The Girls in STEM program recently concluded its successful 10-week mentoring program intended to inspire middle school girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The program is a collaboration sponsored by bp and Infosys Foundation USA, and engaged students from HISD’s West Briar Middle School, providing them with valuable insights and hands-on experiences.
Continue readingTag Archives: STEM
National STEM Day: Project-based learning at HISD’s Energy Institute
Nov. 8 is National STEM Day, but at Energy Institute High School, every day is about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The STEM-focused magnet follows an interdisciplinary instruction model that blends science, math, and language arts into project-based learning. This year, students are learning about ancient architecture and civilizations in English and history and using that as inspiration to create their own modern “world wonders” that exemplify Houston culture.
After-school club encourages girls to pursue STEM
Girls Who Code is an organization that provides free coding curriculum to school clubs with a few core goals: coding, teamwork, and sisterhood. Girls Who Code exists to inspire students to see themselves as computer scientists—not just girls, but especially girls—who historically have been afforded less exposure to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) learning and fewer opportunities in technical and engineering fields.
Continue readingHartsfield ES students embark on underwater drone project
On the journey to Destination 2035, HISD educators are looking for ways to incorporate innovative lessons in technology-focused core competencies. At Hartsfield Elementary School, students are learning with underwater drones.
Continue readingHISD students use STEM concepts to design spy gadgets for special Netflix events
What do you get when you combine a hit movie franchise, a box of crayons, and a cafeteria full of inventive fifth graders? If you didn’t say “gadgets designed to save the world,” then you’re not thinking like a Spy Kid.
Students at several HISD elementary schools were treated to a preview of the new Netflix movie “Spy Kids: Armageddon” and challenged to design their own spy gadget with the hope that the exercise will serve as a gateway to an interest in STEM learning.
Continue readingChávez HS students blast off toward national rocketry competition
The casual observer might never guess that the students who gather after school in Dr. Maqsuda Afroz’s science classroom at César E. Chávez High School are anything but ordinary high schoolers. They gossip and smack-talk and speculate about the future, most of them seniors with one foot out the door. Few would guess that these “average high schoolers” are in fact literal rocket scientists.
The Chávez Rocketry Club, headed by Afroz, spends two afternoons a week (and sometimes lunch periods or whatever scraps of free time they can get) designing and engineering model rockets for an international competition, The American Rocketry Challenge.
Continue readingCelebrated Hispanic astronaut gives HISD students out-of-this-world surprise
As students gathered in the Deady Middle School auditorium on Friday, Sept. 15, they thought they knew what they were in for. Deady students, along with students from Milby High School and Davila Elementary, were treated the day before to a preview screening of the new Amazon Prime film, A Million Miles Away, the life story of astronaut José Hernández. Little did they know that José Hernández himself was waiting in the wings to surprise them.
Continue readingHISD elementary school offers hands-on animal and environmental experiences year-round
Hartsfield Elementary School looks like an average campus from the outside. Inside the school’s front doors, even a keen observer might not immediately notice one of the elements that makes Hartsfield unique, even though it – or they – are just a few feet away, lining the hallways to the left and right: snakes, lizards, a tarantula, even an alligator, all call Hartsfield, HISD’s only Animal and Environmental Science magnet elementary school, home.
Continue readingHISD magnet programs provide an individualized education for a unique student body
With more than 186,000 students of different interests and talents, HISD offers 128 unique magnet programs at schools throughout the district. From STEM, medicine, and biotechnology to law and performing and visual arts, and the programs are designed with accessibility, equity, and individual student growth in mind.
“HISD magnet programs serve as a bridge for our scholars and families to access unique opportunities, transformative experiences, and exposure to innovative careers,” said School Choice Manager Alyssa Banks, who is herself a product of a magnet program. “The assortment of magnet themes and options are a testament to our philosophy in HISD, that our students can be anything they set their mind to, and we as educators are here to help them get there.”
Continue readingCommunity partners recognize HISD teachers for excellence in STEM
For the second year in a row, the Houston Astros Foundation partnered with Honeywell International Inc. to recognize 10 outstanding teachers from the Greater Houston area for their commitment to excellence in STEM and contribution to creating innovative ways to improve student achievement and interests in robotics and coding.
