School's Out! TIME for Summer Enrichment & FUN!

#TeacherOnBreak!

As the school year ends, we look toward summer fun, STEM camps, workshops, museums, competitions, and professional development. And let’s not forget about STEM events around the state!

In this issue we are excited to highlight the “E” in STEM with the accomplishments of Delaware’s FIRST Robotics team. Also, meet our next Shining Light Award honoree, Beth Blohm who, like so many of you, does an outstanding job every day for students. In the search for sparking STEM while out of the classroom, check out “Seven Fun and Family-Friendly Ideas for a Summer of STEM.”

As we dip into summer, remember STEM doesn’t take a vacation. We hope your next few months are filled with STEM enrichment, learning and fun!

— Randy Guschl, Executive Director

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME)

The Miracle Workerz:

Delaware’s FIRST High School Robotics Team

The Miracle Workerz is a Delaware community-based high school robotics team providing students real-life STEM experiences, while inspiring them to pursue STEM careers. In 2022, our team, also named MOE for Miracle Of Engineering (our robot), consists of 29 students from 12 high schools in the Wilmington area.

MOE participates in FIRST, an international non-profit robotics competition whose vision is to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders. FIRST consists of a suite of hands-on STEM learning programs.

In 23 years as a team, MOE has won many awards, including the top award in FIRST, the Chairman’s Award. Students on this team in high school are now working at STEM companies like SpaceX, Google, Facebook, Lockheed-Martin, and Amazon. Coming off two years of Covid-19 lockdowns, this season has been challenging for a hands-on team with 75% of students who were new to the team and 90% of students who never attended an in-person robotics competition.

“MOE’s 2022 success is that a group of students shuttered by Covid-19 for two years came out swinging, and at the end of the season learned to truly operate as a team with respect and support for each other. It was one of the most challenging

but also one of the most rewarding seasons of MOE in my 23 years.”

– John Larock, MOE Team Coordinator

During winter, MOE met over four times per week at the Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park in Wilmington. With financial and facilities support from sponsors, primarily DuPont, the team was able to design, build, and program a robot to compete in the spring.

MOE competed in four competitions, earning their way to the district championships at Lehigh University and then to the world championship in Houston. MOE made the playoffs at three competitions, ranked 27th of 75 teams in their division, and twice won the Ford Autonomous Award, given to the team who best programmed their bot to accomplish competition tasks. MOE, the team’s robot, was able to locate and climb up a series of monkey bars while being 100% computer-controlled.

Students interested in competing, click here to apply.

Adults interested in volunteering as mentors, click here to apply.

For more information, please visit FIRST website at www.firstinspires.org.

For more information, please visit MOE team website at www.moe365.org.

Bethany Blohm was presented the DFSME Shining Light Award on June 7th at Conrad Schools of Science. Pictured left to right: Presenter Randy Guschl, DFSME Executive Director; Beth Bloom, Science Educator; Kendra Todd-Dixon, Principal; and Monica Malen, Vice Principal Middle School and former student of Ms. Bloom’s.

DFSME’s June “Shining Light Award”

Honors Beth Blohm, Pre-service Science Educator

This DFSME Shining Light Award honors Beth Blohm, Pre-service Science Educator at Conrad Middle School / Conrad Schools of Science, as a mentor teacher who kindles a spark in students and who serves as a model for giving pre-service teachers a structured teaching experience in sixth grade science.

Ms. Blohm was one of the pioneer teachers at the school when it became a science/allied health magnet school in 2008. She has mentored new teachers and supervised intern teachers throughout that time, implementing pre-service teacher plan instruction around units she has designated while also providing constructive feedback throughout.

Many of her student teachers have moved on to leadership roles in science education. In turn, the number of students impacted increases the future of Science progress.

Ms. Blohm has held many leadership roles in the district. She has been a lead mentor for new teachers; serves on assessment committees for Delaware Department of Education; has served as a Next Generation Teacher Leader for Red Clay, and is an active member of National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Most notably, one of her many teacher interns, Monica Malen, taught in Delaware and Red Clay for over ten years, then pursued administrative certification, and is today Vice Principal at Conrad Schools of Science!

We are pleased to recognize Beth Blohm as a superlative educator!

