March is Women’s History Month—a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of women across various fields, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). However, despite their achievements, women remain underrepresented in STEM careers.
Schools play a crucial role in addressing this gap by inspiring girls to explore STEM and helping boys understand the importance of inclusivity in these fields.
Teachers mold students and shape their idea of what they want to be in future. As educators, how can you create an engaging classroom environment that encourages girls to dream big and take up space in STEM?
Let’s explore interactive ways to make STEM learning more inclusive, with hands-on activities that bring these lessons to life.
In this article, we will cover:
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How early influences shape interest in the field
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The impact of women in STEM through real-life stories
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Classroom activities to make learning hands-on and engaging
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Encouraging collaboration to create an Inclusive STEM environment
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Choosing the STEM path for a Career
1. The Impact of Early Influences on Girls in STEM
Fostering a strong STEM culture in schools is essential to inspire more women to enter STEM fields. A survey on Motivators for Women in STEM found that 60% of respondents were encouraged by a parent or teacher to study computer science. High school educators play a pivotal role in shaping young women’s career aspirations in science and technology.
Hands-on learning empowers young women by fostering autonomy and critical thinking at an early age. Through engaging demonstrations and interactive activities, educators can inspire students to scrutinize concepts independently, cultivating a lasting passion for STEM.
💡 Classroom Activities:
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As mentors, involve hands-on learning alongside classroom lectures to invoke curiosity in STEM education.
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Set up an Innovation Lab using interactive STEM indoor exhibits where students can experiment with physics, mechanics, coding, and robotics – sparking future interest in research.
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Encourage girls to lead civil engineering projects like building simple machines, renewable energy models, or math puzzles, where strong STEM skills are essential.
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Providing leadership opportunities in a structured environment boosts confidence to pursue them in the future.
2. Sharing the Stories of Women in STEM
One of the most powerful ways to inspire young minds is by sharing real stories of women who changed the world through STEM. Teachers can incorporate storytelling sessions about pioneers like Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sarla Thukral, Dr. Janaki Ammal, and many other unsung figures. Their stories of becoming firsts in their field are now a source of encouragement for millions of girls out there.
💡 Classroom Activity:
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Divide students into groups and assign each a pioneering woman in STEM.
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Ask them to create a mini Science Park showcasing their contributions through science models.
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Similarly, they can demonstrate simple experiments by those scientists in class.
Example: Use a Floating Ball to demonstrate aerodynamic concepts showcasing Sarla Thukral’s contributions to Aeronautics or
A Periodic Table exhibit can be used to highlight the radioactive elements that played a role in Marie Curie’s groundbreaking experiments.
3. Encouraging Boys to become supportive Allies for Girls in STEM
Boys play a vital role in shaping an inclusive classroom environment. Educate them to recognize hostilities faced by women in STEM and the importance of equitable opportunities. Teachers can facilitate discussions on the importance of giving credit where it’s due and foster a classroom culture where students support one another.
💡 Classroom Activities:
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Use STEM-based playground equipment, such as interactive STEM Fun Stations, to promote teamwork, critical thinking, and inclusivity. Group play can inculcate values such as sharing and collaborative skills.
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Examine case studies where women’s contributions were overlooked and discuss strategies to achieve equal recognition in today’s day and age.
4. Addressing Barriers: Making STEM Accessible for All
The Matilda Effect is a bias that prevents women scientists from receiving due recognition. This under-recognition extends to various fields, discouraging women from pursuing STEM careers.
Many girls shy away from STEM due to societal stereotypes that STEM careers are inherently male-dominated. Schools can counter this by:
✅ Creating Inclusive Classrooms where all students feel comfortable sharing and contributing.
✅ Ensuring hands-on science activities are diverse and gender-inclusive.
✅ Providing equal leadership opportunities for girls in STEM projects.
💡 Classroom Activities:
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Examine gender disparities, such as the wage gap, through classroom discussions to foster awareness and critical thinking.
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Organize a “Breaking Stereotypes” experiment where students identify common STEM stereotypes and test their accuracy through hands-on activities. For instance, challenge the notion that boys excel in spatial reasoning by having mixed-gender teams tackle engineering tasks like bridge-building or circuitry assembly, then analyze the outcomes collectively.
5. Breaking the Glass Ceiling – Career Exploration in STEM
Students need to see what’s possible for their future! Surveys point out that high school is the critical period when a young woman decides whether to pursue STEM-oriented careers. By college, 58% of young women have opted out of it.
💡 Classroom Activities:
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Establish STEM Clubs and Activity Camps to provide a supportive environment where girls can explore their interests and connect with like-minded peers.
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STEM Fair: Assign students different STEM professions, guiding them to create working models or experiments related to their roles, and showcase them by presenting and role-playing their assigned careers.
Example: Aspiring astronauts can experiment with a gravity ball indoor exhibit to understand gravity concepts for real-life application.
Career Talks:
Limited visibility of female role models hinders young women from envisioning themselves in STEM leadership roles. Hosting career guidance sessions featuring positive female mentors in STEM can bridge this gap and inspire students.
Conclusion: The Future is Inclusive
By making STEM education engaging and hands-on, teachers can empower girls to pursue their interests confidently. Meanwhile, boys learn the importance of inclusivity in STEM, contributing to a more equitable future. With the right tools—whether storytelling, collaborative activities, or interactive STEM exhibits—educators can transform their classrooms into spaces where every student feels they belong.
💡 Want to make STEM education more engaging for young girls? Explore Ankidyne’s Science Parks and STEM exhibits to bring hands-on learning into your school, sparking curiosity and inspiring future female innovators.
