The Foundation for Advancements in Science & Education (FASE) provides this first in a series of modules to better equip educators on how to inspire and engage their students in STEM education by connecting classroom activity to STEM careers.
The curriculum is inspired by acclaimed math teacher Jaime Escalante’s classroom successes in connecting math and science to real-world occupations.
For this module, the required assignment involves a five-part written reflection on the module prompt. All three parts must be clearly identified in the paper to receive full credit. Please refer to the assignment rubric.
This module will take ten hours seat time and six hours independent application/ work to complete. You will:
• View inspirational videos of Jaime and two of his former students as they share their thoughts on Jaime’s impact on their lives and how that relates to their current STEM occupations.
• View STEM career videos and completing their related lessons just as you would have your students do.
• Writing four reflections.
• Prepare and teach a one period STEM lesson.
The module will be graded Complete/Incomplete. Educators successfully completing the module earn one graduate credit.
* For all submissions, you can use your phone camera or a scanner and upload the files (.jpg, .doc or .pdf)
Jaime Escalante on Being a Teacher
Former Escalante’s Students
Meet two former students, both successful career scientists – LAUSD Garfield High graduates, Sergio Valdez and Dr. Thomas Valdez.
Digital Journal Reflection #1
Using between 300 to 500 words please reflect on Jaime’s influence with his students and the impact a teacher can have on a student’s future. Feel free to expand on this by including independent research.
Space Science Category
Welcome to our Space Science Category where you will find 8 videos containing 12 middle and high school lessons to challenge you and your students.
Please select 5 of the lessons and complete their activities.
Subject: Mathematics Problem Solving Science Technology
Synopsis: Ingenuity Helicopter – How do you build a helicopter that will survive in temperatures below -140° F? And fly through the extra thin Martian atmosphere, all while powering itself? Solving problems like these is all in a days’ work for mechanical engineer Sergio Valdez.
Lesson topic: Mathematics, Algebra and Parabolas
Grades 6-12 activity title: Ingenuity
Subject: Problem Solving Science
Synopsis: Imagine living on the moon, with a two-week night (and you thought Daylight Savings was bad!). How would we store enough power to survive? A look at the work of a materials engineer building fuel cells for humanity’s next big adventure.
Lesson topic: The Nature of Science and Technology, Experimentation, Physics
Grades 7-12 activity title: Fuel Cell Lesson Plan
Designing and Engineering Rockets
Subject: Mathematics / Engineering
Synopsis: Building a space launch vehicle is a complex engineering task. Over a million parts must come together and work perfectly under extremely severe conditions. How do you go about building something like this? Examine NASAs Ares Projects.
Lesson topic: Algebra
Grades 9-12 activity title: Virtual Rocketry
Lesson topic: Engineering
Grades 9-12 activity title: Describing Systems
Subjects: Mathematics Problem Solving / Science / Technology
Synopsis: Spacecraft require thousands of tiny parts, and they all have to work together in the most extreme conditions possible – outer space. How do you assemble it so everything works? We’ll take a look at the work of a JPL engineer.
Lesson topic: Geometry
Grades 6-12 activity title: Mechanical Engineering Lesson Plan
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: When it comes to designing robots for space, making sure that they can complete their missions is the name of the game for NASA’s robotics engineers. That requires math, especially probability.
Lesson topic: Probability
Grades 7-12 activity title: Robot Rover
Subject: Science
Synopsis: Let engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center introduce your students to fascinating concepts in materials science, the importance of alloys, low temperature welding using friction, strength to weight ratio and much more.
Lesson topic: Physics
Grades 7-12 activity title: Strength-To-Weight Challenge
Subjects: Mathematics / Science / Technology
Synopsis: MIT Professor Dava Newman is working on a new “second skin” space suit that could end the “bunny hop” once and for all. Introduce your students to a woman whose work could dramatically improve space exploration technology.
Lesson topics: The Nature of Science / Technology / Experimentation Physics
Grades 6-12 activity title: Amazing Feets
Lesson topics: The Nature of Science and Technology Experimentation
Grades 6-8 activity title: Durability Testing
Lesson topics: Fractions / Decimals/ Percents / Ratios /The Nature of Science and Technology
Grades 6-9 activity title: Bert’s Skirts
Subjects: Mathematics / Science / Technology
Synopsis: Building places to live and work in extreme environments takes architects that understand how to play by a different set of rules. Take your students to meet architects that are tackling the challenges. This is all about problem solving in outer space.
Lesson topics: Physical Science / Heat
Grades 7-12 activity title: Space Heating
Lesson topics: The Nature of Science and Technology / Human Biology / Algebra Patterns / Variables / Linear Equations and Functions
Grades 7-12 activity title: Microgravity Exercise
Reflection
Including additional information from web searching, “space science and STEM” or a similar search string, reflect on what you’ve learned from the data in this category.
Congratulations! You just completed the Space Science category. Please attach copies of your five activity assignments and reflection using the SUBMIT button below.
