Snow and Snowflakes:

• Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest program
• Ready, Set, Self-Assemble group activity
• Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly program
• Water resources and activities https://www.nisenet.org/water

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January

International Year of Glass (January - December 2022)

• https://www.iyog2022.org
• Compilation of glass activities and resources https://www.nisenet.org/glass
• Aerogel activity
• Exploring Materials - Stained-Glass Windows activity
• Nanoparticle Stained Glass (cart demo)
• Nanoparticle Stained Glass: classroom program
• Exploring Properties - Invisibility activity
• Exploring Nano & Society - Invisibility Cloak activity
• Light activities and resources

National Mentoring Month (January)

• National Mentoring https://www.mentoring.org
• STEM Mentoring resources https://www.mentoring.org/campaigns/stem-mentoring-month/
• NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings 
• SciGirls Role Model Strategies http://www.scigirlsconnect.org/groups/role-models/
• National Academies Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM

Predictions for the New Year (January 1) 

• Flying Cars stage presentation
• Exploring Nano & Society - Flying Cars activity
• NISE Network activities about the future
• Exploring Nano & Society - You Decide! activity
• Nano Around the World card game
• Future Builder activity
• Games for the Future activities
• Nano Future Tellers activity

National Bird Day (January 5)

• www.nationalbirdday.com website
• some bird feathers (such as peacock feathers) are iridescent due to nano-sized structures within the feathers; for more about iridescence check out:
  • NISE Network butterfly resources nisenet.org/butterflies
  • NISE Network biomimicry resources https://www.nisenet.org/biomimicry
  • Exploring Materials - Thin Films
  • Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals program
  • Butterfly Blues video
  • Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program
• explore this website by searching the topic: Life Sciences - Animals

National Static Electricity Day (January 9)

• NISE Network energy resources https://www.nisenet.org/energy
• Exploring Forces - Static Electricity
• Battery Stack activity
• Spark of Life activity
• Electric Squeeze activity
• Exploring Materials - Graphene activity
• more activities about electricity and magnetism

Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)

• MLK Day of Service - make it a day on not a day off
  Create and find volunteer opportunities through matching programs:

  • https://www.volunteermatch.org
  • https://www.idealist.org
  • https://www.justserve.org
• NISE Network Racial Justice Resources

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February

Black History Month / African-American History Month (February) -  celebrate people in STEM

• www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov
• NASA Modern Figures Toolkit
• African Americans in Science and Technology internet resources from the Library of Congress
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) https://www.nsbe.org
• National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) https://www.nsbe.org
• NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance resources (log-in required)
• Black Lives in Astronomy: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi 
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Celebrating Black Inventors poster from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics
• HistoryMakers ScienceMakers biographies and oral histories of African American scientists and toolkits of hands-on activities connecting to scientists
• NISE Network Racial Justice Resources
• Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture Talking about Race
  https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• PBS African American Quotation posters 

Groundhog Day (February 2)

• Use Exploring Earth: Bear's Shadow activity to make and experiment with shadows
• STEM topics to explore include: signs of spring (animals emerging from hibernation), signs of winter (clear, cold days), and seasons (February 2 lies midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox) 
• NASA Space Place seasons resources

National Inventors Day (February 11)

• Inspire and encourage young inventors; February 11 is the birthday of of the inventor Thomas Alva Edison
• National Inventors Hall of Fame list of inductees

World Radio Day (February 13)

• https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldradioday
• Making Waves with Radio resources 

Valentine's Day (February 14) 

• NISE Network food activities including chocolate and candy
• Sweet Self-Assembly program
• What's Nano About Chocolate video
• What's Nano About Chocolate sign in Nano Museum Labels (Graphic Signs) 
• Gum and Chocolate
• Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules (NanoDays 12, 13) short activity
• Sweet Self-Assembly long activity
• Molecular Gastronomy Mr. O video
• NASA Space Place printable Valentine cards
• NASA Mars digital Valentine cards

Engineers Week (Third week in February) 

• https://discovere.org/engage/engineers-week/
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering
• explore this website by searching the topic: Physical Sciences -  Materials Science
• explore this website by searching the topic: Engineering and Technology

International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11)

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day/
• NISE Network compilation of resources for collaborating with Girl Scouts and engaging girls and young women in STEM

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (During third week in February)

• Discover E Girl Day resources for educators and engineers www.discovere.org/our-programs/girl-day
• NISE Network compilation of resources for collaborating with Girl Scouts and engaging girls and young women in STEM
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering
• IF/THEN® Collection is a free asset library of thousands of images, videos, posters, and more dedicated to increasing access to images reflecting the diversity of women and gender minorities in STEM https://www.ifthencollection.org
• Free posters for download from A Mighty Girl celebrating women role models in Science, Technology, and Math
• Free posters for download from NASA and the Chandra X-ray Center, at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• NASA Celebrates Women https://www.nasa.gov/women
• NASA Women and Girls resources https://women.nasa.gov/outreach-programs/
• NASA Modern Figures Toolkit
• NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance Women's History Month resources (log-in required)
• National Girls Collaborative Project
• National Girls Collaborative Project publication State of Girls and Women in STEM
• SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM 
• 60 Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls from A Mighty Girl
• Women in Astronomy: An Introductory Resource Guide (2022) compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics
• Smithsonian Women in Aviation and Space History

