Yeah, That's STEM! Community Day
​Let's celebrate together and highlight the dynamic STEM programs that Philadelphia has to offer!
The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective, in collaboration with the Academy of Natural Science, is thrilled to invite our Philadelphia neighborhoods, communities, students and members to the "Yeah, That's STEM!" Community Day on ​Saturday, April 5th from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
​This free event is designed to showcase a wide range of STEM program offerings and engaging activities
for families, educators and students from early childhood to 12th grade. From Robotics to Cosmetic Chemistry, It's a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of science and learn through hands-on experiences. Don't miss out on this enriching day filled with valuable resources and the wonders of STEM!
STEM Exploration Stations at the Academy
Experience a variety of activities throughout the Academy. From robotics to story-telling, there's something for everyone to explore!
Click on the name of the activity to learn more.
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A Robot Made My Burger w/ Dobot Magician - Did a Robot just make my burger? What is the future of AI in the hospitality industry? Learn this and more with CCP's Jr. STEM Academy.
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Biomimicry: Copycats in Nature and Technology - Learn how humans apply nature's designs to create fun and innovative technology with this activity from the Women In Natural Sciences program.
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Counted Out - Math is everywhere, influencing our daily lives in ways we don’t always see. Join us for a free screening and discussion of this powerful film.
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Fostering Future Innovators: Implementing STEM Education in Early Childhood Classrooms - Join this hands on workshop by STEM Prep to equip early childhood educators (Prek-4th grade) with practical strategies and engaging activities to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through STEM integration in the classroom.
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Identify the Fly and Support A Scientist - Fly over to the eCLOSE Institute table for an introduction to fly research, learn about the variety of programs we have to offer, and while you are there participate in the Build a Research Kit activity: Class2Lab! (eClose Institute)
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Lab 2 Launch: Sustainable Beauty and Cosmetics - Get hands-on with a custom blending skin care make and take by DVINITI skin care.
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Learn Fresh Game Session - Attendees will engage in game-based STEM activities for 3-8th graders, leveraging NBA, WNBA, MLB, and MLS teams and athletes to inspire learning in this activity by Learn Fresh.
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Message in our Music: An Intergalactic Movement - Come and hang with Scientifically Sound's DJ of Scientific Shenanigans, Ralph from the South as you help him curate a new Golden Record for extraterrestrial life out yonder, inspired by the 1977 Voyager missions. (Scientifically Sound)
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Mussels in our River - Fresh water native mussels are cleaning our rivers! Join Fairmount Water Works and see a model of how they are grown, and explore their needs and lives.
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Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences - Learn about the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences' 5 week summer program hosted by Carnegie Mellon University that provides a rigorous STEM pre-college academic program for rising high school seniors.
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PRC FIRST LEGO League Challenge - Everyone is invited to join the Philadelphia Robotics Coalition for a hands-on STEM experience through robotics to learn how to program a LEGO Robot and participate in a fun challenge designed for youth, families, educators, and organizations.
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PreK Family Fun Zone - Join us for hands-on STEM activities, exciting science demonstrations and a fun take-home for the littlest member of your family to experience some of what the Academy of Natural Sciences does with early-childhood learners.
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Spider Crawl - Make a simple toy to learn about friction while making a spider crawl up its web. (The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University)
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Sum of Joy: Math with a Smile - Join Black Girls Love Math as we presents a fun and engaging workshop highlighting strategies to bring joy to mathematics activities.
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STEM: Innovation of Drones - Learn the importance and availability to fly and use the innovation of drones with Skylark Motion, Inc.
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STEM in the Kitchen - As a facilitator, parents will explore strategies such as incorporating movement and tinkering into storytelling. They will use prediction to develop critical thinking skills and draw on cultural practices to facilitate understanding and STEM learning. This activity by Literacy Partners is bilingual in English and Spanish.
