“Laying the
Groundwork for a Fun Family Event”
Need a
fantastic family evening activity that will be enthusiastically attended?
Looking for an event that will be a wonderful platform for inspiring an
interest in science and engineering? Ready to create a memorable evening for
parents and children? Sound too good to be true for one event to fulfill all of
the above? A Family STEM Night at your school is the answer. Having special
Family STEM nights has become more popular across the country as schools invite
parents for an evening of science, technology, engineering and math. These
evenings are not only fun but educational and allow the students to explore
solutions to engineering problems, solve math problems and investigate science
phenomena with the most important adults in their lives – their parents. Moreover,
parents are given the opportunity to actively participate in their child’s
learning. It’s an exciting and memorable evening for all.
Over the past
five years, our school has hosted an annual Family STEM Night that has broken
school records for attendance and been used as a model for other schools.
Family STEM night has connected our students and their families with
professional engineers and scientists who volunteer to facilitate activities.
One of the biggest benefits of the evening has been the outreach connection for
the culturally diverse families in our community. This is due primarily to our
emphasis that children and parents participate in activities as a family.
Students are not allowed to be dropped off and left at the event without an
adult. The fantastic discussions and interaction occurred as parents or
grandparents and children worked to solve STEM problems. One of the most
satisfying experiences is watching a student explain to their parents how to
follow the Engineering Design Process in order to solve a problem. Student’s
eyes brighten as they assume the role of teacher and act as leader of their
family design team.
What sets
STEM Days apart from a Family STEM Night? For one thing, although parents are encouraged
to volunteer to help in their child’s classroom, the teachers facilitate the
activities. Engineering problems are chosen for specific grades that allow the
students to draw on math and science they have been learning all year. At our
school, to add a little extra excitement as well as provide a common thread, we
always choose a theme for our STEM Day. One of our favorite themes has been
Super Hero Engineering. Every class is given a challenge that relates to a
specific Super Hero. In addition to the STEM Challenge the students work on in
the classroom, they also take part in other challenges such as a school wide
egg drop and building and launching a straw rocket. Don’t be afraid to ask
engineering and science associations to bring activities that the students can
rotate through. Local universities are a wonderful resource as they typically
have student associations that do outreach.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-POWER-Engineer-Like-a-Superhero-1287858
Ideas for
other themes for STEM days can be found by studying each grade level’s
curriculum and identifying commonalities. For example, one STEM day theme we
like to use is Oceans, which lends itself to many different hands on
investigations. Or it can be a broader theme such as water, architecture, or
wind.
Whatever type
STEM event or theme you choose, careful planning and communication with the
staff are the keys to success. Getting input and support from the other
teachers is crucial since these are the first people that you turn to for help.
They need to be included early on in the planning process, which needs to begin
months before the actual event. This can sound overwhelming, however beginning
the planning process early leads to a stress-free event. It also allows you to
register volunteers to commit to your event.
Choose a date and time and put it on the school calendar. If you are planning on a winter event, be sure to have an alternate date due to inclement weather.
Letters written to local businesses requesting supplies or donations to purchase materials.
Letters to local universities, local engineering societies, and businesses for volunteers.
Send an email to the staff requesting volunteers for the event. (We have had success recruiting staff relatives, especially high school students who need community service hours for honor societies)
Notify the local press about your event.
Send home a "Save the Date" reminder. Ask for volunteers
Make sure the event is advertised on the PTA website, school website, and school outdoor sign if there is one.
Create a schematic drawing of where each activity will be completed and inventory tables needed.
Give staff members and other volunteers their design briefs and activities. Remind them to actually do the activities so that any problems or questions can be answered.
Begin to make activity packets for each center.
Purchase materials still needed.
Arrange for any refreshments for volunteers- if applicable.
to move.
Inventory trash cans needed.
Create a check-in system for volunteers.
Have a plan for utilizing volunteers to help set up activities.
Organize materials in boxes for each area and add garbage bags to each box.
Create a central location for extra supplies such as scissors and tape.
Provide information about event to school secretary so he or she can field phone calls.
Checklist for a STEM Event
Beginning of School Year
After consulting with the principal, lead teachers and other staff, decide the type of STEM event you will be putting on this year.Choose a date and time and put it on the school calendar. If you are planning on a winter event, be sure to have an alternate date due to inclement weather.
Five Months Out
Present the concepts to the staff and enlist volunteers to serve on a planning committee. This committee will immediately meet to choose activities, locate resources, and determine supplies needed.Letters written to local businesses requesting supplies or donations to purchase materials.
Letters to local universities, local engineering societies, and businesses for volunteers.
Three Months Out
Send an information flyer home with students inviting parents to volunteer as well as a list of supplies needed that can be donated. Be sure that you have a collection site and plan to organize the materials as they arrive.Send an email to the staff requesting volunteers for the event. (We have had success recruiting staff relatives, especially high school students who need community service hours for honor societies)
Six Weeks Out
Invite administrators and special guests.Notify the local press about your event.
Send home a "Save the Date" reminder. Ask for volunteers
Make sure the event is advertised on the PTA website, school website, and school outdoor sign if there is one.
Create a schematic drawing of where each activity will be completed and inventory tables needed.
Three Weeks Out
Assign volunteers their tasks. Make sure you have people to help set up and clean up. (note: at least two people should be not assigned a specific center so they can keep an eye on everything and deal with issues if they arise)Give staff members and other volunteers their design briefs and activities. Remind them to actually do the activities so that any problems or questions can be answered.
Begin to make activity packets for each center.
Purchase materials still needed.
Arrange for any refreshments for volunteers- if applicable.
One Week Out
Make sure your custodial staff knows of any furniture, tables or equipment that they will need to move.
Inventory trash cans needed.
Create a check-in system for volunteers.
Have a plan for utilizing volunteers to help set up activities.
Day Before Event
Decorate .Organize materials in boxes for each area and add garbage bags to each box.
Create a central location for extra supplies such as scissors and tape.
Day of Event
Assign one person to be photographer. Provide information about event to school secretary so he or she can field phone calls.
Have fun!!!
To
help with activity selection, there are some great resources available for
ideas. The very best reference tool available is a manual published by the
Family Science organization in Portland, Oregon. Their web site is at Familyengineering.org.
Their book called Family Engineering is filled with instructions, ready
to copy lessons and everything you need to plan your own engineering night. You
can order laminated center charts with directions and clips to support them.
Most of the activities require simple recycled materials such as empty toilet
paper rolls or empty water bottles. Generally, other needed materials are low
cost and easy to obtain from popsicle sticks to foil or rubber bands and paper
cups.
Other
resources with great ideas include:
PBS
Design Squad pbskidsgo.org/designsquad
A few
years ago we co-authored an article on STEM family events that is available to
download from the National Science Teachers Association website. It includes
lots of information on organizing an evening for the school community.
“Family Style Engineering” NSTA’s Science and Children Journal http://learningcenter.nsta.org/resource/?id=10.2505/4/sc12_050_04_67
Family STEM Night or an Engineering
Day is one of the most exciting community events that a school can plan. This is a great time of year to begin organizing for your school's evening or day. Yes,
it is a great deal of work and needs lots of volunteers. But with pre-planning and community support, you will not find a more fantastic hands-on learning experience of 21st century skills for students and families.
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