There are many ways to get your children involved in STEM-related activities this February.
Register Now:
- MIT’s FREE high school hackathon March 4-5. Registration ends February 1.
- Applications are now open for the spring semester of Code It!, a FREE MIT coding class for middle school girls (runs March 4- May 6).
February (various dates): Create digital art with Fresh Paint at the Microsoft Store in the Prudential Center, the Microsoft Store in the Burlington Mall and the Microsoft Store in the Natick Mall. Free. (Ages 8-12) and Ages 13+ at the Prudential store.
February (various dates): Learn to code with CodeCampKidz and write HTML, CSS & Javascript code at the Microsoft Store in the Burlington Mall and Natick Mall. Intro classes free. (Grades 6, 7, 8)
February 1, 8, 15, 22: Use your imagination to make your own creations with LEGOs, Lincoln Logs and more at the Roosevelt branch of the Worcester Public Library.
February 2, 9, 16, 23: Use your imagination to make your own creations with LEGOs, Lincoln Logs and more at the Burncoat branch of the Worcester Public Library.
February 2, 16: Come learn about LEGO Mindstorm at a drop-in session at the HATCH in Watertown. (Ages 10+)
February 3: Free admission to The Discovery Museums: Science in Acton.
February 4: Attend Science on Saturday and learn about your developing brain at the Kresge Auditorium at MIT. Free (All ages)
February 4: Attend Let’s Build! Engineering Fun for Kids’s 4th Annual Engineering Extravaganza and take part in hands-on activities in engineering and science in Needham. Cost: $5/family. (PreK – middle school)
February 4: Join in a STEAM activity at the Grove Hall branch of the Boston Public Library. (Ages 6-12)
February 4, 11, 18, 25: Use your imagination to make your own creations with LEGOs, Lincoln Logs and more at the Worcester Public Library.
February 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26: Hands-on engineering and design at the MIT Museum in Cambridge. Free with Museum admission. (Ages 12+)
February 5: Join the new YouTube Club, where kids are directors, producers, actors, and artists and go behind the scenes to write scripts, shoot live action video, create animations, and produce music-for-film at Empow Studios in Lexington. Cost: $80/month (Grades 2-8)
February 5, 12, 26: Attend a Teen Coding Meetup. If you know the basics of coding and are now looking to extend your skill set, come meet like-minded teens in an informal environment at the Newton Free Library. (Grades 6-12)
February 6, 13, 27: Put on a lab coat and enter the Maker Lab and create new things at the Worcester Public Library. (Ages 9-12)
February 6, 13, 27: Learn beginner science concepts with the help of books and fun activities at the Worcester Public Library. (Ages 3-5)
February 6, 13, 27: Learn to code with Scratch at the Cary Memorial Library. (Middle and High School Students)
February 7, 14, 21, 28: Use your imagination to make your own creations with LEGOs, Lincoln Logs and more at the Goddard and Tatnuck branches of the Worcester Public Library.
February 7, 14, 21, 28: Disassemble old computer towers, phones, remote controls, calculators, DVD players, and more and learn how things work by simply taking them apart and (maybe) putting them back together at the Worcester Public Library. (Ages 9+)
February 9, 16, 23: Learn Python, a very powerful programming language in wide use by professional software engineers but very accessible to beginners at the Boston Public Library. (Ages 13-18)
February 11: Learn about synthetic biology; complete a free laboratory training; engage in hands-on activities and demonstrations; complete tours of research facilities; network with world renowned professors in synthetic biology; and more at Boston University. Free (High School students, college students, parents, teachers, etc.)
February 11: Build your own website and learn to code using real programming languages like HTML, CSS and Javascript at the Cary Memorial Library. (Grades 6-12)
February 11: Learn about alligators and crocodiles with Rainforest Reptiles at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy. (Ages 5+)
February 11: Create a mini-play and animate it using Stop Motion Studio software at the Boston Public Library.
February 16: Explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math with an activity to encourage your curiosity at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington. (Grades 4-6)
February 16: Instructors from KTByte will discuss what opportunities are available for middle and high school students as they learn computer science and how they can prepare for college at the Newton Free Library. (All ages)
February 18: ProjectCSGIRLS is hosting a Boston Workshop, held in partnership with Yahoo. This 4-hour event includes a programming workshop, a panel of leading female engineers from the Boston area, and a design thinking session on using tech for social impact. Free. (Girls, grades 6-8)
February 18: Learn how to 3D print your own designs at the HATCH in Watertown. (Ages 8-13)
February 18: Attend a casual, math-themed storytime at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington. (Ages 3-5)
February 18, 19: Visit the Family Science Days event with hands-on demos and activities at the Hynes Convention Center. Free. (All ages)
February 20-24: Empow Studios will be running Tech & Design camps in Belmont, Lexington, and Newton during vacation week that teach kids to design, build, and code projects of their choice across subjects including video game design, animation, 3d modeling, robotics, music & video production, and more. (Grades 2-8)
February 20-24: The Acera STEAM Learning Lab will be running morning, afternoon and full day programs during vacation in Winchester. (Ages 7-15)
February 20-24: fungineers in Norfolk will be offering a variety of STEM-based classes during February break including robotics, coding, and plane design. (Grades K-8)
February 22: Play with new friends as you explore a concept in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the Watertown Free Public Library. (Ages 3 to 5)
February 22: Use computer language Raspberry Pi to make your own music or video game at the Watertown Free Public Library. (Ages 10+)
February 23: Join the Sciencetellers on a fast-paced adventure about two kids who find themselves racing against the clock. Watch things float, bounce, soar, and transform right before your eyes, all while exploring the concepts of surface tension, air pressure, chemical reactions, and more at the Belmont Public Library. (Grades K-5)
February 23: Explore and work with Scratch to create games, animation and stories at the Newton Free Library. (Grades 3-4)
February 23: Join for stories, a snowflake craft, block play and other STEAM activities as you explore snowflakes at the Hyde Park branch of the Boston Public Library.