Design Category
Welcome to our Design Category where you will find 13 videos containing 20 middle and high school lessons to challenge you and your students.
Please select 5 of the lessons and complete their activities.
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: The result of their work is all around us in most products. Get an inside look at what industrial design is all about with Hilgard Muller, the Industrial Design Manager at Giro responsible for designing an entire line of sport-performance sunglasses.
Lesson topics: Geometry / Circles /Statistics
Grades 6-7 activity title: Timelines – in this performance task, students use geometry concepts to create watch designs, then evaluate their designs by surveying other students as potential customers.
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: Specializing in saltwater aquariums, Nic Tiemens and Joe Pineda love the challenge of recreating a slice of the ocean indoors. Day in and day out, they use volume calculations, temperature, measurement and science to create these beautiful habitats.
Lesson topics: Algebra / Coordinate Systems / Linear Equations and Functions Patterns /
Functions and Relations / Physical Science
Grades 6-12 activity title: Aquariums under Pressure
Lesson topics: Measurement (volume) / Geometry (rectangular prisms)
Grades 6-7 activity title: Block Party
Lesson topic: Measurement (volume)
Grade 6 activity title: Measuring Volume
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: Every company would like to have instant recognition from potential customers. If someone already uses a product or service that you produce, you want them to know where it came from. If you are creating an advertisement or commercial about a product or service, you want to be sure the viewer knows where to go to buy what is being advertised. To make one design fit on business cards, trucks and buildings, you need to be a concept expert on scale.
Lesson topics: Measurement (general)/ Fractions / Ratios /Percents / Statistics /Geometry (polygons)
Grades 6-12 activity title: Corporate Graphics
Creating an Advertising Campaign
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: If you asked Jessica Shulman about her job as a graphic designer, she’d probably tell you she has the most fun job out there. It is a creative field that requires an understanding of ratios, precents and geometry.
Lesson topic: Algebra
Grades 6-7 activity title: Penny Percent Patterns
Lesson topic: Percents
Grades 6-8 activity title: Pete’s Pizza
Lesson topics: Geometry / Percents
Grades 6-7 activity title: Polygon Percent Patterns
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: Your students like to ride in them, plan to drive and hope to own one. Could they also have a job designing cars? Inspire them by taking them inside Ford Motor Company to see how designers and engineers use math to steer the direction of their concept cars.
Lesson topics: Algebra / Functions / Patterns /Physical Science
Grades 7-12 activity title: New Car Tips
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: Chris Araujo combines innovation with design to create backpacks for one of the largest outdoor apparel companies in the world. Whether he’s measuring the straps for comfort or designing the shape of the front pouch, math is critical to good design.
Lesson topics: Algebra (Interpreting x-y graphs) / Forces (Stress & Strain) / Physical Science
Grades 7-19 activity title: Strap Stress
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: Rumor has it that if you lined Barbie Dolls up head to toe, they would circle the globe eight times. This movie takes students behind-the-scenes to meet a Barbie designer who uses everything from measurement to fractions to patterns to design new dolls.
Lesson topic: Probability
Grades 6-7 activity title: Mix and Match
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: Watch as a new model of sunglasses goes from design sketch to finished product.
Lesson topics: Decimals/ Fractions / Measurement (length) / Percents /Geometry (polygons) /Geometry (Circles) / Geometry Measurement (general) Probability /Statistics /Algebra /Scientific Notation / Variables /Expressions and Equations /Functions and Relations
Grades 6-8 activity title: Designing Sunglasses
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: As a professional toy car designer for Mattel’s Hot Wheels, Larry Wood uses basic math concepts such as fractions, measurement and scale to create accurate replicas of the coolest cars on the road.
Lesson topic: Ratios
Grade 6 activity title: The 1963 Buick Riviera
Subject: Mathematics Problem Solving
Synopsis: Lines, curves, polygons and planes–gemstones and jewelry are rich in geometry. A jewelry appraiser, a jewelry historian and a Brazilian gem cutter give your students an inside look at the many facets of this dazzling subject.
Lesson topics: Geometry (polygons) / Patterns
Grade 6 activity title: Polyhedrons
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: She designed a sailboat and a Ferris wheel. He designed a motorcycle and a roller coaster. They’re a team and they have jobs that most kids (and a lot of adults) would envy: They design toys and get paid for it.
Lesson topics: Right triangles /Trigonometric Ratios
Grades 6-10 activity title: Triangular Toys
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: Chuck Hoberman’s inventions are more than just technological marvels; they’re works of art. See how basic principles of geometry help him create extraordinarily strong, expandable structures.
Lesson topics: Geometry (polygons)/ Patterns
Grades 6-7 activity title: Polygons Percent Patterns
Lesson topics: Geometry/ Percents
Grade 6 activity title: Polyhedrons
Lesson topic: Geometry
Grades 6-7 activity title: Triangles in Architecture
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: Building miniature replicas with a full-scale imagination, Greg Jein reproduces every detail of the Star Trek space vessels. Featured: Greg Jein, model maker.
