Engineering: Propelling Our World

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STEM + Families


Explore the Engineering Design Process and STEM Careers Through Propelling Our World

National PTA is committed to providing families hands -on exposure to science, technology, engineering and math experiences to educate families and inspire students to explore career possibilities in STEM.

The STEM + Families Propelling Our World program, sponsored by Huntington Ingalls Industries, aims to:

  • Empower PTAs with resources to host hands-on engineering design challenges that bring students and families together
  • Provide families with ready-to-go activity, facilitator and family guides
  • Inspire children to explore activities and careers in STEM, especially those in skilled trades

PTA’s vision is for all students to have the family and community support they need to access and pursue opportunities and careers in STEM fields.

Huntington Ingalls Industries
Sponsored by HII



How We PTA: See PTAs in Action


PTA is no longer a noun. It’s a verb—an action plan working to support your child’s success.

Browse these quotes from PTAs that have implemented this program and find their inspirational full stories on our How We PTA page.

 

How We PTA

STEM_Highlands Elementary School PTAai_IG Pic STEM_Highlands Elementary School PTAai_IG Quote STEM_Lynnhaven Elementary PTA_IG Pic STEM_Lynnhaven Elementary PTA_IG Quote STEM_McWillie_IG Pic STEM_McWillie_IG Quote STEM_Pine Shadows Elementary_IG Pic STEM_Pine Shadows Elementary_IG Quote STEM_Rio Vista Elementary School Parent_IG Pic STEM_Rio Vista Elementary School Parent_IG Quote STEM_Pilot Knob_IG Pic STEM_Pilot Knob_IG Qu


 


Host a Propelling Our World Program

 

We encourage local PTAs to host a STEM + Families Propelling Our World program to help demystify engineering for students and their families by offering easy and fun design challenges for them to do together, and to inspire kids and families to pursue careers in STEM!

National PTA offers in-person and at-home program models to meet students and families where they are. Work with your school community and your administration to determine which program model is best for your PTA.

Programs Where You Are


Local PTAs are encouraged to select PTA programs and program delivery models based on the unique needs of their school community.

Each program is flexible and offers free technical assistance leader-to-leader learning opportunities and “drag and drop” materials necessary for success.

Choosing Your Program Model

In-Person

National PTA Programs In Person

Be sure to refer to current CDC guidance to host an in-person model.

At-Home

National PTA Programs At Home

At-home models are further divided into three delivery methods:

Real Time Icon

Self-Paced Icon

Tech-Free Icon



The Propelling Our World program offers guidance on how to host interactive experiences that engage families and provide them with ready-to-go science resources. The program is comprised of four design challenges that explore the Engineering Design Process (EDP), along with supplemental STEM career activities that come with easy-to-use facilitator and family guides.



Engineering Design Challenges


  • Cookie Bridge Challenge: Build a cookie bridge that can support a cup of milk

  • Sam’s Raft Adventure + Rescue: Design and build a device to rescue gummy worm Sam’s life vest from inside his capsized raft

  • Sam’s Submarine Knowledge: Design and build a submarine to safely transport Sam on his ocean adventure and keep him dry 

  • Sam’s Parachute Misadventure: Design and build a device to transport Sam safely down a mountain to his campsite on ground 

STEM Career Activity Stations


  • STEM Career Crafts:

    Students can visualize themselves in STEM careers. Activities are designed to foster student engagement and an understanding of STEM skills students already possess.

  • STEM Career Games:

    Students and families participate in fun, interactive activities designed to help them learn about different STEM-related careers and to practice important STEM skills that will help them be successful in future careers.

  • STEM Career Partners:

    Students are inspired to explore careers in STEM through STEM community partner-led activities.


Supplemental Challenges: Fifth to Eighth Grade
Supplemental Elementary-Middle School Activities
Supplemental Elementary-Middle School Activities (Español)


In-Person STEM + Families Propelling Our World Toolkit

 

This toolkit includes helpful how-to documents and sample templates you can use to make planning an in-person STEM + Families Propelling Our World program easy.

Hosting a STEM + Families Propelling Our World Program (Guide)
STEP 1: Plan Your Event 

Form a planning committee by inviting parents and teachers of STEM subjects to join. Recruit at least 10-15 volunteers to help during the program. This can include community volunteers and/or STEM partners and professionals that are invited to participate. Organize your tasks, create a budget and schedule deadlines. Reach out to local partners to gain donations.

General Planning


Engineering Design Challenges

Materials List
National PTA STEM Concepts Guide (en español)

Cookie Bridge Challenge
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español) 

Sam's Raft Adventure Challenge
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)

Sam's Parachute Misadventure
Experiment Guide (enespañol) | Family Guide (en español)

Sam's Submarine Knowledge
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)


STEM Career Activity Stations

Choose from one or more STEM career activities to incorporate into your Propelling Our World program!

STEM Career Name Tags (en español)
STEM Skill Sets (en español)

STEM Career Crafts

Materials List (en español)

Future Problem Solvers
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)
Extension Activity (en español) | Bulletin Board Prompts (en español)

I AM STEM
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)
Face Silhouette (en español)

When I Grow Up Photo Booth
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)

STEM Career Games
Materials List (en español)

STEM Career Skill Challenges
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)

STEM Career Bingo
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)
Bingo Card (en español) | Bingo Career List (en español)
Bingo Career Descriptions (en español)

STEM Career Partners
Materials List (en español)

Our STEM Partners 
Experiment Guide (en español) | Family Guide (en español)
STEM Partner PTA Guide (en español) | Tips for Engaging STEM Career Partners (en español)
STEM Partner Room Set Up (en español) | STEM Partner Nametags (en español)

Getting Volunteers

Hosting events like this is also a great way to recruit new PTA members! Consider having recruitment flyers like this one at your event.

STEP 2: Promote Your Event

Use as many platforms as possible for promoting your event. Translate documents into languages your school community speaks.

STEP 3: Host Your Event

Ensure that everything goes smoothly at your Propelling Our World event! Offer take-aways to parents who attend to help them retain and build on what they learned.

STEP 4: Wrap Up

Be sure to thank your PTA, school staff, community partners and parent volunteers. Gather feedback, report your results to National PTA and use the findings to plan your next event. National PTA recommends offering an incentive for completing the survey (e.g., enter names into a drawing for a $50 gift card donated by a local merchant).

Share your program successes with National PTA and your entire school community. Tag us with hashtag #HowWePTA and find example success stories at PTA.org/HowWePTA.

Invite your school community to provide feedback about the program at PTA.org/Survey.



 


At-Home STEM + Families Propelling Our World Toolkit

 

As part of the PTA programs at-home initiative, your PTA has the option to determine which model you want to use to best engage your school community: real-time, self-paced or tech-free.

Choosing Your Program Model

Real-Time Program Model


Planning

General Planning Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Promoting

Promoting Resources

Hosting

Hosting Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Wrap-Up

Wrap-Up Resources

Self-Paced Program Model


Planning

General Planning Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Promoting

Promoting Resources

Hosting

Hosting Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Wrap-Up

Wrap-Up Resources

Tech-Free Program Model


Planning

General Planning Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Promoting

Promoting Resources

Hosting

Hosting Resources

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Career Activity Stations

Wrap-Up

Wrap-Up Resources



 


Engineering: Propelling Our World Survey

Share with National PTA


We encourage students, parents and caregivers to share their feedback about National PTA Programs with our brief Programs Survey. We want to learn more about you and your experiences to help us improve programs and reach more people!

TAKE SURVEY



 


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Questions?

Email [email protected] or call (800) 307-4782.

National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product or service. No endorsement of Huntington Ingalls Industries is implied.



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