Host a STEM or STEAM Family Night
Foster passion for science, technology, engineering, (art) and math through fun and interesting science activities that families can solve together.
STEM activities don't have to involve expensive equipment, they can just be fun engaging activities that students can repeat again at home using materials you would find around the house.
STEM activities don't have to involve expensive equipment, they can just be fun engaging activities that students can repeat again at home using materials you would find around the house.
Get Started!
1) Look for Unique Partnerships. Ask your families if anyone has a job that they can leverage to bring a unique hands-on experience to your families. Many companies are happy to attend a STEM night (and even pass out logo items).
2) Select your Activity Stations.
3) Recruit Volunteers. You will want a volunteer for each station - make sure you also have a volunteer to help set-up each station. Setup takes more time for a STEM Night because you are setting up experiments.
4) Promote Your Event. Let families know what stations you've selected or if you have a special business partner joining you to help generate excitement.
5) Make Signs. Every station should have a sign that tell participants.
2) Select your Activity Stations.
- Visit the Hunt District Pinterest STEAM Night page for more than 130 STEM/STEAM activity ideas
- Explore the National PTA's STEM+Families Science Night Festival Toolkit
- Explore the experiment cards and videos at Making Science Make Sense.
- Explore the resources available from Hour of Code
- You will probably want to select 10 stations and spread them throughout your school.
- Decide if you want the stations to be timed (e.g. ring a bell every 15 minutes), or if families can drop by stations at their own pace. You might consider setting up a mix of the two types of stations.
- Consider including a "Tech Take Apart" (See below).
- Consider a Recyclable Creations Station (Ask parents to donate in advance. You can set a theme, e.g. balloon powered car, marble run on the wall, or leave it open ended!)
- Consider a station highlighting butterfly gardens (and the Bring Back the Monarch Program).
- Consider a station highlighting your school veggie garden (Plant a seed is always a popular station! and you might get a few new volunteers)
- Consider asking a local 4H program to bring some animals (e.g. eggs and chicks to explore the life cycle of a chicken)
3) Recruit Volunteers. You will want a volunteer for each station - make sure you also have a volunteer to help set-up each station. Setup takes more time for a STEM Night because you are setting up experiments.
4) Promote Your Event. Let families know what stations you've selected or if you have a special business partner joining you to help generate excitement.
5) Make Signs. Every station should have a sign that tell participants.
- What question they are trying to answer
- How to do the experiment
- Why it works / The expected outcome
- Why the solution "matters"
Tech Take-Apart
A popular and easy activity for STEM Night (or it's own special Family Night) is a "Tech Take Apart".
Ask families to donate used electronics (VCRs, DVD players, phones, keyboards, remote controls, computer hard drives etc.) Remind families that ideal electronics should NOT have glass.
Ask if there are parents who are electricians, hardware engineers or love tinkering to supervise the station AND (hopefully) bring a selection of screwdrivers.
Set-up tables with electronics and screwdrivers... let students and families take them apart... What will they discover?!
Ask families to donate used electronics (VCRs, DVD players, phones, keyboards, remote controls, computer hard drives etc.) Remind families that ideal electronics should NOT have glass.
Ask if there are parents who are electricians, hardware engineers or love tinkering to supervise the station AND (hopefully) bring a selection of screwdrivers.
Set-up tables with electronics and screwdrivers... let students and families take them apart... What will they discover?!
Resources
STEM + Families initiative is designed to engage students, families, and communities in opportunities to explore... inspire... empower... and educate... STEM possibilities. PTA’s vision is that all students have the family and community support needed to access and pursue STEM opportunities and careers.
