ArtReach
The Science of Pumpkins
Learn the science behind these seasonal fruits… or vegetables… or celestial, spiritual orbs. The flesh. The STEM. The carve. What’s a Jack-O-Lantern and what is it’s story? Why are some pumpkins ORANGE, some red, some white, some smooth, some bumpy. Come find out and learn the SCIENCE behind the pumpkin. Perfect for school aged students grades 1st – 4th, but FREE and open to everyone. Drop-in for STEM Week and join us for some pumpkin FUN! FREE Pumpkin Pies while they last.
Thursday, October 25 – 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Location – ArtReach; 322 West Boylston St., Worcester MA, MA
Public Event – Elementary
ASHBURNHAM-WESTMINSTER REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Free Weekly Playgroups
FREE Weekly playgroups/storytimes/craft times/STEM activities for families with young children ages 0-6.
Monday, October 22 – 9:30 AM – Peter Twomey Youth Center, 348 Main St., Groton
Monday, October 22 – 1:00 PM – Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Dr., Ashburnham
Tuesday, October 23 – 10:30 AM – Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main St., Ashby
Wednesday, October 24 – 10:30 AM – Townsend Public Library, 12 Dudley Rd., Townsend
Friday, October 26 – 10:00 AM – Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster
Public Events – Early Education
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FITCHBURG LEOMINSTER AND GARDNER
Science of Roller Skating
Students will reverse engineer a roller skate and learn how each part functions to make the skate. They will learn about friction and discuss how surfaces in the rink are made of different materials and how that affects the skate in motion. They will perform an experiment to test the friction of the skating floor versus the carpet. Students will have a chance to showcase their creativity and design a new feature for a skate.
Sunday, October 21 – 11:30 – 5:00 pm
Location – Roll On America, 90 Duval Road, Lancaster, MA
Public Event – All Grades
Registration Required – email khartnett@bgcfl.org
No admission charge for first 200 participants arriving by 11:45 AM, then $8 per person
CENTRAL MA STEM COMMUNITY including Worcester and Fitchburg/Leominster Boys and Girls Clubs, WPI, Fitchburg State College, QCC, Big Brothers Big Sister of Central Mass/Metro West, and a dedicate high school math teacher
Designing My Future: A STEM Career Expo for Families and Students
A community event inviting middle and high school students and their families to have fun, enjoy music and food, and learn about different careers in science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM). Do you like playing video games? Controlling robots? Music? Animals? Your cell phone? You might be a future STEM expert! Come and chat with people in different STEM careers to find out how they got into their careers. No matter if you’re a middle or high school student looking to learn for your future or a parent or family member looking to change jobs, we promise there’s something for everyone. In addition to STEM career professionals, there will also be people from local colleges, STEM after school programs and more available to chat with you and answer all questions you might have as you think about your future pathway. Childcare for younger kids will be available.
Thursday, October 18 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Boys & Girls Club of Worcester; 65 Tainter St., Worcester
Public Event – Middle School and High School
Thursday, October 25 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster; 365 Lindell Ave., Leominster
Public – Middle School and High School
For more information and group registrations for the Designing My Future events, please visit: www.wpi.edu/+stem
CENTRAL MA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD (CMWIB)
STEM Feature on The Working Lunch radio and TV show
The CMWIB’s Working Lunch show will incorporate a STEM theme and feature interviews and footage of area STEM employers and career information
Wednesday, October 24 – Afternoon (approximately 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Public Event – All Ages
CLAPP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Engineering a Story
Join Mr. Clark and Jennifer Whitehead for a creative STEM event. After listening to a story about a grumpy witch, families will design and make a creation to solve a problem.
Monday, October 22 – Saturday, October 27 – 4:00 – 5:30PM
Location: Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown
Public Event – Elementary School and Families
ECOTARIUM
Science Discovery: Chemistry is Colorful
In celebration of National Chemistry Week, Massachusetts STEM Week, and the emergence of colorful fall leaves, the EcoTarium will be facilitating chromatography experiments to explore the chemistry of color.
Tuesday, October 23; Thursday, October 25; Friday, October 26 – 11:30 AM
Saturday, October 27 – 1:30 PM
Location: EcoTarium – 22 Harrington Way, Worcester
Public Event – All Ages
Free with admission
Preschool Wednesday: Chemistry Makes Scents
Preschool Wednesday includes story time, a live animal visit and a supervised, craft activity — all geared especially for little ones aged 4 and under. This week we celebrate National Chemistry Week and Massachusetts STEM Week by focusing on the chemistry of smelling!
The story and animal circle is held at 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Drop-in craft time continues from 10:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 24 – 10:30 AM & 11:00 AM
Location: EcoTarium – 22 Harrington Way, Worcester
Public Event – Early Education
Free with admission
Science Story Time: Chemistry Makes Scents
We are celebrating National Chemistry Week and Massachusetts STEM Week by focusing on the chemistry of smelling! Science Story Time will feature a themed storybook reading, live animal visit, and interactive experiment exploring how and what the nose knows!