Bethany Blohm was nominated by Edward McGrath, Supervisor of Science, Red Clay Consolidated School District

Nominate Your Favorite Educator to be a "Shining Light"

The DFSME “Shining Light Award” recognizes outstanding examples of

the excellence of Delaware teachers. Every day in classrooms throughout

the state, Delaware teachers quietly go about enabling young learners to

be informed citizens in an increasingly complex world. They prepare their students to be competitive in the ever-changing global workforce and to

be the problem-solvers of the next generation.

Honorees receive a $100 gift card and a mini heavy-duty mag flashlight.

ANYONE may nominate a STEM Educator for the Shining Light Award.

Click here to download an easy-to-fill Word document. Complete and email to anne.dfsme@gmail.com with “Shining Light Award” in the subject line.

Seven Fun and Family-Friendly Ideas

for a Summer of STEM!

Summer is here! So is the search for ideas to support summer learning. With less structure and more time for self-directed play, summer is an ideal time to encourage youth interests, confidence, and creativity. We believe passionately in the power of STEM to close the opportunity gap and want EVERY CHILD to have a summer experience with hands-on STEM learning that is fun, engaging, and meaningful to their lives.

Here are 7 ideas to bring STEM fun into summertime.

We hope that they create the “STEM spark” that brings you joy and discovery!

1. Find inspiration from a classroom or after-school educator. There are lots of summer coding camps, tinkering workshops, and science classes. There are lots of online STEM opportunities too. And look for programs and activities that are culturally responsive.

2. Make math meaningful and fun. Give kids a reason to learn and use math. Get outside and do math. Check out We’re Going on a Math Walk, Going to Find Some Math Talk from the Early Math Collaborative at the Erikson Institute.

3. Embrace messes and mistakes. Mistakes and messes are an important part of learning. Summer experiences can help kids let go of their fear of making mistakes and embrace challenges. What better way to support their growth mindset than to try new things? Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know!

4. Sprinkle STEM into your summer reading. Ask a librarian at your public library for suggestions, based upon your child’s interests. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) along with the Children’s Book Council offers a 2022 list of outstanding science books for students.

5. Plan a STEM experience. Check out options and find one that you want to explore with hands-on activities that promote creativity and problem-solving.

6. Don’t let stereotypes hold you back from providing STEM opportunities for girls. To learn more about how to support girls’ interest in STEM this summer, check out the blog Million Girls Moonshot and Six ideas for a Summer of STEM.

7. Take care of yourself. We encourage replenishing mental and physical health with summer plans. Check out the blog, Summer Fun the Ready4K Way which offers bite-sized pieces of information that can be incorporated into everyday routines. Don’t try to over-schedule enrichment activities. Kids can benefit from unstructured time and find their own creative ways out of boredom.

Share your successes in STEM over the summer!

Share on twitter and tag @STEMNext and @girlsmoonshot and #SummerofSTEM!

To read the full “Summer of Love for STEM” article by Stem Next Opportunity, click here.

Professional Learning Opportunity

Data Science Camp:

Investigations in

Data Science

At its core, data science is computation with context. It is a mathematics discipline rooted in its interconnectivity to other subjects. A data science curriculum bridges the gap between statistical acumen, software engineering and domain expertise. The Investigations in Data Science: A Focused Exploration of What it Means to Engage in Data Science professional learning initiative aims to understand how to incorporate this discipline into the K-12 curriculum.

Professional learning collaborators include leaders of the Delaware Math Coalition, Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Tech Impact. The target audience includes high school math and STEM teachers in Delaware schools.

Investigations in Data Science

August 2-4, 2022

8:30am - 3:30pm

St. Andrew's School Campus

350 Noxontown Road • Middletown, DE

Apply now! Seating is limited to 25 participants. To download the flyer, click here.

To register for Data Science Camp, click here.

Professional Learning Opportunities for Educators

Looking for professional development opportunities during the summer? DDOE offers many learning opportunities to assist you in enriching your classrooms.

For full module and webinar descriptions, click here.

Summer of Opportunity for all Delaware Children!

Check out DDOE programs available for K-12 students throughout the state. Opportunities include ongoing camps as well as daily offerings. All experiences are valuable for children, including those focused on academic learning, social-emotional skills, outdoor activities, targeted interests and more.

