Techbridge

Eight-Week
Junior STEM Program

Session 1
SCIENCE: ENERGY EVERYWHERE!
Introduce girls to the wide variety of science fields using local experts—a panel discussion is a great format to use. Energy and
its uses touch on many scientific fields, so the choice of experts is wide open. Aim for at least four experts. Consider
representatives from your local utility companies, professors from a local university or community college,
local science teachers, or city employees who work on energy or efficiency projects. Ask your experts to help you
explain what energy efficiency means, how girls can save energy in their everyday lives, and who can guide the girls on the wise
use of energy as they get started on their Energy Pledges. See page 36 in the adult guide for more information.
OPENING:
Time allotted: 10 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken. Conduct pre-survey with girls.
MAIN ACTIVITY:
Time allotted: 50 min
1. Use these journey activities in the adult guide: “Energy Is Everywhere” opening activity (page 33)
a. Invite girls to form a Friendship Circle and introduce the theme of the program: Energy and its wise uses
and Engineering.
b. Let the girls know that scientists define energy as the ability to do work. It’s that simple. Say something like:
“Energy can be found everywhere! In one form or another, energy is connected to almost everything we do.”
c. Ask the girls to think of all the ways they’ve used energy or seen energy being used in the past 24 hours.
You might ask:
i. Did you take a shower, play with the cat, or text a friend?
ii. Did you toss a ball?
iii. Figure out a math problem?
d. Kick off the conversation by sharing one way you used energy recently. You might say something like: I had
friends over light night, so I took dessert from the freezer and zapped it in the microwave to defrost it.
Then we ate it. All of that takes energy.
e. Then invite each girl to share her own energy example with the group. If any girls get stuck, try prompts
such as:
i. Did you read or watch TV light night?
ii. How did you get to school today?
f. Make a game of it. See if the girls can go around the circle two more times naming ways they’ve used energy.
g. Have girls open to pages 10-11 of their books and have girls take turns reading out loud about the different
types of energy.
h. Next, ask the girls if they know the terms “energy efficiency” or “energy-efficient” and can explain what
they mean. If no one knows, say something like: Energy-efficient means using less energy to do the work
needed.
i. Now, ask the girls to go around the circle again and name a more efficient use of energy for one of the
energy uses they first names. You might lead off by saying: Remember the dessert I served? What if I had
taken it out of the freezer in time for it thaw on its own? Then I wouldn’t have had to use a microwave to
defrost it. That would have been more energy-efficient.
2. Read about Cindy Endahl on page 41 in girls book.
3. Have girls make kites out of plastic bags. Instructions below:
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game. Remind girls of next meeting and for them to bring back
registration forms.
1

Kites made out of plastic shopping bag.
All you need is several durable bags, duct tape, a spool of string and a few dozen wooden skewers or chopstic
(maybe straws would work??)
Step 1
Cut the bottom off the shopping bag
Step 2
Crisscross two skewers and tape them to the bag’s now-open
bottom. (Tape or tie the sticks at their intersection as well.)
Step 3
To create the kite frame, tape two skewers together lengthwise,
making one extra-long stick. Repeat with another set of
skewers.
Step 4
Crisscross the two long sticks, then slide them inside the bag
and secure them at both ends with tape. Tape another stick
across the handles.
Step 5
Repeat the process at least three times—the more bags, the
more stable and aerodynamic the results. Connect all the
structures with tape and tie a length of string to the bottom (at
least 40–80 feet). Now go fly a kite! Can have girls decorate
bags with sharpie markers.

2
Session 2
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise and
Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken. Conduct Techbridge pre-survey with girls.
ICEBREAKER:
Time allotted: 10 min
Rescue introduction (page 16 in ETTR leaders’ guide)
DESIGN YOUR TOOL:
Time allotted: 20 min
Design your tool activity (page 20 in ETTR leaders’ guide)
WIND-POWERED CRANK: (Will need to be completed at next meeting)
Time allotted: 20 min
Do Opening and Brainstorm sections of this activity. (Page 22 in ETTR leaders’ guide)
Explain that they will begin to build their wind-powered cranks at the next session.
CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game. Remind girls of next
meeting and for them to bring back registration forms.