Saturday, October 27 – 11:00 AM
Location: EcoTarium – 22 Harrington Way, Worcester
Public Event – All Ages
Free with admission
FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
ACS Program in A Box
Please consider joining us for ACS Program in a Box Voyage to Mars: Red Planet Chemistry! We will be providing refreshments, and science activities based around the main event hosted by ACS a telecast with expert presenters and prizes. More details regarding the topics and presenters can be found on our website. central-mass.sites.acs.org Please feel free to bring anyone interested in the topic we should have something for just about everyone!
Tuesday, October 23 – 6:30 PM
Location: Fitchburg State University Hammond Hall: Falcon Hub
Public Event – Middle School; High School; Adult; Educators and Administrators
HUDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Technology Petting Zoo
Children have the opportunity to try out technology that may be new to them!
Monday, October 22
Public Event
Halloween STEM Activity
Join us for a Halloween themed STEM activity for toddlers and preschool children before our trick or treat walk to Town Hall.
Tuesday, October 23, Friday, October 26
Public Event – Early Elementary
Hands on Science with Kosmic Kelly
Saturday, October 27 – 2:00 PM
Public Event – All Ages
i2 LEARNING and MATHWORKS
MATLAB STEM Challenge
High school students learn to code in MATLAB and are then tasked to create their own fitness tracker. Students begin with an online tutorial on MATLAB which should start and be completed during Massachusetts STEM Week (October 22-26) as part of an after-school club or school time activity. Schools then form teams of up to 20 students (schools can form multiple teams) where at least 5 students have completed the tutorial. At the end of Massachusetts STEM Week, teams with at least 5 students who have completed the tutorial will be given a complimentary license of MATLAB Online and MATLAB Mobile and the challenge of collecting data, doing research and writing code to create their own fitness tracker.
Final submissions of team fitness trackers are due to i2 Learning on February 15, where a panel of judges from MathWorks, MIT and a number of other engineering organizations will award prizes to teams for creativity, technical ability and overall product solution. The judging rubric will be provided with the challenge.
Monday, October 22 – Friday, October 26
Open to All MA High School Students
Register here
KnowATOM
Grade 5 Science MCAS Data Deep Dive: Unpacking your 2018 STE Results
This 45-minute webinar focuses on using actual 2018 school and district data to help principals, teachers, and district leaders with understand and use their grade 5 Science MCAS results to improve teaching and learning through item and subgroup analysis.
Monday, October 22 – 3:00 – 3:45 PM
Online webinar. Register here
Grade 8 Science MCAS Data Deep Dive: Unpacking your 2018 STE Results
This 45-minute webinar focuses on using actual 2018 school and district data to help principals, teachers, and district leaders with understand and use their grade 8 Science MCAS results to improve teaching and learning through item and subgroup analysis.
Tuesday, October 23 – 3:00 – 3:45 PM
Online webinar. Register here
How to Create a Culture of Thinking in the K-8 Classroom
Learn how to structure time on learning to develop students’ science and engineering practice skills through the research-based 8 “Thinking Moves.”
Wednesday, October 24 – 1:00 – 1:45 PM
Online webinar. Register here
2nd Annual TEACH Conference: Making Thinking Visible with a Growth Mindset
Learn new techniques for teaching science and engineering in a way that develops students’ ability to create, analyze, and evaluate, skills necessary for mastery of the new science standards. In celebration of STEM Week, enter the promo code STEMWEEK at checkout for a discounted rate of $25 per person while space lasts (regularly $199).
Tuesday, November 6 – 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
Register here
MASSAAEYC, WORCESTER COUNTY CHAPTER
Building Structures – Auburn Elks
Come and play with KEVA Blocks and learn how you can encourage your children through open or focused exploration. Review the MA Pre-K STE Standards. Each participant will leave with KEVA Blocks to take back to their program. Buffet Dinner included
Tuesday, October 23 – Evening
Public Event – Early Education
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER
Halloween STEAM
Experiments ,pumpkins, tricks and treats, building and more!
Saturday, October 27 – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Public Event – Elementary and Middle School
MERRICK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Contraptions, Magformers, Kevamaker Bot Maze, Ozobots
Wednesday, October 24; Friday, October 26 – Drop in 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Public – Toddler & Elementary
MILLBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Technology/Engineering Chair Building
Design and construct a free standing chair or stool with legs with newspaper and white masking tape that can hold at least 5 fiction books. Participants may work in pairs or groups. Age 7+ Pre-registration at 508-865-1181 or contact adallair@cwmars.org – Millbury Public Library
Tuesday, October 23 – 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Public Event – Elementary; Middle School; High School; age 7+
MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STEM Saves the World
An interdisciplinary exploration of STEM majors and careers for high school students. Registration is required.
