Here’s a STEM activity for summer camp that’s literally timely! It’s About Time is a curriculum unit that’s all about timekeeping; it’s also one of the newest offerings from Engineering Everywhere (EE), the out-of-school-time curriculum for middle schoolers developed here at Engineering is Elementary.

“Full STEM Ahead!” That’s the title of a recent Afterschool Alliance report on how afterschool programs can support in-school STEM learning. One organization that has fully embraced the rallying cry is Vermont Afterschool. Last year, the statewide organization landed a $120,000 grant from the Noyce Foundation for “afterschool and STEM system-building strategies.” A key component, says Tracy Truzansky, Vermont Afterschool’s project manager for training/STEM initiatives, is encouraging wider use of the EiE afterschool curricula Engineering Adventures and Engineering Everywhere.

“Building for You.” That’s the slogan of New York City’s Department of Design and Construction, which builds the civic facilities city dwellers use every day, from cultural institutions to police precincts to roads, sidewalks, and sewer systems. The agency employs hundreds of engineers, and city officials are thinking ahead to the next generation; recently, DDC launched the “Young Engineers” program with the goal of inspiring students to consider careers in the built environment.  At the center of this initiative is a middle-school afterschool program that uses Engineering is Elementary’s “Engineering Everywhere” curriculum.  This short video shows some of the exciting outcomes!

Every Thursday, the blog brings you tips and resources for teaching engineering. Today’s guest blogger is Owen Berliner, a senior curriculum designer with EiE.

We notice that sometimes kids in afterschool just can’t get enough of the topics covered in EiE’s Engineering Adventures (EA) curriculum. Whether it’s planetary science in Liftoff: Engineering Rockets and Rovers, or conservation in Go Green: Engineering Recycled Racers, it helps to have a list of extra resources that can further engage students—and foster deeper understanding of how engineering connects to subjects like science and social studies.

This engineering teacher tip is for educators who use Engineering Adventures, our curriculum for learners in grades 3-5 in out-of-school settings like afterschool and camp—specifically the unit Shake Things Up: Engineering Earthquake-Resistant Buildings. This unit introduces kids to the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010; the challenge is to engineer a model building that can withstand a quake.