Northeast MiSTEM Updates
December 2025
NGSx - Oceans
MSELA: Lab Safety Essentials
Join lab safety experts for an essential professional learning opportunity focused on mastering modern lab safety protocols.
This two-session virtual series is designed for educators and administrators who want to ensure a safe and compliant science learning environment or their students.
Session facilitators are NSTA Safety Advisory Board member Michael Pillay (Genesee ISD) and Chemical Hygiene Officer Wendi Vogel (Kent ISD).
Session 1
PPE & Lab Needs
February 4, 2026
3:00-4:00pm
Session 2
Chemical Storage
February 18, 2026
3:00-4:00pm
Cost:
FREE for MSELA members
$10 for non-members
Registration: Provide Code or Payment through TicketLeap
Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science
🌲✨ Attention High School Girls! ✨🌲
Do you love the outdoors? Curious about science, nature, leadership, or backpacking?
MSU Extension has an incredible FREE opportunity just for you!
GALS (Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science) is now accepting applications for their 2026 summer program! This is a free, 2-week overnight science and adventure experience based at the Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, MI.
Bites & Bots
Join us for an evening of coding, drone piloting, and robot operating. Learn ways to bring Innovative Vehicle Design Challenges into your classroom!
- Pizza, drinks & dessert.
- SCECHS
- Attendees take home a Micro:Bit microcontroller
February 3, 2026 5:00 pm-7:00 PM
COP ESD 6065 Learning Lane Indian River
HOUR OF AI
The Hour of AI offers ready-to-use classroom activities from Code.org that help students see how AI systems make decisions, where bias can appear, and how humans shape the outcomes. No prior AI or computer science experience is required — any educator can participate.
Get started today:
Visit csforall.org/hour-of-ai/how-to/k-12educator to explore quick-start guides and classroom resources. Watch the informational session webinar that was held on Nov 13.
Choose an activity and schedule your Hour of AI during CSEdWeek.
Register your event! Michigan classrooms are eligible to receive a swag kit and information about AI in education (while supplies last) — [Register Today!].
This campaign is proudly shared by the MiSTEM Network, Michigan Department of Education, MACUL, Michigan Virtual, REMC Association of Michigan, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, MASSP, and Michigan Chapter of CSTA working together to empower every learner to understand and shape the technology that shapes their lives.
Code.org CS Fundamentals Workshops (K-5) New Series Available - Register Today!
The CSforMichigan Collaborative is offering Code.org CS Fundamentals (K-5) virtual workshops at no cost for Michigan educators. CS Fundamentals workshops are provided through MiSTEM Advisory Council grants. Register today to gain access to high quality computer science professional learning. No computer science experience is required to attend.
Code.org: CS Fundamentals Intro Workshop (Kdg-5)
Computer Science Fundamentals is a Code.org curriculum designed for students in kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5). Each grade-level unit is between 12-20 lessons long and is built for flexible implementation. During the workshop, participants will learn from certified Code.org facilitators, participate in a model lesson, learn the management system, and dive into the lessons.
New Series: CS Connections: (Kdg-5)
The CS Connections Online workshops is a four-part virtual series that supports educators implementing CS into their elementary classrooms. Facilitators will model skilled-based lessons so teachers can integrate them into their core instructional time. The educators will also be able to plan, reflect, and modify lessons. Educators can attend any one of the four workshops or they can attend all four workshops.
Sign up today for a series that works best with your schedule and share this information with your colleagues.
Dates: See Registration Flyer for date options and registration links
Times: 4:30pm - 6:30pm ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Registration Covered by MiSTEM Network Advisory Council Grants
What is Provided: Curriculum guide, SCECH and $150 stipend
For more information about CS Fundamentals Workshops, check out website: https://www.mi-coding.com/cs-fundamentals.html
Workshop Goals
At the end of the workshop, teachers will know:
- The importance of CS for all students, and the teachers’ role in creating an environment where all students can learn equitably.
