STEM

Building Blocks, is a STEM-enrichment program that helps kids age 10-13 use today’s technology to create new innovations for a better tomorrow. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are all around us, yet many kids don’t know what types of jobs STEM professionals do.

The Building Blocks curriculum has helped us prepare our members for bright futures with exciting hands-on projects that use Samsung tablets to expose members to various STEM careers.

Our members have created their own 3D version of the Waltham community. At times litter is an issue, especially around our Club. Members have added in recyclable trash bins that will minimize the litter on our streets. Members have also taken the time to write letters to the mayor about their solutions to this issue.

Science related fields have for the most part, have lacked the female presence. Raytheon is committed to exposing more and more of our female members to careers in STEM.

Several volunteers/scientists have created a fun learning environment for our members. 10 girls participated in a Rover Restraint lesson and an “egg drop” activity, where they got to build, test, and evaluate their own “rover landers” carrying eggs. This is the second year of this program in our Club and our girls have lots of fun and learn about STEM and inspiring famous women in the STEM field.

Every year millions of people, schools, and communities participate in the Hour of Code. This event is held the second week of December and encourages people of all ages to participate in at least a hour of coding. Here at the Club, members participate in weekly Hour of Code games.

Code org provides a number of games and challenges for our members to engage with and learn code through fun and exciting games. Members many times think they are only playing online games and are unware they are actually coding a computer game! Code.org uses games to better appeal to our members and gain their interest in STEM fields, especially computer science.

At the Club, members are able to use Scratch to program their own interactive stories, games, and animations and remix other creations created by members around the world.

Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge for all to use.