Iowa 4-H STEM
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Sara Nelson
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Rockets flew last week at the Iowa 4-H YouthFest professional development conference when state staff presented the new "STEM-Lit to Go! Iowa" curriculum and provided volunteers and educators with materials for science, technology, engineering, math and literacy programing.
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch and moon landing has reinvigorated interest around the world in aerospace, and the Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program is providing youth with a variety of opportunities and avenues to explore their interest in the aerospace project area.
Sara Nelson has been hired as the new 4-H STEM program specialist for the Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program. She will oversee STEM product development and STEM literacy outreach to enhance access to educational learning opportunities for all K-12 youth.
The International Harvester Collector’s Club Award Program recognized Iowa 4-H members for their state fair project achievements on Aug. 9. Youth whose projects advance to the Iowa State Fair have the opportunity to apply for the award program.
Youth visiting the 4-H Exhibition Hall at the Iowa State Fair had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities during this year’s STEM event hosted by Bayer. Events such as this keep youth interested in STEM activities and stimulate a yearning to learn why things work and to ask questions about the improbable.
To meet a rising demand for future professionals in science, technology, engineering and math, Iowa 4-H Youth Development offers InventSTEM. This program helps young people develop skills and innovate as they explore the importance of STEM in everyday life.
Iowa educators traveled to Kennedy Space Center to immerse themselves into space exploration. The experience has already inspired the creation of the Iowa 4-H and Iowa Space Grant Consortium STEAM Academy, which offers weekly online challenges for youth in grades 4-12 to complete at home.
This year, more than 100 senior high students from around the state showcased their innovative spirit as they competed for prizes, awards and scholarships during the virtual State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa. They presented original research on a variety of science and engineering topics.
Sara Nelson, state STEM specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will join the NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium leadership team as assistant director for education and outreach.
Read Across Iowa will launch March 1 and begin a month-long celebration to bring the joys of reading to kids of all ages. Agriculturally themed Read Across Iowa events will be held across the state and will feature books and materials about agriculture that will appeal to all readers.