National Battery Day (February 18)

• Build a Battery hands-on activity
• Battery Stack hands-on activity
• NISE Network energy resources

Great Backyard Bird Count (mid-February)

• https://www.birdcount.org
• some bird feathers (such as peacock feathers) are iridescent due to nano-sized structures within the feathers; for more about iridescence check out:
  • NISE Network butterfly resources nisenet.org/butterflies
  • NISE Network biomimicry resources https://www.nisenet.org/biomimicry
  • Exploring Materials - Thin Films
  • Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals program
  • Butterfly Blues video
  • Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program
• explore this website by searching the topic: Life Sciences - Animals​

 

Leap Day (February 29) (every four years)

• Leap Day math activity from NASA JPL

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SPRING

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March

Women's History Month (March) - celebrate people in STEM
International Women's Day (March 8)

• National Women's History Project http://www.nwhp.org
• womenshistorymonth.gov website
• International Women's Day (March 8) https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/womenday
• IF/THEN® Collection is a free asset library of thousands of images, videos, posters, and more dedicated to increasing access to images reflecting the diversity of women and gender minorities in STEM https://www.ifthencollection.org
• Free posters for download from A Mighty Girl celebrating women role models in Science, Technology, and Math
• Free posters for download from NASA and the Chandra X-ray Center, at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• NISE Network compilation of resources for collaborating with Girl Scouts and engaging girls and young women in STEM
• NASA Celebrates Women https://www.nasa.gov/women
• NASA Women and Girls resources https://women.nasa.gov/outreach-programs/
• NASA Modern Figures Toolkit
• NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance resources (log-in required)
• National Girls Collaborative Project
• National Girls Collaborative Project publication State of Girls and Women in STEM
• SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM
• 60 Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls from A Mighty Girl
• Women in Astronomy: An Introductory Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics
• Smithsonian Women in Aviation and Space History

Severe Weather Awareness Week (March in many states)
Severe weather may include flood, fire, lightning, hurricane, tornados, tsunami, earthquake, heat, and cold

• Please note that dates of awareness weeks vary by state:
  https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar
• https://www.weather.gov/dvn/Awareness_Weeks
• Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC) forums and citizen science projects around heat waves, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and drought.
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange

World Wildlife Day (March 3)

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-wildlife-day
• http://www.wildlifeday.org
• NISE Network butterfly resources nisenet.org/butterflies
• NISE Network biomimicry resources https://www.nisenet.org/biomimicry
• Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals program
• Butterfly Blues video
• Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program

 

World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (March 4)

• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/engineering
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering

Dr. Seuss Day (March 2) 

• Seussville reading resources
• Oobleck - Exploring Materials - Oobleck
• Horton Senses Something Small
• Horton Hears a Who! Storytime
• NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling https://www.nisenet.org/books

Groundwater Awareness Week (second full week in March)

• Groundwater Awareness Week https://www.ngwa.org/get-involved/groundwater-awareness-week
• Groundwater Foundation https://www.groundwater.org
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• What’s Nano About Water?
• PBS DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• NISE Network climate change resource https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Water and Ocean

Brain Awareness Week (mid-March)

• Brain Awareness resources from the Society for Neuroscience
• Brain Awareness Week resources from the Dana Foundation
• World Federation of Neurology Brain Day 
• NISE Network brain and neuroscience resources https://www.nisenet.org/neuro

• What Makes Us Human

• Neuro Futures Card Game

• Neuro Futures Championship Game

• Stand Up Sit Down Icebreaker - Professional development training tool to prepare scientific audiences to talk about public engagement around now & near-future brain research and technologies
• Step into the Shoes of Stakeholders training guide and materials - Professional development training tool to prepare scientific audiences to talk about public engagement around now & near-future brain research and technologies
• NISE Network Changing Brains professional audiences resources

Pi Day (March 14)  
International Day of Mathematics (March 14)

• Celebrate math! there are one billion nanometers in a meter
• UNESCO: International Day of Mathematics https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/mathematics
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size
• https://www.piday.org/
• NASA: Pi Day posters 
• NASA: 10 ways to Celebrate Pi Day
• NASA:18 Ways NASA Uses Pi
• Howtosmile.org Pi activities https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/pi

National Learn about Butterflies Day (March 14)

• NISE Network butterfly resources nisenet.org/butterflies
• NISE Network biomimicry resources https://www.nisenet.org/biomimicry
• Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly video 
• Butterfly Blues video
• Exploring Structures - Butterfly (NanoDays 2012) short activity
• Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals long activity
• Zoom Into a Butterfly Wing poster 
• What's nano about butterflies Nano museum labels (graphic signs)
• Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing (reflected light) 
• Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing (non-reflected light) 
• Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly
• Scientific Image- Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Ridges 
• Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Microribs 
• Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Scales 
• Scientific Image - Photonic Crystal
• Powers of Ten with the Blue Morpho Butterfly (Middle and High School curriculum lesson) 
• NISE Network compilation of light activities and resources
• explore this website by searching the topic: Life Sciences - Animals

Digital Learning Day (March 15, 2023) #DLDay 

• https://all4ed.org/digital-learning-day/

National Ag Day (mid-March)

• https://www.agday.org

Earth Hour (mid-March) 

• www.earthhour.org
• NISE Network Earth Day resources www.nisenet.org/earthday
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• NISE Network energy resources https://www.nisenet.org/energy
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources

Spring Equinox (March 19 or 20 in the Northern Hemisphere)

• Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons) 
• Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• NASA Space Place seasons resources

World Water Day (March 22)

• www.worldwaterday.org 
• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/waterday
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry (longer program)
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - What’s in the Water (longer program)
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• What’s Nano About Water?
• PBS DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity 

World Meteorology Day (March 23)

• World Meteorological Organization https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/world-meteorological-day
• NASA Climate Kids https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/
• NASA Meteorology: An Educator's Resource for Inquiry-Based Learning for Grades 5-9
• NOAA SciJinks How to read a Weather Map https://scijinks.gov/weather-map/
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange

Solar Week (last full week in March)

• http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/Solar-Week
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth, Moon, and Sun 
• learn about our Sun https://www.nasa.gov/sun

NanoDays (last weekend in March - first weekend in April)
2023: March 25-April 2
2024: March 30-April 7
2025: March 29-April 6
2026: March 28-April 5

• NanoDays activities and resources www.nisenet.org/nanodays
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size
• explore this website by searching the topic Engineering and Technology - Nanotechnology

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April

Citizen Science Month (April) 

• http://citizensciencemonth.org
• NISE Network resources https://www.nisenet.org/citizenscience
• NASA resources https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience
• SciStarter database of projects https://scistarter.org

• Globe Observer website - Clouds, Mosquitos, Land Cover, Trees

• Globe Observer app - Clouds, Mosquitos, Land Cover, Trees

• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit

• Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds activity - connect to NASA GLOBE app

• Exploring Earth: Land Cover activity - connect to NASA GLOBE ap

National Kite Month (April)

• https://www.kite.org/events/national-kite-month/
• How to Fly a Kite https://www.globe.gov/web/aren-project/overview/aerokats/kites
• How NASA uses kites https://www.globe.gov/web/aren-project/overview/aerokats/nasa-and-kites

National Poetry Month (April)

• www.poets.org/npm website
• UNESCO World Poetry Day (March 21) https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldpoetryday
• nano-themed haiku at the end of each NISE Network NanoBiteNewsletter (2009-2013)

Global Astronomy Month (April) 
Astronomy Day (Spring) (held in April or May) 
Astronomy Week (Spring) (held in April or May) 

• Astronomy Day (April 29, 2023) with Big Astronomy film and Big Astronomy activities
• Global Astronomy Day Month website http://astronomerswithoutborders.org
• Astronomy Day website https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts
• NISE Network astronomy resources https://www.nisenet.org/astronomy
• Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits activities 
• Exploring Nano & Society - Space Elevator (NanoDays 2013) short activity
• Aerogel short activity
• Exploring Nano & Society - Flying Cars short activity
• Flying Cars theater program
• Exploring Size - Memory Game (NanoDays 2011 and 2012) short activity
• Exploring Size - Powers of Ten Game (NanoDays 2011, 2012, and 2014) short activity
• Exploring Size - StretchAbility (NanoDays 2010) short activity
• Scale of the Universe Zoom
• Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science

Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month (April)

• National Math Festival https://www.nationalmathfestival.org
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size
• explore this website by searching for topic Mathematics

National Arab American Heritage Month (April) celebrate people in STEM

• National Arab American Heritage Month https://arabamericafoundation.org/national-arab-american-heritage-month/
• Arab American Foundation resources https://www.arabamerica.com/resources/
• Arab American National Museum https://arabamericanmuseum.org
• Smithsonian Arab American History and Culture  https://www.si.edu/spotlight/arab-american
• PBS resources https://www.pbs.org/articles/celebrate-arab-american-heritage-month
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi including Islamic astronomy

 

Star Trek First Contact Day (April 5)

In the Star Trek Universe humans make first contact with an alien species on April 5, 2063.

• https://nationaltoday.com/first-contact-day/
• NISE Network Science Fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Superhero Events resources
  https://www.nisenet.org/sciencefiction
• NASA Museum Informal Education Alliance list of resources (login required)
  https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/star-trek-and-nasa

World Health Day (April 7) / National Public Health Week (first week in April)

• World Health Day and WHO World Health Day
• National Public Health Week https://nphw.org
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• Intro to Nanomedicine video
• Exploring Products - Sunblock activity
• Nanotech and Consumer Products
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito forum
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper App https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit
• GLOBE Observer Mission Mosquito Larvae Hunters Guide https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-mosquito/overview/resources
• Nanomedicine in Healthcare forum
• Nanomedicine Explorer exhibit and software
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• explore this website by searching for topic Life Sciences - Health and Medicine

International Dark Sky Week (week during the month of April)

• https://idsw.darksky.org
• NISE Network astronomy resources https://www.nisenet.org/astronomy

National Robotics Week / RoboWeek (second week in April) 

• www.nationalroboticsweek.org website
• Shrinking Robots! program 
• Is That Robot Real book and graphics
• Robots and People program
• What Makes Us Human? activity
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering

Yuri's Night (April 12)

• https://yurisnight.net
• NISE Network Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits https://www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit
• NISE Network astronomy resources https://www.nisenet.org/astronomy

World Quantum Day (April 14)

