According to Elisabeth J. McClure et al., “Many teachers experience anxiety,
low confidence and gendered assumptions about STEM topics, which transfer to their students. Teachers can benefit from reconsidering STEM in
the context of developmentally informed, playful learning activities.”[i] This could include going on a scavenger hunt with Astro the Astronaut for planets and space aliens to engage students’ curiosity and wonder.
At Surprise Powerz, we have developed a free book, Character Play Makes STEM Fun! (download your FREE book here), to support preschool teachers in providing their early learners—especially girls—with fun classroom STEM experiences. Our philosophy is rooted in shaping girls’ beliefs about what they can be successful at, starting from an early age. Girls tend to have less confidence in critical subjects like math and science. Our character play STEM book shows them fun, smart, and diverse role models and activities that support them in breaking barriers, solving problems, and having fun while doing it in STEM!
Our character play book has simple, fun activities to help make math and science exciting for your students, such as “Animals and Science!” with Vera the Vet or “Let’s Perform a Magic Trick” with Maria the Mathemagician. In addition, these STEM activities aim to help teachers make meaningful connections with their students by participating in fun activities alongside them.
Many early learning classrooms have dramatic play centers, and kids love them! They are typically designated to a section of your classroom and are full of furniture, shelves, props, paper balls, etc. This is a great way for children to imagine themselves in certain roles. We encourage teachers to leverage Surprise Powerz STEM characters in dramatic play centers to help students, especially those traditionally underrepresented in STEM, to feel represented and to further imagine the characters’ fascinating STEM worlds. If you haven’t already, be sure to designate a section of your classroom to a dramatic play center. If you can see it, you can be it!
See page 6 of your FREE Character Play book to learn how to set up your dramatic play center for STEM character play. Your students will enjoy imagining, pretending, and playing the roles of a veterinarian, coder, astronaut, or mathematician.
We also ask teachers to share what students have learned with their parents, giving parents opportunities to extend the learning at home. The character play book we have developed shows teachers simple and fun ways that parents can reinforce the STEM learning at home.
Go to surprisepowerz.com or target.com to purchase Surprise Powerz dolls for your classroom. Your students will love their new classmates: Codie the Coder, Vera the Vet, Maria the Mathemagician, and Astro the Astronaut!
[i] McClure, E. R., Guernsey, L., Clements, D. H., Bales, S. N., Nichols, J., Kendall-Taylor, N., & Levine, M. H. (2017). STEM starts early: Grounding science, technology, engineering, and math education in early childhood. New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
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Vera the Vet loves caring for creatures both big and small. Her neverending curiosity and passion for science help her provide patients with the best of care. Vera is always asking questions and striving to learn even more about animals. She knows that a visit to the zoo promises a day filled with adventure and opportunities to expand curious young minds. Here is a list of some of Vera’s favorite zoos.
Safari West
Children and adults embark on a “wild” ride and are instantly transported to the African Serengeti on an unforgettable, multisensory experience. Young animal lovers will be awestruck as monkeys come within inches,craning giraffes brush against their heads, and zebras run wild before their eyes. For families wanting to experience an animal sleepover, the preserve offers overnight stay in luxury tents.
St. Louis Zoo
Enjoy a free day of fun and adventure at the St. Louis Zoo where there are endless opportunities for even the youngest of explorers to learn about hundreds of species of animals, including kangaroos, penguins, and polar bears. Adventure seekers can climb aboard the zoo’s elevated boardwalk and get a treetop view as lemurs and monkeys scamper through mesh tunnels and scale trees in the brand new Primate Canopy Trails exhibit. Dinosaur enthusiasts can stomp and roar through the Emerson Dinoroarus exhibit which features realistic animatronic dinosaurs and a playground where kids can climb and slide.
Audubon Zoo
This unforgettable attraction is a zoo, aquarium, and nature center all in one. Young scientists experience the thrill of traveling through swamplands, jungles, and rainforests while encountering exotic animals at every step along the way. Curious young guests are always encouraged to ask questions and expand their knowledge of alligators, tigers, and leopards during up close feeding encounters. The aquarium’s new Shark Discovery Touchpool encourages budding marine biologists to roll up their sleeves and reach in to touch slimy rays and sharks.
