Snow and Snowflakes:

• Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest program
• Ready, Set, Self-Assemble group activity
• Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly program

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January

International Year of Glass (January - December 2022)

• https://www.iyog2022.org
• 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

 

Predictions for the New Year (January 1) 

• Flying Cars stage presentation
• Exploring Nano & Society - Flying Cars activity
• Exploring Nano & Society - You Decide! activity
• Nano Around the World card game

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:
  • 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)

• NanoDays activity: Exploring Forces - Static Electricity
• Other electricity activities:
  • Frankenstein200 activity: Battery Stack
  • Frankenstein200 activity: Spark of Life
  • NanoDays activity: the Electric Squeeze

  • NanoDays activity: Exploring Materials - Graphene

  • more activities about electricity and magnetism

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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
• Black History Month resources from AAAS Science NetLinks
• 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 a set of toolkits with experiments and hands-on activities connecting to scientists 
• NISE Network compilation of racial justice, equity, and inclusion resources: www.nisenet.org/racialjustice

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 das), and seasons (February 2 lies midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox) 
• NASA Space Place Reasons for Seasons

World Radio Day (February 13)

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

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

National Engineers Week (February) 

• www.discovere.org website
• explore this website by searching the topic: Physical Sciences -  Materials Science
• explore this website by searching the topic: Engineering and Technology

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (February)

• www.discovere.org/our-programs/girl-day Girl Day website
• Discover E Girl Day resources for educators and engineers http://discovere.org/our-programs/girl-day/engineering-activities 
• 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 compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics

National Battery Day (February 18)

• Build a Battery hands-on activity
• Battery Stack hands-on activity

Great Backyard Bird Count (mid-February)

• www.birdsource.org website
• some bird feathers (such as peacock feathers) are iridescent due to nano-sized structures within the feathers; for more about iridescence check out:
  • 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
• NISE Network Girl Scouts resources
• 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 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 compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics

Severe Weather Awareness Week (March in many states)
Severe weather may include flood, fire, lighting, 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.
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange

World Wildlife Day (March 3)

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-wildlife-day
• http://www.wildlifeday.org

NanoDays (last weekend in March - first weekend in April)
2021: March 27-April 4
2022: March 26-April 3
2023: March 25-April 2

• NanoDays website: www.nisenet.org/nanodays
• explore this website by searching the topic: Engineering and Technology - Nanotechnology

World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (March 4)

• UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/engineering
• SustainABLE kit activities
• Sustainable Futures collection of public programs

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
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• The Water Race: Hydrophopbic and Hydrophilic Surfaces
• What’s Nano About Water?
• DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Water and Ocean

Dr. Seuss Day (March 2) 

• Seussville reading resources
• Dr. Seuss STEM activity Ideas from Scholastic
• Oobleck - Exploring Materials - Oobleck

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 
• 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)

• https://www.piday.org/
• Celebrate math! there are one billion nanometers in a meter
• NASA Pi Day challenges
• explore 18 Ways NASA Uses Pi
• explore this website by searching for topic: Mathematics
• UNESCO: International Day of Mathematics: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/mathematics

National Learn about Butterflies Days (March 14)

• 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

National Ag Day (mid-March)

• https://www.agday.org

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
• explore this website by searching for topic: Earth, Moon, and Sun

World Water Day (March 22)

• www.worldwaterday.org website
• UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/waterday
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange
• 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
• The Water Race: Hydrophopbic and Hydrophilic Surfaces
• What’s Nano About Water?
• DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity 
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Water and Oceans

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

Earth Hour (mid-March) 

• www.earthhour.org
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science
• explore this website by searching the topic: Societal Topics - Sustainability

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April

Citizen Science Month (April) - please see Citizen Science day mid-April

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) (May 15, 2021) 
Astronomy Week (Spring) (held in April or May) (May 10-16, 2021)

• Global Astronomy Day Month website  http://astronomerswithoutborders.org
• Astronomy Day website https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts
• 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 events 
• explore this website by searching for topic: Mathematics

