​The Million Girls Moonshot shines a national spotlight on girls in STEM, spurring actions and solutions aimed at positively changing the way girls engage in STEM, and inspiring them to become builders, innovators, makers and problem solvers.
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Let’s build this Initiative together—everyone has a role to play. Every parent. Every business. Every educator. Every scientist.  Every engineer. Every policy maker.
The Million Girls Moonshot is a movement of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund

Featured STEM Webinars

ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS DEIVE EQUITY & INCLUSION WEBINARS
AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORK LEADS AND STEM/MOONSHOT STAFF
PART I: Incorporating STEM role models into afterschool: Let’s get started! 
March 2nd, 1:00 - 2:00 pm PST / 4:00pm - 5:00 pm EST
National Girls Collaborative Project Team
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This webinar is the first in a three-part series of webinars focused on STEM role models for afterschool networks and programs, presented by the National Girls Collaborative. Exposure to diverse STEM role models can broaden girls’ perceptions of STEM careers and dispel stereotypes about who does STEM. The presenters will provide an overview of STEM role models, benefits of incorporating role models into STEM programs for girls, and resources and strategies for identifying and engaging role models. In preparation for the webinar, participants are encouraged to think about how they currently use (or do not use) role models in their network or program, and identify challenges to incorporating STEM role models.

PART II
March 23rd, 1:00 - 2:00 pm PST / 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
National Girls Collaborative Project Team
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PART III
April 27th, 1:00 - 2:00 pm PST / 4:00pm - 5:00 pm EST
National Girls Collaborative Project Team
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ROLE MODELS MATTER WEBINARS
AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORK LEADS AND STEM/MOONSHOT STAFF
Role Models Matters Training for STEM Volunteers
April 13th, 1:00 - 2:00 pm PST / 4:00pm - 5:00 pm EST
Techbridge Girls Inc.
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STEM identity is critical to STEM persistence and how role models are critical to STEM identity, shared through research. In this webinar, we will explore three strategies for connecting to and preparing role models to work with youth. Strategies will consist of:  

  • Role Model Strategy 1: Making a Connection 
  • Role Model Strategy 2: Talking About Your Work in Age-Appropriate Ways
  • Role Model Strategy 3: Using Culturally Relevant and Youth Development Practices 


ENGINEERING DESIGN WITH TECHNOVATION WEBINARS
AUDIENCE: FOR PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM STAFF IN YOUR STATE
Engineering Design Challenges Session 1: Engineering Design Challenges Session 2: Engineering Design Challenges Session 3:
  • Content Coming Soon

EQUITY AND INCLUSION WEBINARS
AUDIENCE: FOR NETWORKS AND KEY PARTNERS IN YOUR STATE

Equity & Inclusion in Afterschool: Skill Development in STEM Programming
December 15, 12:00-1:00pm PST/3:00pm-4:00pm EST
Experts: National Girls Collaborative Project Team
Content Coming Soon
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ENGINEERING MINDSET WEBINARS
AUDIENCE: FOR PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM STAFF 
APPLICATION: Here are three ideas for communicating with afterschool program leaders about the Engineering Mindsets Training Module: 
  1. Share it with afterschool program staff in your state to improve STEM quality; 
  2. Incorporate it into your own professional development or community of practice for afterschool providers; 
  3. Feature it in your virtual state conferences exhibit halls and resources 

Engineering Practices Support Equity Part I: Recording 
Engineering Practices Support Equity Part II: Recording 
Engineering Practices Support Equity Part III: Recording
Engineering Mindset Activities (Includes facilitation instructions and materials list)

QUALITY TRAININGS WITH PEAR
AUDIENCE: FOR PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM STAFF 
We invite network leads or STEM/Moonshot staff, program staff and coordinators to leverage the free Dimensions of Success (DoS) Program Planning Tool (PPT) during these guided, interactive sessions focused on creating authentic plans to support quality programming and maximize positive outcomes for youth and educators. 
PART I: Understanding Quality STEM Learning: Empowering Networks and Programs
February 23rd, 12:00 - 1:00 pm PST / 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST (Deadline to Register: February 19th)
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 Learning Goals: 
  • Map the implementation of quality STEM programming practices and positive youth development by reflecting on current activities/programs
  • ​Examine how STEM and social emotional development (SED) are interconnected and how the DoS tools/framework can support programs in elevating both

PART II: Imagining & Planning for Quality: Exploring Goals to Guide Our Work
March 11th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm PST / 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST (Deadline to Register: March 8th)
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Learning Goals:
  • Reflect on areas of SED and STEM that are traditionally strong or challenging for programs nationally and for your program/network specifically
  • ​Create a vision and generate goals for strengthening STEM and SED in programming using the DoS framework and tools as a guide.

