My 5th grade girls are the most talented, interesting, and motivated group of girls that I've ever met. However, they are faced with many barriers that prevent them from working to their full potential in STEM. Those barriers include social constructs, gender roles, & peer pressure. Although my 5th grade girls are very diverse, they share a strong desire to make the world a better place. I want to show them that they are a force to be reckoned with and that when they set their mind to it, they can do anything! I want to share my passion for STEM with them and show them what they can accomplish with STEM. That's why having a STEM club for our 5th grade girls is so important to me.
My Project
Women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce. (NSF, 2012) Why are there still so few women in the critical fields of engineering and computing? As a STEM teacher, I am compelled to try to encourage girls to participate in STEM so that they can feel empowered to take part in the exciting things happening within the field. A GEMS Club after school is a safe, non-threatening way to engage them.
These kits will be used to engage my 5th grade girls with STEM concepts through in-depth discussion and hands-on activities.
Since these girls are at that "save the world" age, I plan to use these kits to involve them in activities that encourage thinking and innovation to solve pollution issues, experiment with alternative energy concepts, & engage in crime scene forensics activities. In addition, I'd like to introduce our girls to robotics & coding which is why I have requested a Dash & Dot Kit. It is my hope to see these girls excited about STEM & thinking about futures in STEM careers.
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