February 23, 26: Go behind the scenes to learn how to code, program, and play in your own gaming world during a Minecraft Hour of Code at the Microsoft Store in the Natick Mall. (Grades K-12)
February 28: Explore Lego WeDo robotics at the Belmont Public Library. (Grades 2-4)
Girls Who Code Clubs
The Girls Who Code Clubs Program teaches computer science to 6th-12th grade girls. Girls who participate in the clubs will receive 40 hours of instruction from volunteer instructors in computer science including project based activities to reinforce concepts like conditionals, lists, and loops as well as skills like mobile app development.
Girls Who Code Clubs are free and many are held at libraries and schools. With the growth of the clubs, I am now including a list of the clubs for Massachusetts here. New clubs are always being formed, so check here to see the most current list and search on your area. If you are interested in information, contact the Club site directly.
- Acton Boxborough Regional High School: Acton, MA
- Andover High School: 80 Shawsheen Ro., Andover, MA
- Arlington Catholic High School: 16 Medford St., Arlington, MA
- Bedford Free Public Library: 7 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA
- Bellesini Academy: 94 Bradford St., Lawrence, MA
- Belmont Public Library: 336 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA
- Bentley Academy Charter School: 25 Memorial Dr., Salem, MA
- Boston Latin School: 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA
- Boston Public Library- Teen Central: 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA
- Boston Teachers Union Pilot School: 25 Walk Hill St., Jamaica Plain
- Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg & Leominster: 365 Lindell Ave., Leominster, MA
- Bristol Plymouth RVTS: 207 Hart St., Taunton, MA
- Brookview House: 2 Brookview St., Dorchester, MA
- Cambridge Public Library: 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
- Cary Memorial Library: 1874 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
- Coakley Middle School: 1315 Washington St., Norwood, MA
- Concord Middle School: 835 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA
- Concord Free Public Library: 129 Main St., Concord, MA
- Dudley-Charlton Regional School: 70 Dudley-Oxford Rd., Dudley
- Endicott College: 376 Hale St., Beverly, MA
- Everett High School: 100 Elm St., Everett, MA
- Fuller Middle School: 31 Flagg Dr., Framingham, MA
- Girls Incorporated of Lynn: 50 High St., Lynn, MA
- Goodnow Library: 21 Concord Road, Sudbury, MA
- Grove Hall Branch of Boston Public Library: 41 Geneva Ave., Boston, Ma
- Irving Middle School: Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: 15 Basiel St., Roslindale, MA
- J.G. Pyne Arts School: 145 Bolyston St., Lowell, MA
- Joseph A Browne Middle School: 180 Walnut St., Chelsea, MA
- KTByte Computer Science Academy: 4 Militia Dr., Lexington, Ma
- LEAP for Education, Inc.: 209 Essex St., Salem, MA
- Lexington Christian Academy: 48 Bartlett Ave., Lexington, MA
- Lowell High School: 50 Fr. Morissette Blvd., Lowell, Ma
- Mario Umana Academy: 312 Border St., East Boston, MA
- Match High School: 1001 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
- Medfield High School: 88R South St., Medfield, MA
- Medway High School: 88 Summer St., Medway, MA
- Memorial Hall Library: 2 North Main St., Andover, MA
- McKay K-8 School: 122 Cottage St., Boston, MA
- Mildred Ave. K-8 School: 5 Mildred Ave., Boston, MA
- Milton Academy: 170 Central St., Milton, MA
- M.G. Parker Memorial Library: 28 Arlington St., Dracut, MA
- Nathaniel Bowditch School (K-8): 79 Wilson St., Salem, MA
- Needham High School: 609 Webster St., Needham, MA
- Needham Free Public Library: 1139 Highland Ave., Needham, MA
- Newton Free Library: 330 Homer St., Newton, MA
- Northeastern University: 440 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA
- Paul Pratt Memorial Library: 35 Ripley Road, Cohasset, MA
- Peabody Institute Library: 82 Main St., Peabody, MA
- Pembroke Public Library: 142 Center St., Pembroke, MA
- Penn Brook Elementary School: 68 Elm St., Georgetown, MA
- Phillips Academy: 180 Main St., Andover, MA
- Pierce Middle School: 451 Central Ave., Milton, MA
- Public Library of Brookline: 361 Washington St., Brookline, MA
- Reuben Hoar Library: 41 Shattuck St., Littleton, MA
- Robbins Library: 700 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA
- Seekonk Public Library: 410 Newman Ave., Seekonk, Ma
- Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston: 125 Wells Ave., Newton, MA
- The Rivers School: 333 Winter St., Weston, MA
- Waltham Public Library: 735 Main St., Waltham, MA
- Watertown Free Public Library: 123 Main St., Watertown, MA
- Watertown High School: 50 Columbia St., Watertown, MA
- Wayland Free Public Library: 5 Concord Road, Wayland, MA
- Wellesley Free Library: 530 Washington St., Wellesley, MA
- Winthrop Middle School: 60 Payson St., Winthrop, MA
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute: 100 Institute Rd., Worcester, MA
