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STEAM Newsletter – Tuesday, September 1, 2026
STEAM Newsletter Vol. 69
Welcome Back, STEAM Innovators!
As the new school year begins, STEAM classrooms are buzzing with fresh energy and new opportunities. September is a chance to reset, reconnect, and set a strong foundation for curiosity and problem-solving. This month, we recognize you, the educators, who guide students through hands-on learning, encourage critical thinking, and help them build the confidence to tackle real-world challenges. Thank you for the work you do every day to inspire and empower learners.
We are excited to learn more about your classroom initiatives and student projects. If you or your students are working on something inspiring, a prototype, performance, research project, or design, we want to learn more! We encourage you to submit your project for our STEAM Project Highlight. Submit your STEAM Project to be considered for a feature in an upcoming edition of our newsletter.
Thank you for your continued commitment to STEAM education. We look forward to supporting your work throughout the year and highlighting the creative, meaningful learning happening in your classrooms. Here’s to a strong start and a year full of discovery.
Let off some STEAM with these fun activities!
Recent News on STEAM
“On August 10, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3070 into law, allowing Illinois high school students, beginning in 2028, to substitute CTE coursework for the state’s two-year foreign language requirement. Championed by the IMA and Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA), the bipartisan legislation represents a significant step toward giving students greater flexibility to pursue career pathways aligned with their interests and the needs of Illinois employers.”
High school interns enjoy a summer of science | The University of Chicago
“The STEM Lab Internship program is part of an ongoing partnership with the nonprofit After School Matters, which provides after-school and summer programming to about 20,000 Chicago teens each year. “The students are building real, hands-on research expertise while helping advance ongoing research projects, but we also create a full experience that helps them see themselves as future scientists,” said UChicago PME Assistant Dean of Education and Outreach Laura Rico-Beck.”
Lab expansion offers skill-building space | Illinois Tech
“An extension of Illinois Tech’s Smart Tech Lab will serve students by providing workshops, lab space, and a headquarters for student organizations. The new Lighting, Automation, and Cybersecurity Lab expands the capabilities of the Smart Tech Lab, allowing more students to hone their skills inside and outside of the classroom.”
“Newly developed microparticles can infiltrate stubborn bacterial matrices and release tiny oxygen bubbles to clean surfaces and wounds more efficiently than hydrogen peroxide or other cleaning agents alone, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report. In two papers they demonstrated the bubble-generating particles’ ability to clean tenacious biofilms from surgical instruments and, when embedded within bandages, to clean infected wounds and speed healing.”
Upcoming Events
Four Score Speaker Series In-Person and Online with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Dr. Matthew Pinsker | Lincoln Presidential Foundation
Wed. Sep. 9 | 7 pm
“Join us Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT for an engaging conversation featuring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Dr. Matthew Pinsker, one of the foremost Lincoln historians, for a moderated discussion with Foundation President and CEO Erin Carlson Mast on Pinsker's latest book, Boss Lincoln: The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln.”
CS & STEM Networking Meeting | Learning Technology Center
Thu. Sep. 10 | 3:30 pm-4:30 pm
“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.”
Teacher Appreciation Day | Art Institute of Chicago
Thu. Sep. 10 | 4:30-7:30 pm | 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
“K-12 teachers are invited to get creative with peers while enjoying free refreshments, music, and museum tours. While you’re here, gather resources for your classroom, including posters and lesson plans that support the integration of art into any curriculum.”
Monarch Butterfly Festival | Illinois State Museum
Sat. Sep. 12 | 2 pm - 8 pm | 801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, IL
"Join the Illinois State Museum, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Monarch Project, and a host of community partners as we celebrate Illinois' state insect, and everyone's favorite garden visitor, the Monarch Butterfly! Enjoy FREE games, activities, giveaways, and more at this community event - rain or shine!"
Flip the Script on Screen Time and Transform Learning with Technology | Learning Technology Center
Tue. Sep. 15 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
“The headlines say, “turn off the screens.” But K-12 instructional leaders know the (right technology can unlock unprecedented student creativity. The secret is moving from passive consumption to active engagement.”
