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STEAM Newsletter – Thursday, February 1, 2024
STEAM Newsletter Vol. 38
Black History Month !!!
According to the Library of Congress, “in 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, which designated February 1986 as ‘National Black (Afro-American) History Month.’ This law noted that February 1, 1986, would ‘mark the beginning of the sixtieth annual public and private salute to Black History.’”
In this newsletter, we share resources to teach and learn about Black History focused on STEAM activities and lessons. Resources such as Science Buddies “38 Scientists to learn more about” showcase contributions from African American scientists and engineers. The National Endowment for the Humanities EDSITEment offers "a teacher’s guide of African American history and culture." The National Education Association “Black History Month Lessons & Resources” website helps honor achievements of African American scientists, engineers and artists across the country.
Let off some STEAM with these fun activities!
Recent News on STEAM
"For nearly 2 centuries, the skulls of 20 Black people who died in Philadelphia have formed part of the Morton Cranial Collection, now housed at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Most of the skulls were collected by physical anthropologist Samuel Morton, who in the 1830s and ’40s amassed hundreds of them for studies he designed to identify supposed biological racial differences and scientifically prove what he believed to be the inferiority of nonwhite people.
On 3 February, the museum plans to lay the crania of 19 of the Black Philadelphians in the collection to rest in a historically Black cemetery. “After 200 years of being on display and subject to scientific testing, these individuals deserve an interment with all the dignity and respect that we can give them,” says Penn Museum Director Christopher Woods. “They don’t belong in the museum.”"
"In an AI-based exploration of 160 billion organic molecules, Argonne scientists identified about 40 liquid hydrogen carriers that could one day fuel cars, trucks, buses, trains and ships and generate energy for consumers.
In a computational study leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory assessed 160 billion molecules, a number exceeding the people born in the entire span of human history. Their goal was to screen the molecules for suitability as liquid carriers of hydrogen."
“Calling all student makers – this year’s 3D printed butter cow could be designed by you!
This year, we want to see your vision for our fan-favorite butter cow miniature, and we’ve whipped up a contest to award a special honor – having your design 3D printed and given away to this year’s State Fair attendees.
Makers of all skill levels are encouraged to take part in this opportunity to turn a passion into a real-life object. See the tabs below for guidelines and step-by-step instructions on turning your idea into a print-ready design.
Start churning up your ideas today! Deadline for design submission is April 1, 2024. Submit a Design Contest Flyer"
Upcoming Events
Sat. Feb 10 | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
"Special events for the entire family and two free days highlight the celebration for Mr. Lincoln’s 215th birthday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in February!
Join us for free admission for all guests on both Saturday, February 10, and Monday, February 12.
On Saturday, February 10, we’ll celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s love of reading and life-long learning with the Lincolns4Lincoln Literacy Jam to benefit Compass for Kids. This special event especially for kids will happen from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in our museum plaza. The Literacy Jam will feature story-time from celebrity readers, musical entertainment, a magician, local sports mascots, and interactive activities for children."
Thu. Feb 15 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm| DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, Dekalb, Illinois
"Explore severe storms, tornados and other skyscapes through striking time-lapse photography.
Speaker: Walker Ashley, Ph.D., NIU Professor of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
What are Teen STEM Cafés?
- Designed for middle and high school students and their families.
- Engaging speakers and fun hands-on activities connect science, technology, engineering and math concepts to current events.
- Meet fellow teens who share your interest in science and technology.
- Enjoy free pizza provided by NIU STEAM, with support from HyVee and the DeKalb Public Library."
Mon. Feb 19 - Wed. Feb 21 | Renaissance Schaumburg Convention
Center Hotel
“IDEAcon isn't just a conference; IDEAcon is an experience. For three days, educators become immersed in a community of leaders and learners.
Attendees enjoy a welcoming environment as they create their own journey full of breakout sessions, exhibit hall demos, hands-on activities, thought leader talks, networking opportunities and more. Go at your own pace, take the time to discover, and relish the opportunity to learn, share, and play. IDEAcon is where you'll find your next learning adventure.”
Sat. Feb 24 | 9:30 am - 2:30 pm | Museum of science +industry Chicago
"In celebration of Black Creativity, kids and families can talk with African American artists, scientists and engineers about innovative work happening right here in our city. This is an opportunity to learn from experts during dynamic demonstrations, hands-on activities and one-on-one conversations. Discover how to turn your passions into a career!
Professionals will be stationed throughout the Main Level of the Museum. This event is included with Museum Entry and open to all ages.
Bringing a group?
MSI is excited to offer the Black Creativity Career Showcase as a free event to youth and families who attend as part of a community partnership. Bussing is provided from community sites to MSI and back, and Museum Entry is included."
Tue. Feb 27 | 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Online
"Starting in the 2022 school year, schools are responsible for educating their students in computer literacy per ISBE’s new computer science standards.
In this session, we’ll explore what computer literacy is, the K-12 Computer Literacy Knowledge and Skill Continuum, and how you can bring computer literacy into your classroom. We will explore how both new tools and some you may already know can be utilized to fulfill these standards.
