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STEAM Newsletter – Saturday, November 1, 2025
STEAM Newsletter Vol. 59
Nov 8 - National STEM/STEAM Day!
Join the National STEM/STEAM Day celebration on November 8, 2025 and celebrate the educators, students, mentors, and innovators who are shaping the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Encourage your students to connect with the next generation of scientist by Skyping a Scientist on November 12, 2025! With the Skype a Scientist series, you can connect with real scientist from around the world. Skype a Scientist is a way to spark curiosity and showcase that science exists beyond the textbook. Join and encourage your students to ask questions, explore big ideas and see how they can be a part of shaping the future.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars to celebrate Computer Science Education Week scheduled December 8-14, 2025. This annual opportunity inspires student to learn about computer science and promotes equity in computer science education. Educators and families are encouraged to organize activities that recognize the importance of computer science and coding through resources like Computer Science for Illinois.
Do you have a project that deserves the spotlight? Submit your project to be considered for our STEAM Project Highlight in an upcoming edition. Let’s build a school year full of innovation, curiosity, and bold ideas.
Let off some STEAM with these fun activities!
Recent News on STEAM
Using AI to Develop Smart Helmets for Heat Stroke Prevention | Illinois Institute of Technology
"Developing a heat-stroke detention system for construction workers netted the runner-up prize at the SAS Institute’s annual SAS Innovate 2025 global hackathon for a team of recent Illinois Tech graduates."
"They linger in our water, our blood, and the environment—"forever chemicals” that are notoriously difficult to detect.
But researchers at the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and Argonne National Laboratory have collaborated to develop a novel method to detect miniscule levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water."
"Over the last century and beyond, generations of observation and research have recorded significant changes in the world’s reefscapes. Coral reefs are known to be very sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, pollution, and pH and oxygen levels."
Upcoming Events
ENTICE Education Workshops: Coyote Track | IDNR
Sat. November 1, 2025 | 9 am - 3 pm | Register
"Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit."
Drones in Action in the Classroom: Preparing for the Future | LTC
Wed. November 5, 2025 | 9:00 am -12:00 pm | Free
Join us for an in-person demonstration of drones for middle and high schools featuring educational drone racing.
AI for Special Education: Empowering Every Learner | LTC
Wed. November 5, 2025 | 3:00 pm -5:00 pm | Free | Online
This virtual workshop is designed for special education teachers seeking to elevate their foundational AI skills. We'll explore advanced prompting and expanded AI toolsets, empowering you to create deeply personalized learning experiences.
AI-Savvy Students: Equipping Today’s Learners for Tomorrow’s Reality | LTC
Thu. November 6, 2025 | 12:30 pm -3:30 pm | $15
You understand the benefits of AI in education and the importance of preparing our students for the increasingly AI-influenced world, but now what? In this session, we will explore the “Why, What, and How?” of integrating AI literacy into the classroom. We will cover practical strategies and resources, including pre-made lesson plans aligned with AI Literacy skills, activities that simultaneously support class content and AI literacy, engaging student-facing tools, and quick discussion starters that make introducing AI concepts simple and effective at any grade level and in any classroom.
ENTICE Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Winter | IDNR
Sat. November 8, 2025 | 9 am - 3 pm | Online
Join the Success Network for this interactive workshop, where you will learn the principles of human-centered design to center students in your programs and communities. Using the Helix Education Model, learn how to deepen student impact and create systems where anyone can be a collaborator in design thinking and problem solving. Then, hear from the Siebel Center for Design to learn how to engage with their resources and opportunities. You will leave the session with ready-to-go tools for your students, teams, and communities.
Veterinary Exploration Day for High School Students | ISVMA
Sat. November 8, 2025 | 8:15 am - 11:30 am | Oak Brook, IL | Register
Do YOU want to make a difference in the lives of animals and people? Come to the Illinois Veterinary Exploration Day to discover the many different career paths YOU could have as a future professional in the veterinary field!
CS & STEM Networking Meeting | LTC
Mon. November 10, 2025 | 3:30 pm -4:30 pm | Free | Online
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
Tue. November 18, 2025 | 9:00 am -2:00 pm | Free
In an era where AI-generated text is increasingly sophisticated, this workshop equips educators with essential strategies to address AI misuse and redesign writing tasks that prioritize genuine student thinking.
Library Media Specialist Networking Meeting | LTC
Wed. November 19, 2025 | 8:30 am -9:30 am | Free | Online
Join Neha Thakkar and Emily Flach for a monthly virtual networking meeting explicitly geared to the needs of today's library media specialists.
2025 Multilingual Illinois Statewide Conference | Illinois Resource Center
Dec. 9-11 | Tinley Park Convention Center | Register
"We hope you will join us for this in-person informative week of connection, collaboration, learning and growth supporting multilingual learners.“
Educator's Corner
STEAM resources for in-person, hybrid, remote learning, and professional development
STEAM Resources
Education | Illinois Science & Technology Coalition
"We pave the way for the next generation of innovators by providing structured programs which connect Illinois students to industries and companies. Our programs facilitate long term, ongoing mentorship that builds student identity, esteem, and skills in STEM."
Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan | ISBE
"The Illinois State Board of Education is developing the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan, a statewide initiative to strengthen math learning for all students. Rooted in evidence-based practices and informed by voices from the field, this plan is designed to support educators, schools, and districts with the tools, resources, and professional learning they need to deliver high-quality math instruction at every grade level."
Education & Field Trips | The American Writers Museum
"The American Writers Museum believes in the power of writing to influence our history, our culture and our daily lives. Our educational programming aims to inspire future generations of American writers. In these materials you will find downloadable curriculum to use at your own pace, guided virtual tours of our online exhibits, video tours and information about virtual field trips including online meet-and-greets with renowned and emerging writers working today."
"We believe in inspiring artistic expression, promoting self-respect, and developing independence for all of our community members. We strive to create safe and supportive spaces for artists to experiment, take risks, and explore their creativity.
We are proud to offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of anyone interested in making art and connecting with fellow artists."
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.
Jan van Kessel, Study of Insects and Reptiles [center], c. 1660, oil on copper, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, VA
Smithsonian Scientists on How Artists Depicted Five Curious Creatures | National Gallery of Art
"When did you first see the pattern of a dragonfly’s wing? Or learn that giant mammals roam the ocean? If you had lived in Europe in the 16th or 17th centuries, your first exposure to the wonders of the natural world may have been through art. Artists of the period helped share newfound knowledge of insects, animals, and other beestjes or “little beasts.”
Our exhibition Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World pairs paintings, prints, and drawings from our collection with specimens and taxidermy from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Specialists from the museum helped us identify some magnificent (or mysterious) animals. Find out how artists represented, or sometimes misrepresented, the creatures in their works."
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.