Escape The Museum | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Fri. Sep. 18 | 5 pm - 8:30 pm | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
“Escape the Museum returns for another thrilling year with a brand new experience. After a sold-out run last year, Griffin MSI is hosting eight nights of Escape the Museum: The Infinite Grid, a story centered around our new exhibit, Powering the Future. This giant escape game asks you to find clues and solve puzzles as you explore the Museum after hours.
The Game Changer: Boosting Engagement with Gamification | Learning Technology Center
Wed. Sep. 23 | 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm | ROE 50: St. Clair, Belleville, IL
“Ready to transform your classroom into an interactive learning adventure? This workshop will explore the powerful impact of integrating game elements into your teaching. We’ll demystify the difference between gamification (adding game-like elements to existing lessons, like points and badges) and game-based learning (using actual games as the core instructional tool, like simulations or role-playing).”
Day of Play | Children's Discovery Museum | Children’s Discovery Museum
Sat. Sep. 26 | 10 am - 3 pm | Normal, IL
“Launched in 2004, Day of Play embodies the Museum’s mission "to be the destination for power play-inspired learning for all” by encouraging children to turn off their screens and play outside. PNC’s sponsorship includes PNC Grow Up Great resources”
Camp Vet Med | University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Sun. Oct. 4 | University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Urbana, IL | No Registration Required
“Join us for a day of discovery and animal-filled fun as the 2026 Open House at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine transforms into Camp Vet Med. Follow the trail to more than 40 booths and demonstrations staffed by current veterinary students and discover the animals, science, and people behind veterinary medicine. This free event happens Sunday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the state’s only veterinary college, with free parking at 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, Ill. Registration is not required.”
Science Works | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Sat. Oct. 10 | 9:30 am – 2:30 pm | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
“Science Works will feature dynamic speakers, hands-on activities and one-on-one discussions. Youth and their families can discover what interesting jobs the STE(A)M fields have to offer, see how to turn their passion into a career and get advice on pursuing a future in STE(A)M. This annual one-day event is included in General Admission. Tickets: Oct. 10”
IETC | Learning Technology Center
Wed. Nov. 11 - Fri. Nov 13 | BOS Center Springfield, IL | Register
“At IETC, education and technology innovators from throughout Illinois gather in our state’s capital to learn, collaborate, and connect. Sessions focus on technology integration strategies, engaging instructional practices, digital tools and resources, and emerging trends – all with a focus on helping every K-12 district and educator harness edtech’s full potential."
Educator's Corner
STEAM resources for in-person, hybrid, remote learning, and professional development
- Argonne National Laboratory Learning Labs
- Discover a world of science | Education at Fermilab
- STEM Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
- Multilingual Preschool Videos for Families - YouTube
- Administrator Academies 202627 - Flyer.pdf - Google Drive
- Communities of Practice (CoPs) Informational Letter - Google Docs
- TeacherServer AI Tools: Home
- Find Curriculum - Teach Engineering
- Explore Resources for Students and Educators
STEAM Resources
Programs for Elementary, High School, and Community College Students | Discovery Partners Institute
“The Pritzker Tech Talent Labs’ Community Education Unit is building programming for elementary, high school, and community college students to develop skills and careers into computing and tech-related fields.”
Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center | School Safety Guidance
“Access communication tips, investigative suggestions, and safety recommendations developed by the Illinois Terrorism Task Force School Safety Working Group. These resources support schools in responding to threats, improving safety practices, and strengthening campus preparedness.”
TeacherServer | Free AI Tools for Educators
“Explore a dedicated hub of free AI tools designed specifically for teachers. Choose the tool that fits your needs, start a guided conversation, refine responses, and save or share your results—making it easier to integrate AI into instruction, planning, and creative classroom projects.”
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.
Image Source: The Art Institute of Chicago | Untitled from Resist, 1958
The Artist’s Studio: Awesome Abstraction | The Art Institute of Chicago
“Visitors of all ages are invited to stop by the museum’s Ryan Learning Center and choose from a variety of activities: create an art project, explore the Multisensory Gallery, make a custom museum tour with JourneyMaker, and more.
This summer, create your own colorful abstract drawing inspired by the work of Luchita Hurtado on view in the exhibition Beyond Form: Abstraction at Midcentury.”
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.