PART III: Creating Change: Leveraging DoS Toward Continuous Growth 
March 30th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm PST / 3:00pm - 4:00 pm EST (Deadline to Register: Friday March 26th)
REGISTER FOR WEBINAR
 Learning Goals:
  • Learn how to use the freely available DoS planning tool and related data collection tools to grow and strengthen programming
  • ​Discuss how to sustainability leverage data and planning resources to continue strengthening STEM and SED in your program/network

BEST PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AUDIENCE: For Networks, Partners, and Programs

STEM Role Models
  • Podcast: STEM Role Models - In this podcast, educators, CEOs, and students discuss why STEM role models from all walks of life are essential for young peoples’ persistence and success in STEM.
  • Webpage: Role Models Matter and Mentoring Works! - The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity believes that one of the most effective ways to encourage students to consider nontraditional careers is to introduce them to diverse role models, particularly role models. This webpage serves as a resource for educators seeking STEM role models and mentors for their students.
  • Videos: Role Model Profiles Video Archives SciGirls CONNECTSciGirls CONNECT     - Incorporating videos from diverse STEM role models into your afterschool program is a quick way to expose students to role models. Pair your engineering activity with a video from Rachel Gitajn, a bicycle engineer, or Tejal Desai, a biomedical engineer, so students can begin making connections between afterschool, the real-world, and career.
  • Posters: STEM Role Models Posters — In 7 Additional Languages - Download inspirational, diverse STEM Role Models posters for your school or afterschool program — now in 8 additional languages including Chinese, Spanish, and French.
  • Stories: Stories | She Can STEM. So Can You. - Meet the women and girls of STEM. They build robots, find new sources of energy, study animals, play with slime, and invent apps. They help make the world a better (and cooler) place to be. Each story will give your students a sneak peek into how they got their start in STEM and help them begin their journey too!

Developing and Expanding Partnerships
Broadening Participation in STEM
TOGETHER AT HOME
AUDIENCE: For Programs, Youth and Families
APPLICATION: Share the following engineering activities with programs and families for additional STEM learning in your state. 

  • Student Activity: Materials and Manufacturing - In this activity based on the story of the three little pigs, students examine the properties, limitations, and durability of a variety of materials, then evaluate which of the materials would be best for building a model house.
  •  Student Activity: Engineering Solutions to Freshwater Problems - In this activity, students are introduced to six freshwater supply problems in various locations around the world. Students brainstorm their own ideas for solving each problem and then learn about the specific solutions that engineers have proposed.  Student Activity: How High Can a Super Ball Bounce? - In this activity students explore how engineers might use elasticity of material to help them design products. Working in pairs, they drop bouncy balls from a meter height and determine how high they bounce. Youth measure, record and repeat the process to gather data to calculate average bounce heights and coefficients of elasticity.  Student Activity: Community Engineering - This website provides engineering challenges that are community-based and includes learning modules on topics like school gardening, classroom renovation, and designing an accessible playground.  Engineering Design Activities on Curiosity Machine - Sign up for hundreds of FREE Technovation Engineering Design Activities with facilitation instructions and videos featuring STEM professionals and mentors. Student Activities: Girlstart STEM at Home was created by Girlstart to empower families and communities in STEM. Find free Girlstart curriculum, STEM resources, effective messaging tips, collaboration opportunities. Join the Girlstart newsletter and receive updated information on other online resources.
  • ​Student Activities: EngineerGirl Try This! Design Challenge are hands-on activities using common household items. Challenges include: design a mini catapult, paper airplane, and sorting machine.

ADDITIONAL VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AUDIENCE: For Partners and Programs
APPLICATION: Share the following training opportunities with partners and program leaders to build their understanding of engineering, equity and inclusion, and STEM.