- How CS Fundamentals can be used as an avenue for getting CS to all students.
- What CS Fundamentals courses look like (lesson plans, online activities, unplugged activities).
- Which courses and lessons of CS Fundamentals are most appropriate for their students.
At the end of the workshop, teachers will have:
- A plan of action for starting to teach CSF.
- Long(er) term goals about how deep into the course they would like to go with students.
- Strategies for teaching CS Fundamentals lessons.
- A connection to the community of CS Fundamentals teachers.
SCECHs & Stipends
Participants will receive SCECHs at no cost along with a $150 stipend at the completion of the workshop series. Stipends are provided by the MiSTEM Network through the MiSTEM Network Advisory Council grant awarded to Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Stipends are paid out through GVSU.
Math Recovery
Available workshops can be found here: https://www.mathrecovery.org/professional-development/workshops
3P Learning Academy for CTE Teachers
Learn how 3-P engages students in authentic and rigorous learning, improves engagement and motivation, and increases achievement.
Build your own 3-P unit with support from our facilitators and collaboration with other educators Become an Expert
Learn how to facilitate exceptional 3- PL in your school.
Receive support and feedback, collaborate with colleagues, and leave with a plan.
Square One Education Network’s Innovative Vehicle Design Competitions are coming to the Upper Peninsula in 2026!
Please join us May 19 -21 at Lake Superior State University for an exciting few days of innovation!
Student teams will be competing in five of Square One’s IVD Challenges; Autonomous, Full
Scale, Mini RC, Drones and V2X. Square One’s “Signature Series” of projects enable elementary through high school students to incorporate innovation and engineering into the design of a wide variety of complex vehicles.
Grant funding from the State of Michigan is available, through the 99h grant program.
Exact competition dates for each program will depend on team counts, and will be announced by Jan 31st, 2026.
If you would like to register a team or learn more about the IVD programs, please visit
www.ivdinfo.org or contact Jason Beatty, Program Director at jason@squareonenetwork.org
Note: Upper Peninsula Underwater IVD teams will compete in Gaylord, as in 2025
MACUL Scholarships available!
REMC of Michigan is sponsoring 3 educators from our region to attend the MACUL Conference in Grand Rapids March 18-20, 2026! To apply for one of these scholarships, please complete this form no later than October 21, 2025. Each scholarship includes registration for the conference, as well as a two-night hotel stay. Meals, mileage and substitute expenses are NOT included in this scholarship. Recipients are responsible for discussing this opportunity with their school administration and securing substitutes, as needed. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than Nov 7, 2025.
Learning Blade
September Learning Blade Corner
School’s Back, Make It Count!
With school back in session, now is the perfect time to
put Learning Blade into action!
Ways to Use Learning Blade:
● Whole-class lessons using interactive missions
to introduce STEM, CS, and CTE careers.
● Independent student work for self-paced
exploration and skill-building.
● Career exploration days with activities tied to
career clusters and real-world problems.
● Cross-curricular projects that connect academic standards to career pathways.
● After-school or enrichment programs to extend learning beyond the school day.
With 500+ online student lessons and ready-to-use teacher plans, Learning Blade makes it simple to
blend career-connected learning with your curriculum—right from the start of the school year.
Sign up for your FREE account:
www.LearningBlade.com/States
Schedule a demo to get expert tips and support for implementing Learning Blade in your school or
classroom:
Social:
School is back in session—now’s the perfect time to bring career
exploration to life!
Learning Blade helps grades 5–9 explore STEM, Computer Science,
and CTE careers with:
✅ Whole-class lessons
✅ Independent student work
✅ Career exploration days
✅ Cross-curricular projects
✅ After-school programs
With 500+ interactive lessons and ready-to-use teacher plans, Learning Blade makes it easy to connect
learning to real-world careers from day one.
Sign Up Free: LearningBlade.com/States
Schedule a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/3xc-4s3-99n