Philadelphia Zoo
America’s oldest zoo offers up endless opportunities for little ones to discover the amazing creatures of all sizes. Stop in the KidZooU family education center, where children learn to groom and feed barnyard friends, design their own animal habitats, and race goats through an interactive climbing tower. Adventurous kiddos may also wish to take part in the “Wings of Asia” bird feeding experience where they can feed beautiful birds food straight from the palms of their hands. A spin on the zoo’s carousel is a great way to end the day.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
A visit to the Columbus Zoo offers curious travelers an adventure around the world. Young quest-seekers will be introduced to sea lions, red pandas, and bears as they journey across seven different regions of the globe. Animal enthusiasts can also experience the thrill of feeding a giraffe or take their own selfie with a resident sloth when adding on one of the zoo’s “Experience” packages.
A trip to the zoo is a road to knowledge, discovery, and fun. There is always something new to discover and explore, no matter how many times you visit the zoo. Like Vera the Vet, don’t forget to observe, ask questions, and explore.
In 2020, the fight for racial equity and social justice became a global movement. Incredibly, so many more people are now speaking up and out against racism. However, there is still work to do.
Some of the loudest anti-racism voices have been companies and employees. Racism and discrimination in the workforce continue to be issues in many career fields, leaving the BIPOC community subject to lower-paying jobs and reduced access to education.
We see this cycle at play when looking at the STEM workforce. There are little to no spaces for Black women in fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. As a result, young Black girls do not see women who look like them in their areas of interest they can learn from and admire. Representation matters.
Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Traditionally scientists are male, yet today, we see a breakthrough with the diversity of women in science and other STEM fields. Surprise Powerz understands that representation creates pathways for change, and we desire to continue affecting change in the area of STEM for underrepresented minorities everywhere, specifically for young girls.
Surprise Powerz is combating this overwhelming lack of representation by creating toys and dolls that will empower girls at a young age to pursue STEM! Most scientists say children begin to learn and develop interests in STEM around the age of 3. Research shows that the toys girls and boys play with drive their understanding of the world around them and helps them understand themselves.
With Surprise Powerz dolls, we inspire girls to aspire to be great scientists--to help daughters challenge their perspective of who has traditionally belonged in STEM to a strong belief that all women, regardless of color, belong in the field of science and technology and more!
Making STEM Creative and Fun in Childhood
When it comes to helping Black girls discover their place in the world of STEM, it must start at an early age.
Here are three ways to fight against systemic racism against Black girls in STEM:
Taking a stand against systemic racism is not only done in giant steps but also small everyday choices. It's essential to start teaching young Black girls that STEM can be fun, and they can belong in a field that can no longer exclude them and those that look like them.
To learn more about getting Black girls interested in STEM, visit our website for more information.
Have you ever wondered why there are imbalances in the representation of females and minorities in STEM-based fields? Although 50 percent of the female population are in college-educated careers, only 28 percent are currently in STEM careers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019).
So, what is behind the discrepancy?
The problem is rooted in the way women learn how they “should” behave and look, as well as the job fields that are “appropriate” to pursue. In addition to the media influencing how girls see themselves, parents can unknowingly contribute to this problem.
According to a report from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the gender gap in STEM fields is a result of gender stereotypes, male-dominated cultures, few women role models, and math anxiety passed down by female teachers conditioned to “assume girls need to work harder to achieve the same level as boys” (AAUW, 2019).
While every situation is unique, there are four main obstacles girls face in STEM fields.
The environment a child grows up in shapes who they are. Their interests and hobbies are often influenced by what society believes girls “can” and “should” do. A Microsoft study found that over half of middle-school girls are interested in pursuing a STEM career, but the rate significantly drops as they grow older (Microsoft, 2018). This change is a result of girls learning to fit in with the mold society has created.
