IAN Joins Million Girls Moonshot to Close Gender Gap in STEM
The STEM Next Opportunity Fund today announced a multi-year grant to the Indiana Afterschool Network as part of the Million Girls Moonshot. The effort is designed to engage 1 million school-age girls in the United States in STEM learning opportunities over the next five years.

The Indiana Afterschool Network plans to use the funds to help afterschool programs in the state provide STEM education. This grant will help elevate girls in STEM through targeted programming with the regional networks, intentional programming at the IAN Annual Summit, curriculum alignment with the IN-QSPA standards and technical assistance with the standards, professional development modules, and curriculum programs available to network partners through the myIAN Locker.
Engineering Equity Webinar Series
Develop Professional Development Supporting Equity
Interested in developing professional development focused on engineering mindset in youth? Wondering how to do this in equitable ways that encourage engagement and participation of girls and other underrepresented youth? This 3-part webinar series will focus on three core engineering practices:

  • Using a systematic problem-solving process
  • Exploring the properties and uses of materials
  • Considering real-world problems.

Educators and program staff will leave with a deeper understanding of the specific practices and concrete ideas and resources for infusing these into engineering programming and training.

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Best Practices & Professional Development
Best Practices, Resources, and Tools
Using a Systematic Problem-Solving Process

  • What is Engineering Design - this website shares basic information about the engineering design process: it is made up of a series of steps, it's goal is to solve problems, and anyone can use it.


  • The Engineering Design Process - these posters include the seven steps of the engineering process on a chalkboard background. Each poster describes the step in kid friendly language.

Exploring the Properties and Uses of Materials

  • Materials - This short webpage provides a brief and clear explanation of the importance of knowledge of material properties in engineering.


  • Primary Science Lesson Idea: Properties of Materials - this video from Twig Education provides a quick review of materials properties such as hard, flexible, transparent, waterproof and absorbent. The information is presented in the context of why certain materials are used to make everyday objects.

  • Properties of Materials - these posters are a visual aid for children as they learn about the different properties of materials. Along with common properties, this set also includes definitions and pictures of properties like dull, squishy, bumpy and brittle.

Considering Real-World Problems

  • The Search for Real-World STEM Problems - this article describes the importance of providing real-world STEM challenges to students and explains that through real-world problems, students develop empathy. It outlines criteria for selecting authentic problems and provides tips for how to engage students in the process of developing their own challenges.

  • STEM Projects That Tackle Real-World Problems - this article describes how the solving of authentic engineering challenges helps students see the genuine impact of their learning.The article also gives examples of nine real-world problems, such as cleaning up an oil spill or improving the lives of people with disabilities, that have been been shown to engage and challenge students from elementary through high school.

  • Problem-Solving in Society - this article by Dena McMartin describes how she, as a young woman, chose to study environmental engineering based on her interests in biology and her desire to make a difference in people's lives and the natural environment.
Together At Home
Additional Engineering & STEM Resources for Afterschool and Home
Using a Systematic Problem-Solving Process


  • Video: The Engineering Design Process: A Taco Party - This witty video describes the steps of the engineering design process by likening it to throwing an impromptu taco party. It uses a fun example to describe the problem solving process engineers use.

  • Activity: Time for Design - In this lesson, students are introduced to the engineering design process, focusing on the concept of brainstorming design alternatives. Students come to realize that they can be engineers and use the design process themselves to create tomorrow's innovations.

  • Activity: Introduction to the Engineering Design Process - This activity is an introductory lesson that asks students to design a marshmallow tower. Students are introduced to the engineering design process and compare it to the process they used to create their marshmallow tower.


Exploring the Properties and Uses of Materials

  • Activity: Materials and Manufacturing - In this activity based on the story of the three little pigs, students examine the properties, limitations, and durability of a variety of materials, then evaluate which of the materials would be best for building a model house.


Considering Real-World Problems

  • Activity: Engineering Solutions to Freshwater Problems - In this activity, students are introduced to six freshwater supply problems in various locations around the world. Students brainstorm their own ideas for solving each problem and then learn about the specific solutions that engineers have proposed.

  • Activities: Community Engineering - This website provides engineering challenges that are community-based and includes learning modules on topics like school gardening, classroom renovation, and designing an accessible playground.

  • Activities: EiE Storybooks - Every Engineering is Elementary (EiE) unit starts with a storybook that sets the context for the hands-on engineering design challenge. This set includes 20 engaging storybooks about a child who solves a real-world problem through engineering. EiE storybooks integrate literacy and social studies with your engineering and science lessons—and help students understand how STEM subjects are relevant to their lives.