Activity Three: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Jobs

ACTIVITY THREE: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) JOBS

What does WAGGGS want to know?

We would like to know whether girls understand that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills are of use in a very large range of jobs.

What you need

• Each small group (Step 1):
  • Pieces of small paper or post-it notes
  • Pens 
• For the whole big group (Step 2):
  • A large piece of paper (E.g. flipchart paper)

What to do

1. Give the girls a challenge. Put them in their small groups and give them five minutes to come up with a list of 20 jobs/careers that they think one would need science, technology, engineering or mathematics skills for.
   • To help, encourage them to think about things and people in their everyday lives, like who is involved in getting food to a supermarket or market? Who built the road, their mobile phone or the school? Who looks after them when they are ill? Who does the government ask about what to do about climate change?
2. Come back together as a whole group and ask each small group to share their ideas - create one shared list. Do not comment on whether you agree that the jobs require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills.

Suggestion:

If you have time, you could have a deeper discussion about the skills needed for each job and record the girls' thoughts, but this is not required.

Online option:

Either of the following methods:

1. Discussions in break-out room or plenary, depending on group size.
   • Leader/facilitator facilitates discussion on what jobs they think require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills.
   • Optional: Have deeper discussion about the skills needed for each job and why.
2. Use applications like Kahoot, Slido, AhaSlides, Mentimeter or other interactive online engagement applications. You can try either one of these options:
   • Use word cloud for participants to share what jobs they think require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills, followed by live discussions why they think so.
   • Use open-ended question for them to share what jobs they think require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills and why.
3. Use applications like Google Sheet, Google Document or other online collaborative applications. Remember to share the editable link with the participants.
   • Create a space for participants to type in what jobs they think require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills.
   • Optional: Ask them to type next to each job what skills are needed for each job and why.

RECORDING THE RESPONSES:

Please record the jobs/careers list in a table like below.