Lesson topics: Geometry Measurement (general)Ratios Percents Decimals
Grades 6-12 activity title: Models for Movies
Lesson topics: The Nature of Science and Technology Physics
Grades 6-7 activity title: Wizards
Reflection
Including additional information from web searching, “design and STEM” or a similar search string, reflect on what you’ve learned from the data in this category.
Congratulations! You just completed the Design category. Please attach copies of your five activity assignments and reflection using the SUBMIT button below.
Earth Science Category
Welcome to our Earth Science category where you will find 8 videos containing 10 middle and high school lessons to challenge you and your students.
Please select 5 of the lessons and complete their activities and submit them at the end of this section.
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: When world renowned architect Rafael Vinoli proposed a radical design for the University of California, he set in motion a collaboration between architects and engineers who would use math, physics and innovation to build one of the most unique buildings.
Lesson topics Geometry/ Problem Solving
Grades 8-12 activity title: Earthquake Engineering
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: A marine biologist studies the jellyfish-like animals living at 3,000 feet below the surface, where it is cold, dark and quiet. Featured: George Matsumoto, marine biologist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
Lesson topics: Algebra / Decimals / Statistics / Geometry/ Percents/ Functions /Ratios /Patterns
Grades 8-12 activity title: Life Under the Ocean
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: There are over twenty-five million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes strike in the U.S. every year. Meteorologists use a combination of math and science to track when and where they will strike.
Lesson topics: Patterns / Statistics / Weather and Climate
Grades 6-7 activity title: Weather Patterns
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: From tornados to hurricanes and thunderstorms to climate change, these nine scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) are using math and science to better understand and predict severe weather systems.
Lesson topics: Patterns /Statistics /Weather and Climate
Grades 6-7 activity title: Weather Patterns
Subject: Mathematics
Synopsis: With an average energy of roughly 1 million pounds of TNT, tornados are one of nature’s most powerful phenomena. And while atmospheric scientists know a great deal about tornados, such as the conditions in which they are most likely to form, no one yet un
Lesson topics: Probability / Statistics
Grades 6-8 activity title: Tetradice
Subject: Science
Synopsis: From physical oceanographers who study tides and waves to marine geologists who study undersea rock formations, there are many fields of science which seek a better understanding of the Earth’s oceans.
Lesson topics: Biology (General) / Environmental Science / Earth Science
Grades 6-12 activity title: SeaBooks Inc.
Lesson topics: Biology (General) / Environmental Science / Earth Science / Oceanography / Entertainment (Radio and Television)
Grades activity title: Whales!
Subject: Mathematics / Science
Synopsis: Every day there are small earthquakes somewhere in the world. Geophysicist Brad Aagart keeps track. He and his colleagues develop seismic hazard maps. His tools? Math, science and a vast array of new technology.
Lesson topics: Algebra / Earth Science
Grades 7-12 activity title: Earthquake Waves
Subject: Science
Synopsis: Scientist Kevin Petty, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, studies hurricanes. He is helping to improve hurricane forecasts and warnings by learning how to better predict the intensity and duration of hurricanes.
Lesson topics: The Nature of Science and Technology, Physics and Meteorology
Grades 7-10 activity title: Memo to M.I.C.E. Concerning C.H.E.E.S.E.
Lesson topics: Earth Science / Environmental Science / Meteorology
Grades 6-10 activity title: Auditioning Now
Reflection
Including additional information from web searching, “Earth Science and STEM” or a similar search string, reflect on what you’ve learned from the data in this category.
Congratulations! You just completed the Earth Science category. Please attach copies of your five activity assignments and reflection using the SUBMIT button below.
For this module, the required assignment involves a three-part written reflection on the module prompt below. All three parts must be clearly identified in the paper to receive full credit.
1. What was learned about the module’s prompt and how it builds upon their prior knowledge/pedagogical practice;
2. What was read about the prompt (1-2 additional references/sources); and
3. What was applied from what they learned (from module attendance and reading) to a classroom setting.
Additional requirements:
• Three (3) pages typed, double-spaced
• At least 1-2 references cited related to assignment and module content
Six hours of Independent Work Including Reflection Assignments.
Module One: Inspiring and engaging students in STEM education and career pathways (space science, design and earth science)
Prompt: How does connecting classroom activities to real-world careers – space science, design and earth science – engage your students?
Final Assignment to include:
• Select a TFC video and one or more of its lesson plans
• Conduct local research on similar careers
• Compile your information for inclusion in a class presentation.
• Show the video and discuss the activity/activities
• If possible bring in a local STEM career speaker in person or virtually. Guest presents, followed by extensive Q and A. If a speaker is not available then have the discussion center around the video and additional information from teacher’s research on local STEM careers.
• Grade activity/activities
• Return graded activities to students and discuss
• Write a 1–3-page paper reflecting your observations and how you might integrate lessons learned into your teaching
Congratulations. You just completed the course!