World Health Day (April 7)

• World Health Day and WHO World Health Day
• Intro to Nanomedicine video
• Exploring Products - Sunblock activity
• Nanotech and Consumer Products
• Should We Engineer the Mosquito forum
• Globe Observer Mosquito App: https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit: https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit
• Nanomedicine in Healthcare forum
• Nanomedicine Explorer exhibit and software
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• Disease Detectives middle school outreach program
• Nano Latch-n-Catch Nanomedicine Activity 
• explore this website by searching for topic: Life Sciences - Health and Medicine

International Dark Sky Week (first week in April)

• https://idsw.darksky.org

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
• explore this website by searching for topic: Engineering and Technology - Technology 

Yuri's Night (April 12)

• https://yurisnight.net
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science

World Quantum Day (April 14)

• https://worldquantumday.org
• 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
• 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://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldartday
• STEAM activities:
• 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)

• https://www.nationalmathfestival.org
• explore this website by searching for topic: Mathematics 

Citizen Science Day (mid-April)
Citizen Science Month (April)

• http://citizenscience.org/events/citizen-science-day/
• https://www.citizenscience.org/events/citizen-science-month/
• NASA resources: https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscientists
• SciStarter database of projects: https://scistarter.com
• SciStarter citizen science day: https://scistarter.org/Citizen-Science-Day

• 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

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

• NISE Network compilation of resources and activities: www.nisenet.org/earthday
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange
• www.earthday.org website
• www.eeweek.org website for National Environmental Education week 
• www.neefusa.org/eeweek/resources National Environmental Education Foundation
• 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
• Water Clean Up DragonflyTV episode
• Nanosilver DragonflyTV episode
• Nanosilver: Breakthrough or Biohazard? stage presentation
• Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud video
• DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation 
• 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
• explore this website by searching the topic: Societal Topics - Sustainability

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 
• 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

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)

• https://healthfinder.gov/nho/MayToolkit.aspx

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
• The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi

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

• NISE Network Science Fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Super Heroes compilation of 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
• 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 App: https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit: https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit

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 compilation of light activities and resources
• International Year of Light (2015) NISE Network resources 
• check out HowToSmile.org for many more light activities
• SPIE the international society for optics and photonics posters and activities

National Week of Making (May 11-17)

• https://www.weekofmaking.org
• National of Makers resource library https://nationofmakers.us/resources.html
• Frankenstein200 kit of activities 

National Public Works Week (mid-May)

• American Public Works Association resources
• Sustainability resources
• Climate resiliency resources
• See Engineering Week resources in February

Museum Day (May 18)

• 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 19, 2022, 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 resources including accessibility and Universal Design resources

National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)

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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:
  • 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

• 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/

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/
• SustainABLE kit
• Sustainable Futures resources
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange

World Oceans Day (June 8)

• worldoceansday.org
• UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/oceansday
• Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry longer program
• Cleaning Our Water with Nanotechnology program
• The Water Race: Hydrophopbic and Hydrophilic Surfaces
• What’s Nano About Water?
• 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
• PBS African American Quotation posters 
• Racial Justice 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
• explore this website by searching for topic: Earth, Moon, and Sun

International Women in Engineering Day (June 23)

• http://www.inwed.org.uk/
• Please see resources for Women's History Month (March)

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 App: https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app
• Globe Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit: https://observer.globe.gov/toolkit/mosquito-habitat-mapper-toolkit

Asteroid Day (June 30)

• https://asteroidday.org/
• UN Asteroid Day
• NISE Network compilations of 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
• 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

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 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 

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FALL

Back to School 

• K-12 lesson plans 
• collaboration with K-12 class on Nanoparticle Stained Glass project
• Theater High School Program videos
• pencils and writing with graphite - Forms of Carbon
• Exploring Materials - Graphene program (related to pencils, graphite, and tape)
• Nobel Winning Experiment Mr. O video (related to pencils, graphite, and tape)
• Material Marvels with Ainissa Ramirez video - Graphene (related to pencils and graphite)
• After School Framework

