Before you start raising funds to implement a new or existing STEM program in your district or school, you'll need to identify your needs, priorities, and goals. To help make this process easier, we're here to help! The planning questions below will help you focus and organize your efforts.

Within STEM, adults and children are often confused about the differences between science and engineering, especially with regard to how the two connect in elementary school. Both subjects require students to manipulate and test materials, engage in arguments based on evidence and work in teams, but there are crucial differences between the two fields. Before, during and after children engage in an engineering design challenge, it’s important to help them understand what makes each field distinct. These four questions can help you frame your explanation of the differences between engineering and science.

With our society becoming increasingly dependent on technology and STEM literacy, it’s becoming even more imperative to close the drastic gender gap that exists within STEM fields. A recent study by Microsoft found that girls and young women tend to lose interest in STEM fields as they age. By the time they finish high school, their interest drops significantly. Microsoft's study reinforces what we’ve known at EiE for many years: We have to start early. As our founder Christine Cunningham articulated last fall during an AtlanticLive event, “We have to [reach students] before they’ve been socialized [to believe] that they can’t do it.” We need to empower all learners and help them see the value of science, technology, engineering and math. These strategies can empower young girls to discover their inner engineer.

EiE Professional Development is excited to offer two free webinars this month that can help you improve your teaching practice. Both "Effective Questioning Strategies for Your STEM Classroom" and "Getting Started with EiE: Materials Management" are suitable for elementary teachers of engineering and STEM specialists, as well as professional development providers and administrators who want to learn more about meaningful integration of STEM subjects and effective questioning strategies. You don’t need previous experience teaching the EiE curriculum to benefit from these engaging webinars. Learn more about the webinars below and register today!

Engineers Week is one of our favorite times of year. Each year, we celebrate the engineering field and the amazing engineers who solve problems, design technologies and make our world safer and better. This year’s theme, “Engineers: Inspiring Wonder,” is all about inspiring kids to discover their inner engineer and become innovative problem solvers. As the DiscoverE website describes, let's “encourage them to wonder, ‘Is engineering my future?’” To help educators inspire wonder this week, we thought we’d share our favorite videos of kids engineering, working together, learning, and of course, being inspired.