• https://worldquantumday.org
• NISE Network quantum resources
• The Future of Computing stage presentation
• Making Molecular Movies with QSTORM stage presentation
• Quantum Atlas explains quantum physics and features many animations and videos 
  https://quantumatlas.umd.edu
• Quarked has lessons and games in the subatomic universe http://www.quarked.org
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size
• Scientific Image - Quantum Corral (side view) using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope
• Scientific Image - Quantum Corral (top view) using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope

World Art Day (April 15)

• UNESCO https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-art
• NISE Network STEAM activities https://www.nisenet.org/steam
• Watch and Create! Creativity For Sustainability activity
• Exploring the Universe: Nebula Spin Art activity
• Chemistry is Colorful activity
• Nature of Dye activity
• Exploring Materials - Thin Films activity
• explore this website by searching the topic: Art, Music, and Literature

Black Hole Week (mid-April) (April 12-16, 2021)

• Black Hole Week https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/bhw/
• What are Black Holes? https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/black_hole_description.html
• More about Black Holes https://www.nasa.gov/black-holes

National Math Festival (mid-April)

• National Math Festival https://www.nationalmathfestival.org
• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size

Earth Day (April 22)
National Environmental Education Week (week of Earth Day)

• NISE Network Earth Day resources www.nisenet.org/earthday
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• NISE Network energy resources https://www.nisenet.org/energy
• www.earthday.org website
• National Environmental Education Week https://www.neefusa.org/education/eeweek
• Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW)
• Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem stage presentation
• Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions forum
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• PBS Water Clean Up DragonflyTV episode
• PBS Nanosilver DragonflyTV episode
• Nanosilver: Breakthrough or Biohazard? stage presentation
• Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation 
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• SustainABLE kit activities
• Sustainable Futures collection of public programs
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry (longer program)
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - What’s in the Water (longer program)
• Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit activities
• NASA Earth Day resources
• GLOBE Observer citizen science (clouds, mosquito habitat mapper, land cover, trees) https://observer.globe.gov
• UN Sustainability Goals posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science

Take Your Child To Work Day / Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day (fourth Thursday in April)

• https://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org

DNA Day (April 25)

• National DNA Day website 
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics
• DNA Nanotechnology hands-on activity 
• Exploring Structures - DNA (NanoDays 2012) hands-on activity 
• Building with Biology Kit activities
• explore this website by searching the topic life sciences 

 

Arbor Day (last Friday in April, dates vary by state)

• Dates may vary by state https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/dates.cfm
• https://www.arborday.org

National Poetry Month (April)

• www.poets.org/npm website
• UNESCO World Poetry Day (March 21) https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldpoetryday
• nano-themed haiku at the end of each NISE Network NanoBiteNewsletter (2009-2013)

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May

Astronomy Day (Spring) (held in April or May) - please see April for details
Astronomy Week (Spring) (held in April or May) - please see April for details

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month - celebrate people in STEM

• https://asianpacificheritage.gov
• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center https://smithsonianapa.org
• PBS AAPI History Spotlight: Saluting STEM Pioneers
• NASA Asian Pacific American Heritage
• Posters and videos that illustrate specific examples of STEAM within traditional Pacific island culture and practices
  https://pasifika.tki.org.nz/Resources/Pacific-STEAM
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)

• https://healthfinder.gov/nho/MayToolkit.aspx
• Action for Health Kids https://www.actionforhealthykids.org

National Bike Month ​​​​​​ / Bike to Work Week (mid-May)

• https://www.bikeleague.org/content/bike-month-dates-events-0 (May)
• Walk & Roll to School resources http://www.walkbiketoschool.org 

May the Fourth Be With You - Star Wars Day (May 4)

• NISE Network Science Fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Super Heroes resources
• Star Wars Day https://www.starwars.com/star-wars-day
• NASA and Star Wars connections 
• NASA Museum Informal Education Alliance list of resources (login required) 
  https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/star-wars
• NASA and Star Trek list of resources (login required)
  https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/star-trek-and-nasa
• May the Fourth event example in 2019 online workshop (at 30 minute point of recording)
  http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/online-workshop-earth-space-science-early-learners-recorded

National Children’s Book Week (early May) 

• Children's Book Week website
• NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling resources https://www.nisenet.org/books
• Shrinking Robots! book (for free download or to order)
• How Small is Nano? book (for free download or to order)
• Alice in NanoLand book (for free download or to order)
• Selected books about nano

Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (May)

• National Mosquito Control Awareness Week resources from American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
• Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week resources from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO) resources 
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? Forum
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper App https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit
• GLOBE Observer Mission Mosquito Larvae Hunters Guide https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-mosquito/overview/resources
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics

International Day of Light (May 16)

• UNESCO:The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy; https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/dayoflight 
• NISE Network light activities and resources
• International Year of Light (2015) NISE Network resources 
• HowToSmile.org collection of light activities https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/light
• SPIE the international society for optics and photonics posters and activities

National Week of Making (mid-May)

• https://www.weekofmaking.org
• Instructables https://www.instructables.com
• Maker Ed https://makered.org
• Nation of Makers https://www.nationofmakers.us
• NISE Network Frankenstein200 kit of activities https://www.nisenet.org/frankensteinkit 
• NISE Network STEAM activities https://www.nisenet.org/steam

National Public Works Week (mid-May)

• American Public Works Association resources https://npww.apwa.net
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• NISE Network Climate resiliency resources https://www.nisenet.org/CSCRC
• See Engineering Week resources in February

International Museum Day (May 18)

• International Council of Museums https://icom.museum/en/international-museum-day/
• Search for a NISE Network partner museum and other informal science education partner near you http://nisenet.org/partners

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) (May 18, 2023, May 16, 2024) 
The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities.