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Weather Education for Kids - Come Join TV Meteorologist and STEM Advocate Author Brittney Shipp for live readings. Plus, Dance a-long with Drippity Drop, The Rapping Raindrop cartoon. And make your own rain cloud with shaving cream and blue dye! ​
DESCRIPTION
Did a Robot just make my burger? What is the future of AI in the hospitality industry? Join us for an exciting demonstration of the DoBOT robotic arm showcasing the art of burger making! This interactive session will reveal the precision and efficiency of robotic technology in culinary creations. We will illustrate the capabilities of robotic automation in food preparation and engage participants in a discussion about the responsible use of AI in the hospitality industry.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Workshop - 30 minutes
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DESCRIPTION
As ecosystems are constantly changing and evolving, so must the organisms that live within these ecosystems in order to thrive. Biomimicry is an amazing adaptation organisms develop in order to ensure the survival of their species. Humans have learned that by adopting these concepts from nature, we can create some of the most creative and innovative technologies to enhance our quality of life while mitigating our ecological footprint. Come spend time with our WINS Participants and brainstorm on something you'd like to design for yourself!
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
Math Movie Screening & Conversation
DESCRIPTION
Math is everywhere, influencing our daily lives in ways we don’t always see. That’s why, in conjunction with "Yeah That's STEM" Community Day, PSEC is hosting a special screening of Counted Out, a powerful, thought-provoking documentary about the hidden power of numbers This free screening of the documentary with a discussion is at the Academy of Natural Sciences' Auditorium from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
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Counted Out investigates the biggest crises of our time—political polarization, racial and economic inequity, global pandemic and climate change–through an unexpected lens: math. Don’t miss this chance to be part of an important conversation!
Please register here
for the movie screening and conversation.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Film screening
Fostering Future Innovators: Implementing STEM Education in Early Childhood Classrooms
DESCRIPTION
Join us for an exciting and engaging workshop designed for early childhood educators (Prek-4th grade) eager to incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into their classrooms. This hands-on session will provide educators with practical strategies, innovative approaches, and interactive resources to nurture curiosity and inspire problem-solving skills in young learners. We will explore the critical role STEM education plays in early childhood development and discover how to introduce STEM concepts in ways that are both age-appropriate and engaging.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Workshop - 30 minutes
DESCRIPTION
IDENTIFY a FLY: Play “fruit fly BINGO. Use our microscope to identify the mutant fly on the card! Examine the life cycle of Drosophila development and make observations on how you think their diet changed the way their life cycle! Check out the eCLOSE Platform and do some research about the food or fly!
SUPPORT A SCIENTIST: eCLOSE creates a Lab-in-a-Box © for EACH participant! Each kit you build supports a local student scientist completing a 3-week project! Our team members will give you the materials needed to create-a-kit. These materials are used in schools all over Philadelphia, helping to bring science to life in our schools!
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
DESCRIPTION
DVINITI skin care's mission to INFORM - EMPOWER - CREATE. Our philosophy is rooted in teaching individuals how to care for their skin to feel beautiful and live well in their bodies. We encourage students to relate their internal chemistry to their environment, helping to connect the dots of what they learn in the classroom to real world experiences and applications.
The workshops will cover content directly from her guide, The Sustainable Beauty, where she invites you on a journey of self-discovery, helping you to interpret cosmetic ingredients like a pro.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Teachers/Educators
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
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Workshop - 30 minutes
DESCRIPTION
Through partnerships with the NBA, WNBA, MLBPA, and MLS, we distribute game-based STEM programs. Each program builds a fun and engaging environment to practice standards-aligned math and science knowledge, while honing important workforce preparation skills including teamwork, compromise, and resilience.
During this session, educators and students will have an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning through these programs. Educators will also have the opportunity to receive program access for their learning spaces at no cost. We support program distribution to school-day classrooms and all forms of out-of-school learning.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Teachers/Educators
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Workshop - 30 minutes
DESCRIPTION
Fall 1977. NASA has finished designing and building the Voyager satellite probes. Their mission: to get a first hand look at Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. To commemorate the occasion, NASA decided to put together a mixtape about our planet, Earth. This mixtape, which is installed in each of the probes, is known as the Golden Record. Organized by Carl Sagan and his associates, they compiled 116 images and 19 sounds of the Earth, including greetings in different languages and even music of a variety of genres. The Golden Record was deemed by Sagan as a “message in a bottle” that presents who we are and what we are about to extraterrestrial civilizations out there in outer space.