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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September

Read a Book Month (September)

• 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
• Professional Society: 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

 

Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP) (mid-September) Global School Play Day

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Day_of_Play
• Designed to encourage children and parents to turn off the television and play together, especially outdoors. 
• https://www.globalschoolplayday.com
• Nickelodeon 2019 http://www.worldwidedayofplay.com
• Nickelodeon's 2018 Worldwide Day of Play Playbook 

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

• https://www.epa.gov/p2week
• explore the website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Water and Oceans

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

• https://www.worldcleanupday.org
• 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
• The Water Race: Hydrophopbic and Hydrophilic Surfaces
• What’s Nano About Water?
• DragonflyTV - Water Clean Up video
• Oil Spill Clean Up Simulation hands on activity 
• explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Water and Oceans

National Bike Month (September)
Bike to Work Week (third week in September)

• https://www.bikeleague.org/content/bike-month-dates-events-0
• Bike to School Day http://www.walkbiketoschool.org

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

International Observe the Moon Night (date selected in September/October based on viewing ) (October 21, 2021)

• 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

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October

Campus Sustainability Month (October)

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

Astronomy Day (Fall) (October 5, 2019; September 26, 2020; October 9, 2021)

Astronomy Week (Fall) (September 30-October 6, 2019; September 21-27, 2020; October 4-10, 2021)

• Astronomy Day website https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits

World Space Week (October 4-10)

• http://www.worldspaceweek.org
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits

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

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

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)

• 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 s 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://www.universe-of-learning.org/science-briefings/2019/3/6/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
• 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 compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
• Women in Optics posters from SPIE the international society for optics and photonics

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

• https://worldaiweek.ai

Earth Science Week (second full week in October) (October 10-16, 2021)

• www.earthsciweek.org
• Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits
• Cimate Change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange
• 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: Societal Topics - Sustainability 
• 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 page www.nisenet.org/national-chemistry-week for a complete list of activities
• Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
• Sweet Self-Assembly
• Exploring Size - Scented Balloons
• Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals 
• explore this website by searching the topic: Physical Science - Chemistry

International Observe the Moon Night (date selected in September/October based on viewing ) (October 16, 2021)

• 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

Solar Week (mid-October)

• http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/Solar-Week explore this website by searching the topic: Earth, Moon, and Sun 

Imagine a Day Without Water (mid-October) (October 21, 2021)

• http://imagineadaywithoutwater.org
• cimate change resources: nisenet.org/climatechange
• explore this website by searching the topic: Water and Oceans

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

• www.nuclearscienceweek.org
• activities on size and scale, atoms and molecules 
• explore this website by searching the topic: Physical Science 
• explore this website by searching for topic: Mathematics - Measurement 

Dark Matter Day (on or around October 31)

• https://www.darkmatterday.com

Halloween (October 31)

• Compilation of resources: https://www.nisenet.org/halloween
• Frankenstein 200 kit activities - celebrating the anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel
• Chemistry activiites - 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://www.universe-of-learning.org/science-briefings/2019/3/6/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
• 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)

• STEAM activities:
• 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

International Science Center and Science Museum Day (November 10) 
World Science Day for Peace and Development  (November 10) 

• http://www.iscsmd.org/about/
• UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldscienceday

America Recycles Day (November 15)

• https://americarecyclesday.org/
• explore this website by searching the topic: Societal Topics - Sustainability

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:
  • 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 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
• 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://www.blackgirlscode.com
• The Clubhouse Network: https://theclubhousenetwork.org
• Code.org's educational resources: https://code.org/educate
• Computer Science Is for Everyone toolkit to increase diversity from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
• 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) 
• explore this website by searching the topic: Engineering and Technology - Computing

Games Day (December 20)

• NISE Network games: https://www.nisenet.org/games

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
• explore this website by searching for topic: Earth, Moon, and Sun

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OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS

Super Hero activities

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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