3
Session 3
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
WIND-POWERED CRANK:
Time allotted: 50 min
• Review from last meeting the purpose of creating the wind-powered crank.
• Review “Glue Gun Safety” instructions with the girls
o Stress that glue guns are very hot and the glue can burn.
o Always put glue gun down when not using it.
o Make sure it is not put on anything that can get burned.
o Always look at what you are gluing – do not turn your attention away for a second!
o Use craft sticks or other objects to press down the glue rather than fingertips.
o Do not try to get someone’s attention while they are gluing.
o Unplug glue guns when no one will be using them.
o Never reach over anyone to pick up glue gun.
o Do not test the glue gun on your finger to see if it is ready.
• Have girls create their wind-powered cranks
• Do Reflection activity on this project.
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game. Remind girls to bring an empty water bottle
to be used in their next engineering project at the next meeting.

Session 4
4
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
CLEAN THIS WATER
Time allotted: 50 min
• Review safety rules for using utility knives:
o Always cut away from body
o Always look at what you are cutting. Don’t turn your attention away for a second!
o Do not try to get someone’s attention while they are cutting.
o Make sure the blade is retracted or covered before putting it down or away.
o Always make sure blade is retracted or covered before handing utility knife to another person.
• Conduct Opening, Brainstorm, Hands-on, Reflection and Redesign activities.
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game.
5
Session
5
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
CAREER ACTIVITY – TUNE IN TECHBRIDGE
Time allotted: 20 min
• Conduct Opening, Brainstorm, Hands-on, and Reflection activities on pages 32-33 in leaders guide.
• Ask Career Card questions on page 33 in leaders guide.
GIVE ME SHELTER (will need to be completed at next meeting)
Time allotted: 25 min
• Conduct Opening, Brainstorm activities.
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game.

Session 6
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
6
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout
Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
GIVE ME SHELTER
Time allotted: 40 min
• Review what the girls did at the last meeting
• Conduct Hands-on and Reflection activities.
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game.
Session 7
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE:
Using adult guide from Engineers to the Rescue use the following schedule:
7
OPENING:
Time allotted: 5 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl
Scout Promise and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
CAR TO THE RESCUE (may need to be completed at next meeting)
Time allotted: 40 min
• Conduct Opening, Brainstorm, Hands-on, and Reflection activities
CLEAN UP AND CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned today. Close with a song or game.

8
Session 8
ENGINEERING EVERYTHING!
You might begin this engineering-focused gathering by giving the girls a general introduction that
sounds something like:
“Engineers are creative problem-solvers who aim to improve the world, increase productivity, and
help people live better lives. They apply math and science principles to design just about everything
from 3-D televisions to bionic arms to hybrid cars.
“Imagine how many engineers worked to improve airplanes so that they can carry up to 800 people,
and how many engineers created the Kingda Ka roller coaster to safely accelerate to 128 miles per
hour! Engineers not only work on exciting projects, but are also part of an exciting field that’s growing
fast, and they earn more money than your average person.”
OPENING:
Time allotted: 10 min
Conduct an opening ceremony. Should include the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise
and Law.
BUSINESS:
Time allotted: 5 min
Attendance should be taken.
CAR TO THE RESCUE (may need to be completed at next meeting)
Time allotted: 20 min
• If girls did not complete this activity at the last meeting, allow them time to complete.
MAIN ACTIVITY:
Time allotted: 20 min
1. Have girls read about Abbe Hamilton (girls book page 34).
• Have girls work in teams to discuss how their school cafeteria rates?
• Have girls create a poster on how to encourage students at their school to recycle.
CLOSING:
Time Allotted: 10 min
Review what girls have learned. Close with a song or game. Have girls complete Met-Life and Techbridge
post-surveys. Girl girls a copy of the Parent Resource handout (Encouraging Girls in Science
and Engineering).