NASCAR’s Acceleration Nation
Posted on February 22nd, 2015 by Mary Lord
NASCAR, the National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing, is speeding into STEM education. Acceleration Nation is a new learning program created in partnership with Scholastic to teach elementary and middle school students about math and science behind the Three D’s of Speed: Drag, Downforce, and Drafting.
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Tags: badges, car, Class Activities, engine, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Internet Resources, Math, NASCAR, online games, Resources for Teachers, Scholastic, STEM education
Nominate a great middle or high school STEM teacher for a $2,000 award, introduce a girl to engineering, or coach a Future City team. National Engineers Week is Feb. 22 – 28, 2015 and there are plenty of local events and hands-on activities to raise awareness of what engineers do and how their work makes the world a healthier, safer place.
In this hands-on activity, teams of students in grades 3 to 12 learn how engineers design tire treads to increase safety and reliability, then follow the design process to construct, test, and evaluate treads sculpted from clay that will be safe when driving in heavy rain.
Students worldwide between 13 and 18 can win scholarships, a trip to the Galapagos, and a first-hand look at Virgin Galactic’s latest spacecraft in the fifth annual Google Science Fair. New this year: a $10,000 Inspiring Educator award for a teacher who “goes above and beyond” to encourage students to “achieve great things.” Submit projects by May 19, 2015.
Apply by February 12, 2015 to attend the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, a free, seven-week course of intensive instruction for high school sophomores and juniors in robotics, Web design, and mobile app development. The program also includes mentoring, demos, field trips, and workshops led by the computer industry’s top female entrepreneurs and engineers. 
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the groups that helped develop the Next Generation Science Standards is seeking science teachers to field-test multiple-choice items for a 45-minute assessment on energy in March, April, or May of 2015.
The DuPont Challenge is one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious essay competitions for students 13 and older in grades 6-12. It focuses on scientific and technological developments that create solutions to such pressing global challenges as food, energy, and protecting the environment.