• https://globalaccessibilityawarenessday.org/
• NISE Network inclusive audience and Universal Design resources https://www.nisenet.org/audiences

Endangered Species Day (third Friday in May)

• https://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/

National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)

• NASA make a paper airplane activity
  https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/make-and-color-a-paper-airplane.html
• NASA ring wing glider activity
  https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/ring-wing-glider/
• Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets
  https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-solar-system-stomp-rockets

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SUMMER

Summer Reading

• Summer Reading Themes https://www.cslpreads.org
• Summer reading strategies https://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading/resources
• Themes:
  • 2021 Summer Reading theme - "Tails and Tales"
  • 2020 Summer Reading Themes - “Imagine Your Story”
  • 2019 Summer Reading Themes - "A Universe of Stories"
• NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling resources https://www.nisenet.org/books
• NISE Network books:
  • Alice in NanoLand book (Downloadable PDF)
  • How Small Is Nano? Book and Poster (Downloadable PDF)
  • Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster
  • Horton Hears a Who! Storytime book activity
  • Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow book activity
  • Exploring Materials - Oobleck can connect to Bartholomew and the Oobleck

Sun and Sand

• Exploring Properties - Heat Transfer activity
• Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping activity
• Nano Ice Cream activity
• Invisible Sunblock activity
• Exploring Products - Nano Sand activity
• Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand activity
• Magic Sand/Nanosurfaces activity
• Exploring Products - Sunblock program
• fun outdoor group activity Ready, Set, Self-Assemble group program
• Why are Seashells so Strong? program

Summer Camp

• Camp resources 
• Nanotechnology Summer Camp (Ages 8 - 10) framework
• High School Nanotechnology Summer Camp framework
• After School Nanoscale Science framework
• Explore Science Zoom into Nano modules and videos

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June

Pride Month (June) - celebrate people in STEM

• Pride in STEM Day http://prideinstem.org/lgbtstemday/
• LGBTQ+ STEM https://lgbtstem.wordpress.com
• Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) https://www.queerstem.org
• Out to Innovate™, formerly known as National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) https://www.noglstp.org

 

Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June)

• Please note that dates of awareness weeks vary by state:
  https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar
• https://www.weather.gov/dvn/Awareness_Weeks

National Dairy Month (June)

• https://www.idfa.org/june-is-national-dairy-month
• https://thedairyalliance.com/dairy-farming/june-dairy-month/

 

International Nature Journaling Week (first week in June) 

• https://www.naturejournalingweek.com
• Free video series from John Muir Laws and Children's Creativity Museum
  https://creativity.org/nature-journal-connection/
• John Muir Laws How to Teach Nature Journaling
  https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/how-to-teach-nature-journaling/
• Nature Journaling from PLT - Project Learning Tree
• Nature Journaling activities from  Oregon State University

World Environment Day (June 5)

• United Nations World Environment Day website https://www.un.org/en/events/environmentday/
• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/environmentday
• https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• NISE Network Earth Day resources https://www.nisenet.org/earthday

World Oceans Day (June 8)

• worldoceansday.org
• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/oceansday
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• NOAA Ocean and Climate Literacy Resources https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/literacy.html
• NOAA Ocean Literacy Guide
• NOAA Handbook for Increasing Ocean Literacy
• Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry longer program
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• What’s Nano About Water?
• PBS DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Why are Seashells so Strong? program
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science - Water and Oceans

Juneteenth (June 19) - celebrate people in STEM

• https://www.juneteenth.com
• Racial Justice resources 
• Please see Black History Month (February) for additional resources

Summer Solstice (June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere)

• Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons) 
• Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• NASA Space Place seasons resources

International Women in Engineering Day (June 23)

• http://www.inwed.org.uk/
• Please see resources for Women's History Month (March)
• NISE Network compilation of resources for collaborating with Girl Scouts and engaging girls and young women in STEM
• NISE Network engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week  - Fight the Bite (last full week in June)

• National Mosquito Control Awareness Week resources from American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
• Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week resources from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO) resources 
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? forum
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper App https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit
• GLOBE Observer Mission Mosquito Larvae Hunters Guide https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-mosquito/overview/resources
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics

Asteroid Day (June 30)

• https://asteroidday.org/
• UN Asteroid Day
• NISE Network compilation of asteroid, comet, meteor, and meteorite resources https://www.nisenet.org/asteroids
• NASA Space Place https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/asteroid
• Exploring the Solar System: Asteroid Mining activity
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science

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July

Plastic Free July (July)

• https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Moon Landing - anniversary of Apollo 11 first step on the Moon July 20, 1969 (July 20)

• Moon resources and activities https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• Moon Adventure Game https://www.nisenet.org/moongame
• NASA Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage
• NASA logos for 50th anniversary in 2019
• NASA Apollo 11 resources
• NASA Moon resources
• NASA moon 
• NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance list of many more resources - login required
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science -  Earth, Moon and Sun

National Ice Cream Day (July 18)

• Nano Ice Cream activity

World Brain Day (July 22)

