Resources

Access Centers provide Philadelphia’s most vulnerable students with a safe place for digital learning when caregivers work outside the home, have no childcare options, or cannot support students with online learning. Access Centers provide supervision for children while school buildings are closed. They do not provide academic services or instruction. Instead, students take part in digital learning led by their schools.

The City is partnering with community-based organizations to offer these services during COVID-19.

PHLConnectED will connect eligible pre-K–12 student households with access to reliable internet service at no cost through summer 2022. Participants will not pay any out-of-pocket expenses or installation fees. The program will also provide digital skills training and support.

PHLConnectED is possible thanks to collaboration among business and civic leaders who came together to support Philadelphia students.

The Drexel Digital Navigator program is designed to assist the local community, around Drexel University with finding low cost Internet access and basic technical support. If you, or a family member, are struggling to find affordable Internet access or navigating wireless access on your phone, you can contact our Digital Navigator help desk for assistance. Leave us a message or email and we’ll respond to you within one business day.

These lessons were created by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for K-12 educators. Lessons were created based on the Next Generation Science Standards and vary from How Long is a Day? to Iteration and Chaos in Mathematics.

NASA wants to make sure every student, educator, learner has access to the resources and inspiration the organization can provide. Educators can find everything from formal lesson plans to images and stories about how science and exploration are lifting our world. There will also be ongoing opportunities to chat and interact with scientists directly.

A coalition of industry partners are joining forces with Discovery Education to impact the culture of STEM education in K–12 schools nationwide. The coalitions' mission is to empower educators to teach STEM effectively in the classroom, foster equity and access to quality education, and build the next generation of solution-seekers at no-cost to schools. Each activity features important STEM skills and a step-by-step guide for implementing activities into the classroom.

Created and hosted by the Society of Women Engineers, this program is available for anyone in grades K - 12. SWENexters have access to programs, mentors, and resources designed to develop leadership skills and self-confidence to #BeThatEngineer and succeed in a career in engineering and technology. Join a club near you or start a chapter at your school.

As part of the National Society of Black Engineers' (NSBE) Pre-College Initiative, this program is designed to stimulate the interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, or STEM. It provides activities to help students discover firsthand how engineering and technology relate to the world around them and discover the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development and teamwork. Membership is open to all students in grades 6-12.

Do you excel at math? Are you drawn to solving problems? Do you enjoy building things with your hands or mind? If found yourself nodding your head just now, SHPE Jr. is where you belong. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do, because SHPE is excited to help you figure it out. SHPE offers a ton of different programs and events, such as mentorship, family science nights, and college application assistance, so you can start discovering what’s right for you.

Future City uses the engineering design process as a framework to guide students through the creation of their cities. Within this framework, students apply specific project management methods to keep their projects on track. This structure gives students a real-world learning experience they can apply to future challenges in school, work and life. Students in grades 6 - 8 spend approximately four months creating cities that exist at least 100 years in the future and represent the team’s solution to a citywide sustainability issue.

AIAA and Blue Origin are excited to partner on a new program competition titled Design/Build/Launch (DBL). DBL was created to incite innovation within the next generation of aerospace professionals. Focused on experimental payloads designed to study short-duration microgravity effects, AIAA invites high school students to develop creative research proposals in the fields of microgravity science or space technology, pairing your experiment with a public outreach plan to share the excitement of the field with others.

We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”

Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors.

SEEK was created by NSBE and is a free, three-week summer program that offers a fun and engaging educational experience for students in grades 3–5. SEEK aims to provide high-quality learning opportunities to underrepresented students who otherwise may not have access to a robust STEM education. Applications for the program generally open in February and decisions are made in April.

The Girls Inc. Eureka! program is an intensive, five-year STEM based program for rising 8th grade girls that builds confidence and skills through hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. Summer programs are hosted at Drexel University and explore science & technology, personal development, and sports & adventure. Eureka! girls will learn about leadership, healthy relationships, and communication. They will also practice swimming and try activities encouraging healthy risk taking with Penn Athletics.

At the TryEngineering Summer Institute summer engineering program for high school students, students will explore various engineering fields, such as electrical, civil, mechanical, and aerospace. Our STEM summer course allows students to meet working engineers and experience VIP tours of engineering companies and centers. Learn new skills and engage in hands-on projects that explore how engineers can solve real-world problems. This is a program from IEEE, the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology.