Asian Pacific Islander Innovators in STEM Booklist and Read Alouds

Compiled by educators from University of North Carolina’s STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMI2E2) Center, this booklist with linked read-alouds celebrates Asian Pacific Islander (API) innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The books are grouped by intended audience: babies and toddlers, 0–2 years; older toddlers, ages 3 and older; preschool, ages 4 and older; and kindergarten, ages 5 and older. Each annotation indicates API representation (e.g., author, STEM innovator, character); the STEM domain it addresses; and whether the book includes accurate and age-appropriate STEM concepts. In addition, many titles include links to a video read-aloud of the story. All books on the list feature engaging photographs and illustrations and offer many talking points to engage young students in STEM conversations. 

Selected titles from each domain include The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin (science, API characters, API author, ages four and older); Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers by Rajani LaRocca (technology and math, API author, API characters, ages four and older); and What to Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada (engineering/technology, API author, ages four and older).

How To Draw Artemis!

Most appropriate for grades 5–8 and 9–12, this online publication shows students how to use simple shapes to draw parts of NASA’s Artemis program, which will take us back to the Moon. Using this resource, students can create their own drawings of the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion spacecraft, the Lunar Gateway orbiting spacecraft, the launch pad, two spacesuits, and more. As students follow the step-by-step instructions for the drawings, they learn about the Artemis mission and discover fun facts about the capabilities of each spacecraft along the way. 

Exploring Ecology as a Career

Resources and articles from the Ecological Society of America (ESA)’s Ecology Career Center offer insight and advice to guide students interested in pursuing careers in ecology. They can browse the job database to become informed about qualifications necessary for various positions, or read journal articles to discover new areas of interest in the field. Many of the site’s journal articles are written by young ecologists conducting science research in areas from sustainable agriculture and agroecology to invasive species studies in freshwater environments and more. The articles provide a personal look at ecology-based careers and can help students gain a better understanding of what is involved in scientific research. Also of interest is the site’s collection of archived webinars addressing topics relating to Careers and Ecology, Diversity and Ecology, and the Science of Ecology. 

Online Course—Introduction to CubeSat Flight Experiments

Teach your students to collect data using Arduino and sensors and get them involved in the exciting events happening in Low Earth Orbit! Teachers in Space, Inc. (TIS) offers an online course that introduces teachers to developing experiments with their students for spaceflight. This includes building functioning CubeSats that use Arduino microcontrollers and compatible sensors. No prior experience with electronics is necessary: TIS will guide you through the process at your pace. These activities can be incorporated into all science subjects and support data collection and analysis, and the integration of the Engineering Design Process into your science curriculum (as described in the Next Generation Science Standards). 

This is not a contest. Classes that meet the engineering design milestones will be able to fly their experiments. TIS has flown student-designed experiments on multiple launch platforms, including these:
•    High Altitude Balloons,
•    The Perlan II—World Record-Breaking Stratospheric Glider,
•    Zero-G Research Flights,
•    Blue Origin’s New Shepard Suborbital Rocket Flights,
•    SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to Orbit, and
•    Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Rockets to Orbit.

This course includes the following:
•    More than 2.5 hours of step-by-step video instruction for self-paced learning;
•    Regular office hours with instructors through voice, video, or e-mail;
•    Ongoing school-year support to help you and your students build a flight-ready CubeSat;
•    All electronic components, sensors, CubeSat frames and fasteners needed for the course; and
•    Flights for experiments as engineering design milestones are attained.

The cost is $400 per teacher, which includes a Certificate of Completion for 10 hours of professional development.

New Mexico CubeSat Flight Experiments Workshop

Teachers in Space, Inc. (TIS) will hold summer workshops that introduce teachers to the process of developing experiments with their students for spaceflight. This includes building functioning CubeSats using Arduino microcontrollers and compatible sensors. The workshop will be held at the Challenger Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Two sessions are scheduled: July 10–13 or July 14–17. No prior experience with electronics is necessary. These activities can be incorporated into all science subjects and support data collection and analysis, and the integration of the Engineering Design Process into your science curriculum (as described in the Next Generation Science Standards). 

This is not a contest. Classes that meet engineering design milestones will be able to fly their experiments. TIS has flown student-designed experiments on multiple launch platforms, including these:

•    High Altitude Balloons
•    The Perlan II - World Record Breaking Stratospheric Glider
•    Zero-G Research Flights
•    Blue Origin’s New Shepard Suborbital Rocket Flights 
•    SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to Orbit
•    Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Rockets to Orbit

This workshop includes the following:

•    All electronic components, sensors, CubeSat frames and fasteners;
•    Classroom instruction including experiment development, engineering design, assembling sensors, programming the Arduino microcontroller, and assembling the CubeSat frame;
•    Access for one year to TIS online course, Introduction to CubeSat Flight Experiments ($400 value);
•    Stipend of $220 per participant;
•    Travel reimbursement of up to $500 per participant traveling more than 60 miles one way;
•    High altitude balloon launch;
•    Individual glider flights with certified glider pilots;
•    Ongoing school-year support, including regular office hours with instructors through voice, video, or e-mail to help you and your students build a flight-ready CubeSat; and
•    Flights for experiments as engineering design milestones are attained.

The cost is $1,600 per teacher, which includes a Certificate of Completion. For New Mexico teachers, the workshop is free.

NSHSS Grants
 
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) will award the following grants to high school educators. (Deadline March 14)

• Conference Grants. Five $500 grants to help defray costs of educational conference registration, travel, and accommodations;
• School Supplies Grants. Fifteen $500 grants to help educators provide additional opportunities to their students and classrooms.
• Higher Education Grants. Four $2,500 awards to help educators with the costs of tuition and course-related expenses for teachers and counselors who are enrolling in university courses in Spring 2024 or Summer 2024.
• School Club Cash. Ten $500 grants to help educators provide additional opportunities to their student clubs.
• National Board Certification Assistance Grants. Two $2,000 grants to educators pursuing this certification.