summer programs to help young people develop STEM skills, explore real-world applications of genomics, and discover meaningful career pathways.

Each Learning Journey includes tiered activities tailored for different age groups and experience levels, step-by-step facilitation guides, and videos that connect young learners with professionals currently working in genomics. These activities cater to both those new to DNA science and those looking to deepen their understanding of bioscience, disease, and innovation—sparking curiosity and demonstrating that innovation is truly in their DNA.

 Explore the Learning Journeys now.

Making Afterschool Math Fun

Looking for a way to make math more engaging? Afterschool Math Curriculum for youth in grades 3-8 is exciting, supports youth in developing a math identity and connects to their lived experiences. Each lesson also has explicit connections to careers with activities for youth to go into connections. The entire curriculum is free and can be found here: Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum

Museum of Science Boston

The Museum of Science, Boston’s Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) offers a collection of PK-8 engineering and STEM curricula designed to engage students in authentic, hands-on challenges connected to their lives and communities. The materials apply a model for equity-oriented and socially engaged engineering learning that encourages all to see themselves as engineers and passionate problem solvers poised to make a difference in the world. Curricula include 12 engaging, standards-aligned units for elementary and middle school grades and out-of-school settings. All curriculum guides can be downloaded for free here.

Pre-made materials kits for classrooms and enrichment settings can also be purchased at that link.

STEM Learning Journeys Powered by Verizon™ and STEM Next

In partnership with Verizon™,  STEM Next has curated bundles of lessons and activities from Verizon Innovative Learning HQ and created the following STEM Learning Journeys to help you implement these exciting STEM lessons and activities in your afterschool programs. 

Start your STEM Learning Journey

other resources

From Click2Science, this excellent guide includes everything needed to conduct a professional development session or do the activities. The easy to download handouts include links to the video-based learning module and hands-on learning activities. 

This easy to access guide takes a look at what’s included in 21st Century skills, how they help students, and why they’re so important. Click to download a free guide on how you can teach 21st Century skills with middle or high school youth.

The 4C’s — collaboration, communication, creation, and critical thinking — represent the knowledge, skills, and expertise youth need today to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce. Nearpod teaches these concepts using technology. After School educators can sign up for a free Nearpod account to access tips and guides to implement the 4Cs with any content area.  

MENTOR hosts a free toolkit to support educators. In addition to the toolkit and implementation guide, afterschool educators can sign up for a free newsletter and also have access to the resources library. 

Inspiring students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields is essential in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. STEM disciplines are at the forefront of innovation and progress – driving breakthroughs that shape the future of the world. Encouraging students to embrace STEM subjects prepares them for successful careers and fosters a workforce of passionate, capable STEM workers prepared to address complex global challenges. This site lists 10 activities to engage youth in thinking about STEM careers. 

Help youth discover career paths and broaden their perspectives of engineering and other STEM fields with our YES Careers resources! Download our free Careers for Engineers posters; you can have students review them before or after teaching a related engineering unit or post them on the wall to refer to throughout the year. Click here for free Careers for Engineers Posters

Ready, Set, Go: Career Navigation modules are designed for high school educators and youth advocates to facilitate their students learning about career training programs as postsecondary options. The modules are free and downloadable at www.sharedlane.co 

The CT After School Network is proud to be a part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs.

​The Million Girls Moonshot will not only allow girls to envision themselves as future innovators, but it will increase the quality of out-of-school STEM learning opportunities for all young people, particularly underserved and underrepresented youth.

About the Million Girls Moonshot

The Moonshot is designed to spur girls’ interest, understanding, and confidence in STEM and equip them to become problem solvers with an engineering mindset. Led nationally by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in partnership with the Intel Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Million Girls Moonshot:

  • Leverages afterschool networks in all 50 states to help school-age girls access high-quality STEM education, support, and mentors.
  • Uses an equity and inclusion framework that is youth-centric and culturally responsive to increase gender, and racial and socio-economic diversity in STEM.
  • Provides resources, support, mentorship, and expert guidance to help educators deliver hands-on STEM experiences in afterschool, out-of-school time, and summer learning programs.