You can sort DDOE summer learning fun by date, area, keyword and grade.

For descriptions and listings, click here.

Registration is Open!

Smithsonian Summer Camp for Kids

In-Person: June 21 – August 19 / Virtual: July 5 – August 12

Smithsonian offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination—and offer plenty of great fun—during Smithsonian Summer Camp, now offered in person and online.

In-person camps will be held Tues., June 21 - Fri., August 19 at Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C.

Immersive and engaging opportunities to connect with the Smithsonian’s museums and research will be offered for children entering 1st - 9th grades in the fall. Instructors will offer age-appropriate content that animates the Smithsonian, its history and its collections.

Morning and afternoon online camp sessions will be streamed via Zoom Tues., July 5 - Fri., August 12. Live, interactive adventures will allow kids entering kindergarten - 11th grades in the fall to explore Smithsonian collections and themes during these specially designed sessions.

Discover themes including the natural world, space, art, design, history, world cultures, and more! Explore Smithsonian museums with unique online experiences! Whether campers join in-person or online, museum visits, games, hands-on projects and conversations with experts bring the Smithsonian to life for kids!

For more information about Smithsonian Summer Camps, click here.

To register for in-person and/or online summer camps, click here.

COVID-19 protocols will be followed and continually updated in preparation for the summer.

*Please note: No camps on June 20 or July 4.

There is Still Time to Apply!

Deadline is extended to June 30, 2022

Due to high interest by both school and community educators, along with the busy end of semester after this pandemic school year, Delaware STEM Council is extending the deadline for applications for the Delaware STEM Educator Awards until June 30. We encourage you to apply!

STEM Educator Award

Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education (DFSME), the Delaware STEM Educator Awards recognize certified teachers who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement. Awards are honored at the elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12) levels.

STEM Educator Community Award

Are you a STEM Educator but might not fit into the usual K-12 description?

The Delaware STEM Educator Community Award offers recognition and funding. This award is open to community educators and organizations that coordinate STEM activities for youth in grades P-12 that typically, but not exclusively, take place outside the school environment such as afterschool and organizations that are essentially non-traditional.

Cash Awards up to $7,500

Winners at each level are eligible for a cash award up to $7,500 in recognition of their commitment to STEM in Delaware and the success of our students. Winners will be honored at the 8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards Event in November 2022.

Eligibility

Applicants can be certified K-12 teachers in the Delaware public school system as well as exceptional educators who may be uncertified but still work with K-12 students in a focused STEM curriculum. Such a curriculum (science, math, engineering, technology, computer science and CTE) must still meet all expectations and goals of the Delaware STEM Council. Programs can include before and after school programs as well as summer camps.

Application Deadline

Completed applications and supporting materials must be received by June 30, 2022.

Submit your application and supporting materials as well as any questions to DelawareSTEMAwards@gmail.com.

2022 DFSME Seed Grant Awardee

Growth & Sustainability for New PECS Summer Camp for Girls

(Physics, Engineering and Computer Science)

The PECS Summer School for Girls seed grant awarded by DFSME provides educational experiences of rising grade 9 and grade 10 female students attending Brandywine School District secondary schools as campers in the Summer STEM camp in the areas of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science. Additionally, the grant includes 11th and 12th grade girls currently taking physics, engineering, and computer science courses as summer learning opportunities.

These young women will be assistants, role models and leading advocates for the program and the students enrolled. The grant funding covers the extra cost of materials while also reducing the tuition for the Summer STEM Camp in order to expand camp participation. It also provides full scholarships to cover the costs of the camp for five participants with proven financial need. It is anticipated that this camp will increase the interest of girls, particularly minority girls, in STEM career fields.

DFSME provides seed grants each year for innovative programs that support our mission and vision and are suited to standards-based STEM education for Delaware teachers and students.

To visit the full list of this year’s seed grant awardees, click here.

To read more or for PECS registration information, click here.