It is clear society impacts the rate girls pursue STEM fields. In general, science, technology, engineering, and math careers are considered male-dominated in nature. Women are seen as less competent or likable in these fields, making them more likely to quit early on from choosing STEM career paths (Built By Me, 2019).
It should come as no surprise that these stereotypes affect girls’ growth, motivation, and self-confidence in STEM.
Although it is now illegal to discriminate against anyone based on gender, race, ethnicity, or culture, there are still income gaps between equally-qualified men and women within STEM fields. Employers may claim not to discriminate against anyone based on gender, race, disability, or culture, but many women in STEM fields have claimed to experience gender discrimination (Pew Research, 2018).
As a result of hostile work environments, many women in STEM ultimately quit their jobs in favor of careers in which they will be more respected. (WGU, 2019). This cycle must stop.
In the same way girls look to their mothers for parenting examples, they look at professional women to inspire their own career goals. When they do, they rarely see someone who looks like them. Without mentors showing young girls they can be scientists, engineers, IT specialists, or mathematicians, our daughters will not grasp the realm of possibility. They will doubt whether they can succeed in STEM fields.
Fortunately, studies have determined that increasing females’ presence in STEM is as simple as providing our daughters with more STEM role models, especially parents (including dads!). The findings show that “girls who are encouraged by their parents are twice as likely to stay in STEM” (Microsoft, 2018).
As parents, we must highlight significant female figures in STEM fields and find mentors to demonstrate that they can thrive in these positions.
Boys are often gifted science experiment kits, building blocks, and other toys that support analytical thinking. On the other hand, girls get traditional baby dolls, princesses, and other domesticated or superficial toys. Who said our girls have to choose between science and femininity? Surprise Powerz dolls are STEM female role models that look and sound like girls. Plus, they teach them over 75 STEM phrases.
Kids’ minds develop from a very young age, and their toys and activities will mold the person they become later in life.
When girls play with toys that nurture their curiosity and creativity, they will develop self-confidence and believe they can pursue careers in STEM fields. Otherwise, they will look to other sources to shape their future, like mass media and brands that present the idea of what a woman “should” be.
What’s the Solution?
Visit www.surprisepowerz.com to learn more about empowering young girls so they can see themselves as smart and capable in any career. Don’t delay promoting girl power!
According to a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, 5 percent of Asian women, 3.8 percent of Latina women, and 2.9 percent of Black women earn STEM degrees from a higher education institution (source).
These numbers show how women of color have been historically underrepresented in STEM-related career fields. The fight to get more women—particularly women of color—interested in these fields starts at an early age.
Suppose we start teaching the principles of science, engineering, technology, and math to girls as early as preschool. If committed to this cause, we may see a significant increase in the number of women pursuing STEM careers and activities.
Today’s preschool and kindergarten teachers have the powerful opportunity to encourage young girls to take on historically male-dominated fields and shift the dynamic of the workforce.
Here are a few ways you can encourage your students to love STEM:
Introduce Diverse Female STEM Figures to The Classroom
The Sponsor A Classroom program is the perfect solution to help preschool and kindergarten teachers promote diversity and inclusion in STEM in their early learning classrooms. Children internalize from a young age what girls and boys look and act like. The lack of female STEM representation surrounding them drives their understanding. When the STEM leaders’ girls are introduced to are limited to males, so are their beliefs as to what they can be successful at. Sign up to receive diverse female STEM leaders for your classroom today!
Create Fun, Personalized STEM Activities for Your Students
Making STEM fun is a great way to garner more participation. Monitor your students and create a curriculum that caters to their interests. For example, if you have girls who enjoy playing with building blocks, create an activity that allows them to have fun while learning the basic principles of building something from the ground up.
Invite Guest Speakers
Another way to encourage girls to pursue STEM is to show them role models who are doing cool things that interest young children. Invite female scientists to speak to the students about their job, share what they do in a day, and tell them about the cool projects they’ve worked on.