• World Federation of Neurology Brain Day 
• Brain Awareness resources from the Society for Neuroscience
• Brain Awareness Week resources from the Dana Foundation
• NISE Network brain and neuroscience resources https://www.nisenet.org/neuro

• What Makes Us Human

• Neuro Futures Card Game

• Neuro Futures Championship Game

• Stand Up Sit Down Icebreaker - Professional development training tool to prepare scientific audiences to talk about public engagement around now & near-future brain research and technologies
• Step into the Shoes of Stakeholders training guide and materials - Professional development training tool to prepare scientific audiences to talk about public engagement around now & near-future brain research and technologies
• NISE Network Changing Brains professional audiences resources

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August

Perseid Meteor Shower (August)

• The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere
• https://www.nisenet.org/asteroids

National Immunization Awareness Month (August)

• CDC National Immunization Awareness Month resources
• NISE Network Vaccine Museum Resources 
  https://www.nisenet.org/vaccine

National Sand Castle Day (first Saturday of August)

• Exploring Products - Nano Sand activity
• Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand activity
• Magic Sand/Nanosurfaces activity

National Aviation Day (August 19)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Aviation_Day
• NASA suggestions for National Aviation Day
• Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets 

World Mosquito Day (August 20)

• Should We Engineer the Mosquito? Forum
• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper App https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit
• National Mosquito Control Awareness Week resources from American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
• Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week resources from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO) resources 
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics

Frankenstein Day (August 30)  
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born on August 30, 1797; she wrote the novel Frankenstein in 1816, and published it in 1818 

• Frankenstein200 kit of activities 

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FALL

Back to School 

• Back to School resources related to pencils, graphite
  • Exploring Materials - Graphene activity
  • Forms of Carbon activity
  • Nobel Winning Experiment Mr. O video 
  • Zoom into a Pencil Line of Graphene with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) - Illustration
  • Material Marvels with Ainissa Ramirez video - Graphene 
• School programs
  • collaboration with K-12 class on Nanoparticle Stained Glass project
  • Theater High School Program videos
  • After School Framework

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September

Read a Book Month (September)

• https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/read-a-new-book-month/
• NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling resources https://www.nisenet.org/books
• Breakfast Moon picture book
• Frankenstein and its connection to Frankenstein200 kit
• Alice in NanoLand
• NISE Network selected books about nano 

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15- October 15) - celebrate people in STEM

• https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov
• SACNAS – Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science https://www.sacnas.org
• National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/hispanic-heritage-month.htm
• NASA https://www.nasa.gov/subject/16278/hispanic-heritage-month/
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
• Network Spanish Language Translations and Bilingual Resources resources https://www.nisenet.org/spanish

International Microorganism Day (September 17)

• https://www.internationalmicroorganismday.org
• Building with Biology Kit activities
• NISE Network health and medicine resources https://www.nisenet.org/health
• NISE Network genetics resources https://www.nisenet.org/genetics

National Pollution Prevention Week (P2 Week) (third week in September)

• https://www.epa.gov/p2week
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water

International Coastal Cleanup Day (third Saturday in September)
World Cleanup Day (mid-September)

• https://www.worldcleanupday.org
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry long activity
•  What’s in the Water long activity
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology stage program
• What’s Nano About Water? video
• PBS DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity 

Fall Equinox (September 22 or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere)

• Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons)
• Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• explore this website by searching for topic Earth, Moon, and Sun

International Day of Scientific Culture / Día Internacional de la Cultura Científica (September 28)

• https://somedicyt.org.mx/divulgacion/dicc/idsc

Worldwide Day of Play (September 30, 2023)

 

 

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October

International Observe the Moon Night (date selected in September/October based on viewing ) (October 21, 2023)

• https://moon.nasa.gov/observe
• Moon resources and activities https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• Moon Adventure Game https://www.nisenet.org/moongame
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and Space Science - Earth, Moon and Sun

Campus Sustainability Month (October)

• http://www.aashe.org/campus-sustainability-month/ website
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• Sustainable Futures public engagement programs and professional resources

Astronomy Week (Fall) (9/26-10/2/2022; 9/18-24/2023; 10/7-13/2024; 9/22-28/2025)

• Astronomy Day website https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits
• NISE Network astronomy resources https://www.nisenet.org/astronomy

World Space Week (October 4-10)

• http://www.worldspaceweek.org
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits
• NISENetwork astronomy resources https://www.nisenet.org/astronomy

Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) (first Friday in October)

• https://creatorswanted.org/mfgday/
• https://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/students/manufacturing-day/
• https://www.facebook.com/MfgDay/
• NISENetwork engineering resources https://www.nisenet.org/engineering

National Nano Day (October 9th)
National Nanotechnology Day (#NationalNanoDay) is an annual celebration and pays homage to the nanometer scale, 10^–9 meters.