DFSME Mini Grant Awardee

The STEM Queen at Thunder Over Dover

Jacqueline Means, Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative

This DFSME Mini Grant helped Ms. Jackie Means, “Delaware’s STEM Queen”, to fund STEM science demonstrations during the Thunder Over Dover event at Dover Air Force Base on May 21-22. In addition to seeing the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performing precision flight maneuvers, the event offered STEM activities for youth. This grant helped to defray materials and travel costs. Her demonstrations and hands-on activities for children introduce them to fun, yet easy science experiments that allow youth to explore the interesting and unexpected elements of everyday things. Her goal is to inspire children to have confidence, follow their dreams, look more deeply at the world around them and explore science.

Have a STEM Project but Short on Funding?

Applying for a Mini Grant is Easy!

Do you or a colleague know a teacher, administrator or principal who has a brilliant

idea for engaging students and families in STEM learning? Let them know about this

awesome Mini Grant opportunity through DFSME!

To download a PDF of the DFSME Mini Grants flyer, click here.

For more information or to download the application, click here.

For questions or to send in an application,

contact Anne.dfsme@gmail.com with the subject line “DFSME Mini Grant”.

Governor’s Summer Fellowship Program

An opportunity for Delaware high school Students to gain real-world Experience

in Education, Community, and Government Career Paths

Delaware high school students beginning their junior or senior year in the Fall 2022 are eligible to apply for the Governor’s Summer Fellowship. This prestigious flagship program is geared towards preparing Delaware students for innovative and compelling work in education, government, or their communities. With paid work opportunities at summer camps available in each county, on-site mentoring, and networking opportunities with state leaders, students will gain an edge on their career before college.

The program provides paid ($15 per hour) camp counselor opportunities over a 6-8 week period this summer, through participating community-based summer camps. Prospective fellows must be committed to working for the duration of the program which runs from June 21 - August 12.

For students who are qualified and interested in applying, have them visit de.gov/summerfellow.

For questions, please contact Orrin.White@doe.k12.de.us.

You Can't Be What You Can't See!

STEM, CS and CTE Career Awareness for Middle School Girls

“You Can’t Be What You Can’t See!” Career exposure early in the pipeline is key to giving students an opportunity to learn about all the possible career paths they can take. This is especially important when it comes to encouraging more girls and women to pursue STEM/CS/CTE-related careers.

During this webinar, attendees heard how the Learning Blade system helps support educators building the future STEM/CS/CTE workforce.

To learn more and watch the replay, click here.

June 16 • 8:30 a.m. – 13:30 p.m.

Health Science Virtual Summer Professional Learning

CTE-Health Sciences will hold professional learning via WebEx.

To participate, register in PDMS, Course #29633, Section #58795.

For additional information, contact Peg Enslen at peggy.enslen@doe.k12.de.us.

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July 11-12

Elementary Mathematics Teachers Academy • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Grades 4-5 Teachers & Coaches: Designed for Bridges Math Curriculum Users

Day One – Leveraging the Power of Problem Strings • Day Two – Making the Most of Work Places

Virden Center, Lewes, DE • Sponsored by Delaware Math Coalition

Deadline to register is June 1, 2022

To register, click here.

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July 13-14

Secondary Math Teacher Academy • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Grades 6-7 Teachers & Coaches: Designed for Illustrative Math Curriculum Users

Focus: Leveraging the Power of Representations Across the Grades

Virden Center, Lewes, DE • A University of Delaware & Delaware Math Coalition Partnership

Deadline to register is June 1, 2022

To register, click here.

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July 30

Exploration: Measuring Time • 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Find out how to tell time using shadows and sand! Learn about the devices people have used to keep time throughout the ages. Discover what AM and PM means besides morning and afternoon when you learn about the time zones. Join us for this Exploration for the TIME of your life!

$6/per person (cash only), kids under 3 free.

For registration information or to see the full schedule of 2022 DASEF educational events, click here.

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August 2 - 4 • 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Data Science Camp for Secondary Teachers - Investigations into Data Science

Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Delaware Mathematics Coalition and TECH Impact

St. Andrew’s School Campus, 350 Noxontown Road, Middletown DE

For more information, contact Jamila Riser at jqriser@gmail.com.

To download the flyer, click here. To register for Data Science Camp, click here.

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Save the Date! October 14-15

Delaware Mathematics & STEM Equity Conferences