Read Books About Famous Female Scientists
During story time, pull out some books about women who made waves in the STEM field. Here are a few children’s books to consider:
As you teach, be careful to keep track of any hidden biases you may have toward women in STEM. Girls need to be encouraged that they can do anything they can put their minds to. Plus, young children can pick up on the cues you give, so foster an environment where they feel smart, capable, and encouraged.
Preschool and kindergarten teachers can receive 100% sponsored (FREE) STEM-inspired girl leader figures (dolls) for their classrooms by signing up through our website surprisepowerz.com! If you are an individual or organization interested in sponsoring a classroom, visit us today to make a contribution, even $5 makes a difference.
]]>According to Stanford University, research indicates that the math and science material young children learn by the time they enter kindergarten can have an impact on children’s academic outcomes down the road.
Exposing your preschooler to STEM may seem like a difficult task, but there are many resources, tools, activities, and programs made for young learners.
If you are a parent, guardian, or teacher of a preschool-age girl living in the Chicago area, here are five resources and tools you can use to help your little one engage in STEM.
Code.org
While this website allows all children to participate, this organization is especially committed to helping lift up young girls by teaching them how to code in a fun and interactive way. One-hour tutorials take learners through fun games like dance parties, Minecraft, and flappy code. For those who have limited access to the internet, Code.org also provides an offline Hour of Code packet with attached instructions on playing coding games.
Upparent
Getting your child into a STEM class is a great way to help them learn more about the field while having fun in the process. Upparent is a great resource to find all kinds of STEM programs in the Chicago area, from science labs to coding!
DuPage Children’s Museum Arts & Maker After School
Based in Naperville, Illinois, this virtual program gives children as young as four the tools and inspiration they need to explore art and engineering through building projects, problem-solving, and of course, fun games!
Math Games
Help your young girls start learning arithmetic with MathGames. It’s a simple online platform that includes activities of all different skills, from counting to mixed equations.
The Concord Consortium
This tool is perfect for teachers who want to incorporate more STEM activities into their classrooms. This free STEM resource finder includes games, tips, guides, and other resources for preschoolers.
No matter the resource, know that you are helping your child achieve their dreams every time you introduce them to STEM-related activities.
Toys also play a part in how girls perceive STEM. Surprize Powers has a collection of STEM-inspired dolls, books, and games that empower girls to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and more. Visit our website surprisepowerz.com to purchase your doll today!
If you asked your daughter what a scientist looked like, what would she say?
Although today’s society embraces more women into traditionally male-dominated career fields, there is still a gap between genders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Many of us want our daughters to feel empowered and excited about using their skills and talents to build a better world. Unfortunately, girls still face stereotypes and discrimination in their quests to be scientists. Even further, a large number of girls lose interest in STEM-related career paths at an early age.
It’s crucial to instill confidence in girls and build up the next generation of female scientists. Many women have excelled in science and have made ground-breaking discoveries that have changed the lives of many.
In the 1900s, African American chemist Alice Ball developed a leprosy treatment at the age of 23. In 1964, British chemist Dorothy Hodgkin became the first British woman to win the Chemistry Nobel Prize. There are countless other women we could list, but these front runners’ accomplishments show that girls can be anything they want to be.
How can you describe what a good scientist looks like to your daughter? Let’s look at a few characteristics:
Intelligent
A scientist is smart and has an active imagination. They can take in the world around them and use their surroundings to formulate new ideas and solutions. Scientists also have a wealth of knowledge on scientific principles and other relevant subjects, like math, physics, biology, calculus, etc.
Creative
A good scientist is creative. Creativity allows a scientist to think outside the box and create things that haven’t been thought of before.
Critical thinker
A scientist is a critical thinker and can analyze problems with an open mind.
Curious
A good scientist has a lot of curiosity and wants to know about the world around them. From understanding how electrical currents work to knowing the principles of velocity, there are many ways to explore like a scientist.
Innovative
Innovation is at the heart of being a scientist. A scientist needs to bring forth new ideas and promote them with the faith that they can do the work.