• https://www.nano.gov/nationalnanoday
• NanoDays website for hands-on activities and resources www.nisenet.org/nanodays

Metric Day (October 10th)

• NISE Network Size, Scale, & Measurement resources https://www.nisenet.org/size
• How Small is Nano? book and poster
• How Small is Nano? video
• Scale Ladder Diagrams
• Sizing Things Down
• Exploring Size - Measure Yourself
• Exploring Size - Powers of Ten card game 
• explore this website by searching for topic Mathematics - Measurement 

Indigenous Peoples' Day (Second Monday in October) - celebrate people in STEM

• Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.
• Native American Heritage Month / American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November) https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov 
• NASA Native American Heritage Month https://www.nasa.gov/subject/17655/native-american-heritage-month/
• NASA's Universe of Learning Native American Sky resources
  https://universe-of-learning.org/contents/events/science-briefings/science-briefing-the-native-american-sky
• Cosmic Serpent - Bridging Native Ways of Knowing and Western Science in Museum Settings
  https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/CS-LegacyDoc27Nov2012.pdf
• Native Sky Watchers - Two Eyed Seeing – NASA & Indigenous Astronomy – For the Benefit of All
  https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-seeing-nasa.html
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Audio stories about the Moon from Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI)
  https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/marvelMoon/tales/
• Moon myths  from around the world - Night Sky Network and Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)
  https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=642
  Downloadable handout https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/MoonStoriesASP2019.pdf
  Create your own Moon story handout https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/CreateMoonStory.pdf
• Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Star Stories:
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS6nSmuURFJBLIE-4ulPJMYxOV4Zpj1WZ
• Indigenous Education Institute (IEI):
  http://indigenouseducation.org
• Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
• Professional Societies:
  • SACNAS – Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science https://www.sacnas.org
  • American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) https://www.aises.org/

International Day of the Girl Child (October 11)

• UN resources https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day
• NISE Network compilation of resources for collaborating with Girl Scouts and engaging girls and young women in STEM
• IF/THEN® Collection is a free asset library of thousands of images, videos, posters, and more dedicated to increasing access to images reflecting the diversity of women and gender minorities in STEM https://www.ifthencollection.org
• Free posters for download from A Mighty Girl celebrating women role models in Science, Technology, and Math
• Free posters for download from NASA and the Chandra X-ray Center, at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• NASA Celebrates Women https://www.nasa.gov/women
• NASA Women and Girls resources https://women.nasa.gov/outreach-programs/
• NASA Modern Figures Toolkit
• NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance Women's History Month resources (log-in required)
• National Girls Collaborative Project
• National Girls Collaborative Project publication State of Girls and Women in STEM
• SciGirls Seven: How to Engage Girls in STEM 
• 60 Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls from A Mighty Girl
• Women in Astronomy: An Introductory Resource Guide (2022) compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics
• Smithsonian Women in Aviation and Space History

Walk Bike & Roll to School (mid-October)  (October 12, 2022)

• http://www.walkbiketoschool.org 
• https://bikeleague.org

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - World AI Week (2nd week in October)

• https://worldaiweek.ai

Earth Science Week (second full week in October) 

• www.earthsciweek.org
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water
• NISE Network energy resources https://www.nisenet.org/energy
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources
• Sustainable Futures public engagement programs and professional resources 
• SustainABLE kit activities
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry (longer program)
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activity - What’s in the Water (longer program)
• Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions forum
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• Water Clean Up DragonflyTV episode
• Nanosilver DragonflyTV episode
• Nanosilver: Breakthrough or Biohazard? stage presentation
• Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud video
• Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem stage presentation
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity
• educational products on nisenet.org topics related to water 
• explore this website by searching the topic Earth and space Science 

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills (third Thursday in October) 

• https://www.shakeout.org
• FAQs https://www.shakeout.org/faq/index.html
• Promotional and educational materials https://www.shakeout.org/resources/

National Chemistry Week (third full week in October)
Mole Day (October 23) commemorates Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10²³), which is a measuring unit in chemistry.

• American Chemical Society's National Chemistry Week website
• NISE Network National Chemistry Week resources www.nisenet.org/national-chemistry-week 
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit

Imagine a Day Without Water (mid-October) (October 20, 2022)

• http://imagineadaywithoutwater.org
• NISE Network climate change resources https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
• NISE Network water resources https://www.nisenet.org/water

Nuclear Science Week (NSW) (third week in October)

• www.nuclearscienceweek.org
• NISE Network energy resources https://www.nisenet.org/energy
• Size, scale, and measurement activities https://www.nisenet.org/size
• explore this website by searching the topic Physical Science 

World Origami Days (October 24 - November 11)

• October 24 is the birthday of Lillian Oppenheimer (1898-1992), who founded the first origami group in America; November 11 is Origami Day in Japan where the paper crane has become a symbol of peace
• https://origamiusa.org/wod
• NISE Network activity Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope
• NISE Network activity Nano Future Tellers
• NASA activity Space Origami: Make Your Own Starshade

 

Dark Matter Day (on or around October 31)

• https://www.darkmatterday.com

Halloween (October 31)

• Halloween resources https://www.nisenet.org/halloween
• Science Fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Superhero Events https://www.nisenet.org/sciencefiction
• Frankenstein 200 kit activities - celebrating the anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel https://www.nisenet.org/frankensteinkit
• Chemistry activities - see National Chemistry Week resources
• Chemistry activities see Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit activities including dry ice sublimation activity
• Nano Dreams and Nano Nightmares puppetry play
• Attack of the nanoscientist stage presentation
• Intro to Nano video for costume ideas
• NISE Network food activities including chocolate and candy
• What’s Nano About Chocolate? video
• Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules (NanoDays 12, 13) short activity
• Sweet Self-Assembly long activity
• Ideas for activities, costumes, and pumpkins from the American Chemical Society (ACS) for Halloween chemistry

