International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Challenge
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on February 11. This date allows us to honor women’s significant achievements in science and place a much-needed focus on girls entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Celebrating the day not only allows girls to feel more comfortable in STEM programs, but it also lets boys know that girls need to be there.  Boys can learn to respect and recognize their female counterparts as well as to seek women in science as their mentors and role models. And vice versa. As the fastest-growing segment of jobs with employers finding it hard to find available talent, STEM needs women. Your challenge this month is to learn about women charting their course as techie trailblazers and support young women to pursue their passions in STEM.

There are 10 Women in Tech lesson plans available from math to history to computer science from the Girls Who Code website. Use any or of these lessons so students can explore the hidden history of women in tech and uncover how to think like a computer scientist. These lessons are aligned to the Computer Science Teacher’s Association Standards, CC ELA Standards, and CC Math Standards.

Materials

• Women in Tech lessons

Hints and Tips for Success

1. Read through the Lesson Goals and Standards Crosswalk document to find a suitable lesson that fits into your curriculum and school day.
2. Explore and research other women in STEM careers to learn about their contributions. A good starting spot might be here where you can also download posters of the women.
3. Encourage students to get involved with coding and computer science programs. There are free courses at Code.org, Google, and Microsoft.