SHPE - Fall 2007 - (Page 68) N AT I O N A L E N G I N E E R S W E E K STEM Games a Hit with Kids E ach year, SHPE chapters across the nation host E-Week events that captivate the imagination of K-12 children, harnessing their creativity to innovate and inspiring their curiosity about careers in science and technology. While most chapters offer individual events, in Region II, professional and student chapters joined efforts to pilot the Unified E-Week Program. For more than 55 years, E-Week has been held during the month of February. A sample of those activities follows. Viva Technomania challenged students to build cities of the future, Region I SHPE-PSC hosted its first Viva Technomania (VT) at the Applied Technology Training Center of Everett Community College. The event challenged students between the ages of 10 and 14 to create a city of the future. SHPE-PSC members were amazed by the creativity, imagination and hard work of the students, whose innovations included everything from elevators that transport people into outer space in a matter of seconds to floating cities that generate energy from the motion of water. Organizers were confident that the community service event accomplished its main objective: to teach young Hispanic students more about engineering, science and math through handson experience and interaction with local Hispanic engineering professionals. They also hope that it inspired students to push themselves to the next level. Demonstrating its commitment to the success of the program and the Society’s mission to be The Source, SHPE-PSC has already started working on the second installment of VT. SHPE-SFBA hosted its second most important community outreach event of 68 the year, Day at the California Academy of Science. More than 30 families totaling approximately 150 people enjoyed the science museum’s great exhibits. Some traveled from as far as Salinas, nearly 100 miles away, to attend the event and brought along members of their extended families. Region II E-Week in Phoenix, Arizona, consisted of a program for 125 students at Silvestre Herrera Middle School. During each of five sessions, students had 30 minutes to invent a way to use Popsicle sticks, rubber bands and straws to slow a rubber ball as it rolled down a ramp. The winner was able to slow the ball from an unobstructed five-second descent to one minute, 30 seconds. The sessions were administered by the outreach team from the Arizona Science Center and assisted by volunteers from the professional and student chapters. Not only did the volunteers talk about their areas of study and ask questions of the children, but they also related engineering to every aspect of the children’s lives and their areas of interests. According to organizers, the teachers had never seen the children so captivated by a project, and the assistant principal was pleased to invite the team back. The event also included an info session for parents. Professional engineers and engineering students as well as ASU financial aid representatives and a representative from Wells Fargo Bank met with parents to raise their awareness about engineering and to educate them about available options to fund their children’s college education. Approximately 300 fourth and fifth grade students from three Los Angeles inner city schools participated in Science Center Day at the California Science Center. The event was organized by SHPE-LA and student chapters at UCLA, ELAC, CSULA and DeVry LB. In addition to exploring the science center, the students also spoke with current engineering students and professionals, met with a NASA astronaut and viewed an IMAX movie. In the meantime, parents participated in a bilingual financial aid/college prep workshop. The teachers were extremely appreciative, as overcrowding and lack of funding often prevent the children from participating in such activities. Organizers hoped that the activities would encourage the students to begin thinking about career opportunities in engineering and science. Region IV Each year, the Washington, D.C., Engineering Family Day held at the National Building Museum attracts more than 7,000 participants. During this year’s event, members from SHPE-DC, SHPEBaltimore, SHPE-GMU and SHPEJHU provided more than 20 hands-on activities to encourage children and their parents to consider careers in engineering and science. Since last year’s “Building Straw Towers” activity was such a success, it was renewed this year. Using straws, tape and construction paper, 300 kids worked SHPE R Fall 2007 Students use sticks and rubber bands to slow a rolling ball.
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