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November

Native American Heritage Month / American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November) - celebrate people in STEM

• https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov
• NASA Native American Heritage Month https://www.nasa.gov/subject/17655/native-american-heritage-month/
• NASA's Universe of Learning Native American Sky resources
  https://universe-of-learning.org/contents/events/science-briefings/science-briefing-the-native-american-sky
• Cosmic Serpent - Bridging Native Ways of Knowing and Western Science in Museum Settings
  https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/CS-LegacyDoc27Nov2012.pdf
• Native Sky Watchers - Two Eyed Seeing – NASA & Indigenous Astronomy – For the Benefit of All
  https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-seeing-nasa.html
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Audio stories about the Moon from Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI)
  https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/marvelMoon/tales/
• Moon myths  from around the world - Night Sky Network and Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)
  https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=642
  Downloadable handout https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/MoonStoriesASP2019.pdf
  Create your own Moon story handout https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/CreateMoonStory.pdf
• Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Star Stories:
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS6nSmuURFJBLIE-4ulPJMYxOV4Zpj1WZ
• Indigenous Education Institute (IEI):
  http://indigenouseducation.org
• Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
• Professional Societies:
  • SACNAS – Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science https://www.sacnas.org
  • American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) https://www.aises.org/

World Tsunami Awareness Day (November 5)

• https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/tsunamiday

 

National STEM - STEAM Day (November 8)

• NISE Network STEAM activities https://www.nisenet.org/steam
• Watch and Create! Creativity For Sustainability activity
• Exploring the Universe: Nebula Spin Art activity
• Chemistry is Colorful activity
• Nature of Dye activity
• Exploring Materials - Thin Films activity
• explore this website by searching the topic Art, Music, and Literature

 

International Day of Radiology & World Radiography Day (November 8)
The date marks the anniversary of the discovery of X-Rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895

• https://www.internationaldayofradiology.com

• https://www.isrrt.org/world-radiography-day

• https://www.sor.org/about-radiography/world-radiography-day

World Science Day for Peace and Development (November 10) 

• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldscienceday
• International Science Center and Science Museum Day http://www.iscsmd.org

America Recycles Day (November 15)

• https://americarecyclesday.org/
• NISE Network sustainability resources https://www.nisenet.org/sustainability-resources

Pride in STEM Day (November 18) - celebrate people in STEM
International Day of LGBTQIA+ People in STEM

• Pride in STEM Day http://prideinstem.org/lgbtstemday/
• LGBTQ+ STEM https://lgbtstem.wordpress.com
• Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) https://www.queerstem.org
• Out to Innovate™, formerly known as National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) https://www.noglstp.org

Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November)

• Turkey breast feathers are iridescent due to nano-sized structures within the feathers; for more about iridescence check out:
  • NISE Network biomimicry resources including iridescence https://www.nisenet.org/biomimicry
  • Exploring Materials - Thin Films program
  • Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals program
  • Butterfly Blues video
  • Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program

"Black Friday" Shopping Day - (Friday after Thanksgiving)

• Would You Buy That stage presentation 
• Buy It or Better Not activity

Black Hole Friday (last Friday in November)

• Black Hole event resources from Black Hole Week https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/bhw/
• What are Black Holes? https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/black_hole_description.html
• More about Black Holes https://www.nasa.gov/black-holes

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December

National Disability Day (December 3)
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)

• UNESCO https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/personswithdisabilitiesday
• NISE Network Inclusive Audience resources
• Universal Design Guidelines: Programs - Guidelines for creating accessible programming within the NISE Network
• Universal Design Guidelines: Exhibits - Guidelines for creating accessible exhibits within the NISE Network

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) and Hour of Code (second week in December)

• CS Ed Week www.csedweek.org 
• Hour of Code http://hourofcode.com/us 
• Black Girls Code https://wearebgc.org/ 
• Brown Girls Code https://www.browngirlscode.org
• The Clubhouse Network https://theclubhousenetwork.org
• Code.org's educational resources https://code.org/educate
• Microsoft MakeCode https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/makecode
• Computer Science Is for Everyone toolkit to increase diversity from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
• NISE Network computer science resources https://www.nisenet.org/computerscience
• NISE Network Zoom into a computer chip poster
• NISE Network Zoom into a microchip video
• NISE Network The Future of Computing stage presentation
• NISE Network Exploring Products - Computer Hard Drives activity (NanoDays 13, 14) 

Games Day (December 20)

• NISE Network games https://www.nisenet.org/games
• Guide: A Gameful Approach to STEM Learning Experiences

Winter Solstice (December 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere)

• Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons) 
• Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
• NASA Space Place seasons resources


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OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS

Super Hero activities

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2022 Year Long Events

• 2022 - Transistor 75th Anniversary

  • NPR story

  • Size, Scale, and Measurement resources

  • Computer Science resources

• 2022 - International Year of Glass (January - December 2022)
  • https://www.iyog2022.org
  • Compilation of glass activities and resources https://www.nisenet.org/glass

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2019 - Year Long Events

• 2019 - International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements, 150th anniversary

• 2019 - 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing (July 20, 1969) and Apollo missions
  http://nisenet.org/moon50

• 2019 - NASA 60th anniversary 

• 2019 Summer Reading - A Universe of Stories 219 Summer Learning Program

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2015 - Year Long Events