As we can see, gender does not define a real scientist. They possess qualities that many young girls have. We have the power to prevent more young girls from missing their calling and not using their skills for science and other STEM fields.
Remind your daughter that a scientist is intelligent, innovative, passionate, creative, and curious. She has or can develop the same qualities needed to be a scientist. Then sit back and watch her fly.
We live in a world that is continuously transforming through science and technology. From how we communicate to the products we buy to the jobs we hold, modern advances impact every area of our lives.
In a society where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) play such critical roles, the unfortunate reality is that women are often underrepresented. Many external forces subliminally imprint that “science is for boys” from a young age.
As parents, you’re responsible for the ideas that shape your daughter’s experience and impact her future. Will she be a driven, independent woman who carves her own path in life? Or, will she aspire to fill the presumed role society has created for her?
Take a stroll through the “girls’ section” of any toy store, and you’ll see the early foundations of what “should” interest the average young girl. It’s easy to find — look for thd with toy houses, cars, and dress-up dolls. These toys lay a foundation within girls’ minds of what is acceptable and expected of them: high heels, fancy convertibles, a never-ending wardrobe, and a laundry list of “girl-friendly” hobbies like horseback riding and figure skating.
When the vast majority of toys marketed to girls are concerned with mindless consumerism, an “ideal” self-image, and domestic concerns, it’s not hard to see why women, as a whole, don’t feel they belong or aspire to attain positions in STEM industries.
To fight back against this worrying trend, parents must take direct action in raising their children to be open-minded. Children are naturally curious. If you pay attention to kids, you’ll find they observe and experiment all the time, both core aspects of the scientific method. The right tools can channel their curiosity into a passion for science. Instead of splurging for the latest superficial, mass-marketed toy, embrace the opportunity to cultivate your daughter’s interests and help stoke the flames of inspiration.
Fortunately, there are countless ways to encourage your daughter’s well-rounded hobbies. Get her outside to interact with the real world (as scientists do!) or engage in mathematical games. Buy your daughter a STEM doll as a teaching role model. Exposure to new and diverse concepts teaches your daughter to think outside of the box.
A prominent example of a constructive toy is the ever-popular building bricks. Girls usually don’t get building bricks as children; boys do. Yet, building bricks develops critical thinking, spatial memory, and pattern-recognition—all vital elements of STEM education. Playing with more enriching toys will expand your daughter’s career and academic possibilities.
We have to inspire our daughters to do whatever their hearts desire without conforming to social expectations. Additionally, we must break down barriers to entry, whether they're social stigmas or institutional impediments. The fundamental imbalance of female representation in STEM is a top-to-bottom issue, and the solution starts with parents and their children.
Parents hold the keys to their children’s future. It’s up to you to make the choices that will inspire your daughters to reach for their wildest dreams. Get started by providing the right toys to foster curiosity and innovation, then let your daughter’s creativity run wild.
Girls are geniuses.
Unfortunately, six-year-old girls believe intelligence is more for boys than girls. Because of the stereotype that boys are "smarter," girls stop going after subjects that require more work and thought.
How do you help your girls avoid this stereotype so that they can have successful and long-term academic careers?
You introduce them to math and science as early as preschool age. Doing this will empower your girls to believe in their intellectual ability and prepare them for their future school years.
Check out these positive outcomes of learning math and science at the ages of two through four.
If you want your girl to succeed in the long run of academics, then learning math and science during preschool years is critical. Subjects like these two are known for being difficult and challenging during high school years, but this can change. If girls learn math and science early, they will likely better understand them in high school. That means girls are less likely to say they can't do what others have told them they aren't smart enough to do.
Science and math are more than subjects. They are preparers for the future.
They help build the mind early, so as they get more challenging in later years, your girls can easily overcome them. They build creativity by expanding your girls' imaginations and helping them solve complicated problems when they come. They develop belief when girls doubt their ability to do what boys do.
Teaching these subjects at an early age gives them the ability to succeed at whatever they do in the future. And your girls have a bright future. It's a future where they achieve in all things academic and where they, too, know that they are geniuses.
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