This session is great for administrators planning to implement the standards, teachers who are teaching the standards, and any educator who would like to learn new ideas for integrating technology into their classroom."
Thu. Feb 29 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | 1475 West Whittaker St
Salem, IL 62881
"As technology continues to evolve, educators must adapt and integrate cutting-edge tools to engage the modern learner effectively. Unlock the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize your teaching approach and captivate your students!
In this hands-on workshop, we will delve into the world of AI-powered content creation, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to transform your teaching materials into dynamic and interactive resources. We will guide you through various AI applications, demonstrating how to leverage them to develop captivating presentations, immersive simulations, personalized assessments, and interactive visual aids that cater to diverse learning styles.
Embrace the future of education and join us for this transformative workshop that will leave you well-equipped to inspire and engage your students like never before."
Deadline to submit project is Friday, March 1, 2024, 10:59 pm CST.
GWC Challenge 2023_2024 - One Pager.pdf - Google Drive
“💸 AI4FinancialGood Challenge: This school year, GWC challenges students to create projects on how AI can be used to help people with their finances! All 6th-12th grade Club members, any 9th-12th grade US high school student, and all College Loops members are eligible to win a $500 gift card, swag, and a newsletter spotlight. Submit your project on HQ by March 1st for a chance to win!”
Mon. Apr 8 | Adler Planetarium
"Eclipse obsessed? Catch a solar eclipse with your favorite planetarium in Chicago.
It’s not every day that you get to see a solar eclipse from your backyard. The stars (well, one star, a planet, and a moon) are lining up to give us the opportunity to see this stellar phenomenon next year! On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America, including here in Illinois. Learn how you can celebrate the Sun with us at the museum and wherever you are! Let’s get equipped to eclipse.
To stay up-to-date with all things solar eclipse, sign up for our emails and select “Eclipses Across Illinois + Solar Eclipse Info” as one of your interests."
Thu. May 9 | 8:30 am - 3:00 pm | Illinois State Capitol Building
"Illinois educators and students are doing amazing, innovative things in the classroom every single day. At IDEA, our hope is to give these students and educators a platform to exemplify the importance of this innovative learning.
Each spring, IDEA hosts districts from all across Illinois at the State Capitol in Springfield for our Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day. Our hope is to provide a platform to demonstrate the importance of innovative learning to our state legislators in order to continue and/or improve funding for innovation in Illinois classrooms. Students are selected through an application process to present their projects at this annual one-day event."
Educator's Corner
STEAM resources for in-person, hybrid, remote learning, and professional development
- SIU | Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival
- Inside the IBM Quantum Lab with Dr. Olivia Lanes
- Google: Celebrate Black History, Culture & Identity - Applied Digital Skills
- Illinois State Museum Educator’s Page
- About Goblin Tools
- Day of AI
- AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit
- National Educational Technology Plan - Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education
- NASA | Imagine the Universe! Materials
- NEA | Teacher Professional Growth
- Science Buddies | 12 STEM Activities for Lunar New Year
STEAM Resources Spotlight
"An AI-based system succeeds in planning and carrying out real-world chemistry experiments, showing the potential to help human scientists make more discoveries, faster.
In less time than it will take you to read this article, an artificial intelligence-driven system was able to autonomously learn about certain Nobel Prize-winning chemical reactions and design a successful laboratory procedure to make them. The AI did all that in just a few minutes — and nailed it on the first try.
"This is the first time that a non-organic intelligence planned, designed and executed this complex reaction that was invented by humans," says Carnegie Mellon University chemist and chemical engineer Gabe Gomes, who led the research team that assembled and tested the AI-based system. They dubbed their creation "Coscientist.""
"Destructive winds that flow out of thunderstorms in the central United States are becoming more widespread with warming temperatures, according to new research by the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
The new study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that the central U.S. experienced a fivefold increase in the geographic area affected by damaging thunderstorm straight line winds in the past 40 years. The research uses a combination of meteorological observations, very high-resolution computer modeling and analyses of fundamental physical laws to estimate the changes in the winds, which are so short-lived and localized that they often are not picked up by weather stations.
The work was funded by NSF, which is NCAR's sponsor, and by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Climate Grand Challenge on Weather and Climate Extremes.
"Thunderstorms are causing more and more of these extreme wind events," said NCAR scientist Andreas Prein, the author of the study. "These gusts that suddenly go from no wind at all to gusts of 60 to 80 miles per hour can have very damaging impacts on buildings, power grids and even human safety.""
The 'A' in STEAM
"Arts foster scientific success" -Dr. Temple Grandin
This series is dedicated to showing how art and creativity play a crucial role in our society within the STEM fields.
"Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts. The 2024 theme is "African Americans and the Arts" spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more."
Please submit STEAM ideas, comments, or questions using our contact us form.
Any links being provided are for educational purpose use only; they do not constitute an endorsement, approval, affiliation, sponsorship, or partnership by the State of Illinois, Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) of any products, services or opinions of any of the linked entities. The State of Illinois bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content. The State of Illinois reserves the right to add or remove the links provided at any time without notice in its sole discretion and shall not be obliged to give a reason for doing so.