Now it is 2025. So many genres have come into fruition and so many more superstars have given us countless classics. Sounds like the perfect time to create an updated version of the Golden Record to our extraterrestrial friends. Join Ralph from the South from Scientifically Sound as you help curate a new Golden Record for extraterrestrial life out yonder, inspired by the 1977 Voyager missions.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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Early Childhood
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on activity
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Storytelling
DESCRIPTION
Freshwater native mussels provide ecological services to our rivers by filtering the river water. While visiting Fairmount Water Works’ table, you will match mussel shells of 5 different mollusk species, measure the freshwater mussels we are growing in the lab and releasing to the rivers, explore the life cycle of mussels including their need to live on the gills of certain fish in order to grow, check the turbidity (cloudiness) of samples of water or simulate the one of the steps for growing mussels in the laboratory.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
DESCRIPTION
We invite you to explore our PGSS 5 week live-in summer program held at Carnegie Mellon University, that gives students the opportunity to study advanced sciences with University faculty, perform laboratory experiments, conduct original research, publish their research findings and present the work in a scientific symposium at the culmination of the program. Admission to the program is merit-based, and guarantees at least one student from every Intermediate Unit to ensure geographic diversity across Pennsylvania for state-wide impact. PGSS students receive a full scholarship, in order to make sure the opportunity is available to all students.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with summer program opportunity
DESCRIPTION
Join us for hands-on STEM activities, exciting science demonstrations and a fun take-home for the littlest member of your family. Explore what the Academy has to offer, not only for early childhood learners, but for learners of all ages!
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Early Childhood
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
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Live reading of books
DESCRIPTION
Come learn more about the camp programs that the Academy of Natural Sciences has to offer! Meet the Academy Camp staff, ask questions and try your hand at making a simple toy which will illustrate how spiders use friction to climb. Materials used will be: tape, paper, beads and yarn. Each child will get the chance to assemble their web-climbing spider and be able to test their creation. Children will also be able to inspect spider molts up close.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
DESCRIPTION
Join us for a fun, interactive 30-minute workshop designed to bring joy and excitement to mathematics! The Sum of Joy: Math with a Smile highlights creative strategies to make math engaging, accessible, and enjoyable for all learners. This session explores innovative ways to incorporate play, and real-world connections into math activities, fostering a love for numbers and problem-solving.
Participants will discover hands-on techniques to make math feel approachable and rewarding, whether in the classroom or at home. Through dynamic games, collaborative challenges, and positive reinforcement strategies, we’ll demonstrate how shifting perspectives on math can build confidence and enthusiasm in students. This workshop is perfect for educators, parents, and anyone looking to create joyful math experiences that inspire and empower learners. Come ready to move, play, and smile as we transform math into a source of excitement and success!
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Teachers/Educators
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Parent/Caregivers
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Workshop - 30 minutes
DESCRIPTION
Explore the exciting world of drone technology! Learn the workforce and future of the drone industry as a business. We will display a variety of opportunities and interactive activities involving drones with demonstrations through out the day.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families​
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Parents/Caregivers
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Teachers/Educators
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High School Students
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
DESCRIPTION
Parents will understand how activities of daily living, such as cooking with their child, impact brain growth and how it can be implemented in early reading development. Physical play strategies and exploration incorporated into storytelling can also develop pivotal skills such as fine and gross motor skills as well as exploring textures and the five senses through
sensory exploration and cultural stories.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Parents/Caregivers
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
DESCRIPTION
Join TV Meteorologist and Stem Advocate Author Brittney Shipp for live readings of her two children’s books - The Meteorologist in Me / La Meteoróloga en Mi, and Drippity Drop: The Rapping Raindrop! Plus, Dance a-long with Drippity Drop, and The Rapping Raindrop cartoon. And make your own rain cloud with shaving cream and blue dye!
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Early Childhood
TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
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Table with hands-on exploration
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Live reading of books
Where?
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA
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Who?
YOU!
Families, children of all ages,
high school students, parents and caregivers, teachers and educators, neighbors and members
PARTNER with us
We are currently full for partners at the Community Day. But please, save the date for PSEC's "Philadelphia STEM Equity Week" from October 25th to November 1st, 2025.
SOCIAL Media
Follow us on Instagram @PhillySTEMCo and on LinkedIn @philadelphia-stem-equity-collective or search hashtags #YeahThatsSTEM! #STEMEquity #DiversityInSTEM #PhillySTEMco #STEMcommunity #PhilaSTEMeco
CONTACT Us
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact
Betsy Payne, PSEC's Member Relations Manager and Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Manager.