teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive - 2021 Program
2021 Program - Two Weeks of Activities - Grades 6–9 - Free
In summer 2021, teachHOUSTON fueled the love of STEM and innovation in students entering grades 6–9 through its second virtual STEM initiative called teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive. The interactive components of the program took place June 14–25. However, lessons, videos and assessments are available for use at any time.
Two Weeks of Fun Online Activities
This program features two weeks of fun activities on various STEM topics including:
- Mathematics
- Life Science
- Physical Science
- Engineering Design and Innovation
- Environmental Science
Each week, participants can access 2–3 hours per day of engaging activities including:
- Interactive Mini-Lessons
- Science Experiments
- Prototyping
- Engineering Design Challenges
All materials, including videos and detailed activity plans, are accessible from this webpage.
Lessons and activities were created by experts in STEM and secondary STEM education from the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
2021 Program Sponsors
This project is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation (DUE 1557309). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Meet the Executive Directors
Dr. Paige Evans
Associate Director and Clinical Professor, teachHOUSTON
Dr. Paige Evans is the Associate Director and Clinical Professor for the teachHOUSTON program in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Houston (UH). Through this role, she teaches and oversees coursework in preservice STEM teacher education. She is also the instructor for a physics inquiry course and prepares future secondary STEM teachers to obtain Texas Teacher Certification.
Dr. Evans is the PI/Co-PI on several federal grants with goals to broaden STEM participation and improve STEM literacy for all. She frequently publishes and presents on her research interests that include STEM education, STEM teacher preparation and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Dr. Evans is an American Physical Society Physics Teacher Education Coalition Fellow and recently served as the president of the UTeach STEM Educators Association. She received the UH Teaching Excellence Award, the UH Group Teaching Excellence Award, the UH Natural Sciences & Mathematics John. C. Butler Excellence in Teaching Award, and the American Educational Research Association Narrative Inquiry Outstanding Publication Award.
Prior to joining the UH faculty in 2008, she spent 18 years as a math/science educator and served in various leadership positions. She received her B.S. in Secondary Education/Biological Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University, her M.A. in Physics Education from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Ed.D. in Professional Leadership from the University of Houston.
Dr. Mariam Manuel
Clinical Assistant Professor, teachHOUSTON
Dr. Mariam Manuel is an Clinical Assistant Professor/Master Teacher for teachHOUSTON, a secondary STEM teacher preparation program in the Department of Mathematics at University of Houston. She is a proud graduate of the University of Houston and was part of the inaugural cohort of the teachHOUSTON program during its inception in 2007.
Dr. Manuel earned her Ph.D. in STEM Education through Texas Tech University, and her research interests include STEM teacher education, engineering design education, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Manuel also teaches a course that connects middle school physics content with inquiry-driven instructional strategies and teaches graduate level coursework in Engineering Design Education, for the UH STEM Master’s program.
Dr. Manuel serves on multiple grants and actively publishes and presents at national research conferences. She serves as the faculty sponsor for student organizations, such as the teachHOUSTON Student Society, COOGS Against Human Trafficking, and COOGS Against Domestic Violence. Her efforts in mentorship also include her commitment to serving as an active member on the Houston-Area Regional Leadership Team for the Texas Girls Collaborative Project.
Dr. Manuel was presented with the 2019 Association for Women in Mathematics Certificate of Service to the Field for Mentorship of Girls and Young Women in STEM. She is also the recipient of the 2018 Million Women Mentors Stand Up for STEM Award which recognizes efforts in mentoring young girls and women to pursue STEM-related career pathways.