Wednesday, October 24 – 8:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Mt. Wachusett Community College; 444 Green St., Gardner
Public Event – High School
Call or email to register: 978-630-9192 or kcacciolfi@mwcc.mass.edu
NORTHBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Engineering A Story: Those Darn Squirrels!
The cat next door is terrorizing “Those Darn Squirrels” (a book by Adam Rubin)! Kids in 3rd through 5th grade are invited for a reading of the story, and challenged to engineer a solution to the squirrels’ problem. This event is part of a state-wide STEM week. Registration is required.
Tuesday, October 23 – 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Public Event – Grades 3-5
OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE
STEM Week at OSV
Highlighting STEM connections between the 19th century and today through special tours, and drop-in programming.
Wednesday, October 24 – Sunday, October 28 – All day
Public Events – All ages
OSV admission fees apply
SHREWSBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY
ImagArena – Building Workshop
An exciting and hands-on program where participants explore the power of imagination through open-ended building exercises. Much more than a typical building workshop, ImagArena combines the spirit of an art program, the materials of a building workshop, and the framework of a video game to provide an experience that engages all types of learners. This event requires pre-registration.
Tuesday, October 23 – 6:30 PM
Location: Shrewsbury Public Library – 609 Main St., Shrewsbury
Public Event – Elementary and Middle School
Register here
Dash and Dot Club
Our robots Dash and Dot are back again this month! Learn how to program our fun robots using the Wonder Workshop apps. You will work in groups of three and will have a chance to work with both robots. If you wish to track your own progress with the tutorials, you can bring a tablet or smart phone to use; but we will have tablets on hand for everyone to use!
For children grades 2 – 6. Space is limited and registration is required.
Thursday, October 25 – 6:00 PM
Location: Shrewsbury Public Library – 609 Main St., Shrewsbury
Public Event – Elementary and Middle School
Register here
Young Scientist
Young Scientists is a FREE hands-on enrichment program facilitated by STEM Beginnings. Children, ages 3-5, will learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts through hands-on activities, story time, challenges and simple experiments. Siblings are welcome. Space is limited, registration opens two weeks before the date of each class.
Friday, October 26 – 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Shrewsbury Public Library – 609 Main St., Shrewsbury
Public Event – Early Education
Register here
STEM BEGINNINGS LLC.
STEM Goes STEAM Open House
Come and see why our STEMsters are saying “STEM is fun!” Join us in engaging activities where STEM goes STEAM! Families can participate in fun challenges that focus on concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and math:
S – Slime matters (dabble in some chemistry and explore slimy concoctions)
T – Meet and greet KIBO (program a robot using special coding blocks)
E- Around the block (take on the engineering challenge of building specific designs using only 50 blocks)
A – Spin Art Masterpieces (build a fan circuit that creates a spinning work of art)
M – Estimation station (test your math skills and try to guess amounts in all of our container challenges)
Wednesday, October 24 – 10:00 – 12:00 PM; 1:00 – 3:00 PM; 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: STEM Beginnings Studio 125 Turnpike Rd. ~ Suite 1 Westborough, MA
Public Event – PreSchool – 4th Grade
Register here
TECHNOCOPIA
Open Hack & Crafts
Open Hacks and Crafts is a weekly event at Technocopia where we invite members and the public to share their ideas and projects with one another. It’s an excellent place to learn more about who we are, and meet new artisans and makers in an inspiring environment. The event runs every Thursday night from 7:30 to 10:00pm.
Thursday, October 25 – 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Location: 44 Portland St., 6th Floor; Worcester
Public Event – All Ages
Happy Hackers Society
The Happy Hacker Society is a monthly meetup for those interested in digital rights, privacy, information security, phreaking, modding, and technology. We gather the last thursday of the month for information sharing and discussion. Whether you are new to these topics, a professional looking to network, or have an academic interest, this is for you!
Thursday, October 25 – 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Location: 44 Portland St., 6th Floor; Worcester
Public Event – All Ages
WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY
Aisiku STEM Center Open House
This is an open house for faculty students and the community to learn about the activities and initiatives of the Worcester State University’s Aisiku STEM Center
Monday, October 22 – All day (approximately 9:00 am – 5:00pm)
Public Event – Adult; Educators and Administrators
Aisiku STEM Center Speaker Series
A speaker from a STEM related field will give a talk that is open to the public.
Wednesday, October 24 – Afternoon (approximately 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Public Event – High School & Families; Adult; Educators and Administrators
STEM Center Student Research Talks
Presentations by students regarding their research conducted over the summer.
Tuesday, October 23 – Afternoon (approximately 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Public Event – Adult; Educators and Administrators