As Library Media Specialists or Technology advocates in our buildings, we are always looking for ways to add value and add great programming to our school. Media programming is not always visible, but it’s an important part of our students’ education. Great Library Media programming allows our students to explore, create and expand their thinking. STEM Education and particularly Makerspace is a huge part of our Media Centers, but how can we extend this beyond the classroom and get our families involved??? Family STEM nights of course!!
Schools have been hosting math and reading nights for a long time, but STEAM or STEM nights are not as common. You might find yourself volunteering to run a STEM night for your school OR you may have been asked to run a STEM night since it is your area of expertise, either way, it does not have to be expensive or overwhelming for you in order to be an awesome event for the school community!
What is a Family STEM night?
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. STEM night is a night planned full of
hands on activities that incorporate these subjects. Activities usually involved building challenges that involve planning and building. It is a fun night to showcase the STEM programming and curriculum that you already have going on in your school.
Four Steps to Get Started on Rockin’
Your STEM Night
1. Set a Date!
Before you make plans to do anything, make sure that you sit down with your administration and look at the school calendar. Find a date that works for your school and for YOU. I would try to find a date that is at least four weeks out, but I recommend leaving yourself about six weeks to plan.
2. Find Out Your Budget!
At the same meeting that you set your date, ask your administration about $$$. How much do you have to spend? Where is it coming from? What is the process for spending the money? Will you buy the materials and be reimbursed or do you need to give someone a list that needs purchasing? THIS IS IMPORTANT. You cannot plan without knowing how much money you will have. If you work in a large school and expect there to be a big turnout, the amount of money you have will determine how many people can attend the event.
3. Enlist Help!
You cannot run and organize an entire event on your own. Well you probably can, but you don’t want to and you definitely shouldn’t feel like you have to! At a school there are always people willing to help. So email the ENTIRE staff (you never know where you will get your help from!) and offer them the opportunity to help! Before you send the email, make sure you have a date, time and place where your first committee meeting will be held so they have all the information they need in one email.
4. Create a Meeting Agenda
This may seem silly but you want to make sure when you hold any meeting that you are valuing people’s time, so create a quick agenda for the meeting so you can stay on track! I would recommend emailing out the agenda before you first meeting!
Planning and organization goes a long way in holding any successful event. This is no different. Remember successful does not have to mean expensive. This can all be done on a very low budget so don’t be discouraged by money. Success also does not mean that it will take an hours and hours and hours of work. As long as you are organized at that first meeting and starting dividing up responsibilities, you will not be overwhelmed. Do not be afraid to delegate tasks!
I have created a great FREE 6 week planning checklist!!!!! It tells you everything you need to do the 6 weeks leading up to your STEM night. This is ideal for the person who is running a STEM night for the first time.
I also have a STEM Night planning package that I created that includes: the planning checklist, 8 STEM activities with directions (in color and black and white for you to display), materials list, printable and digital invites, and how to’s on creating a Google Form Sign up! It’s a great resource for a low budget and awesome STEM night.
