K–12 Activities

ASHRAE’s K-12/STEM Subcommittee works to advance the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the K-12 student population.

ASHRAE is a member of The National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition. The Coalition's objective is to support new and innovative initiatives that will help improve the content, knowledge, skills and professional development of the K-12 STEM teacher workforce and informal educators. They also strive to improve the resources available in STEM classrooms and other learning environments. ASHRAE is dedicated to ensuring quality STEM programs for teachers and students all around the world by encouraging its members to get involved with their local school systems.
A committee of ASHRAE members was dedicated to this topic to research STEM issues as it pertains to specific age groups. Through extensive research, this committee put together a recommended course of action for ASHRAE role in the STEM initiative:

• Relay the importance of member involvement in STEM related activities from the leadership of the Society.
• Tailor our message to fit Gen Y's deep and compelling belief in sustainability and the environment.
• Energize the Society as a whole by launching the STEM program through ASHRAE's student branches.
• Have both YEA and ASHRAE members serve as mentors to the Student Branches.
• Implement an incentive program to inspire and motivate student branches to action.
• Develop a consortium of STEM organizations to take advantage of existing programs and initiatives.

Question or Comments? kthomson@ashrae.org

 Student Activity Chairs: How to reach your local schools ( fillable version)
Tips on how to help promote STEM to elementary, middle, and high schools in your area

K-12 Stem Leadership Award
The award is earned if each of the Chapters Officers and its K-12/STEM Champion or Chapter Student Activities chair participate in one qualifying K-12/STEM related activity within their Chapters area. Winners are recognized at their CRC and receive PAOE points.

Request materials for your classroom visit here
Brochures, posters and some logo items are free if available. There is a limit of 25 items per request.

ASHRAE STEM Kit
To advance the art and science of HVAC&R, the Student Activities committee has developed three STEM kits which include instructions and materials for activities aimed at K-12 students. The kits are available at no charge to Chapters wanting to lead a STEM activity in a K-12 classroom for approximately ten students. There is a limit of one of each kit per Chapter per year. Various STEM kits include:

• Sling Psychrometer – demonstrates how to build a sling psychrometer and directly measure two properties of air: dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature.
• Pressure Drop – demonstrates pressure loss in a duct system utilizing straws. Students blow into a short piece of a straw and a several long straws taped together to simulate pressure loss in a duct system. Central Arizona Chapter Virtual Pressure Drop Activity
• Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions – demonstrates the principles of endothermic and exothermic reactions using chemical hot and cold packs.  Reusable hot packs are also included to demonstrate reversible reactions. 
• Hold Your Water STEM Kit – Students design and build a device to safely drop a cup of water, retaining as much water in the cup as possible. Students learn that engineers solve problems under constraints.
• Lego STEM Kit – demonstrate the phases of building construction, the roles involved in a project, and the communication challenges that teams deal with.
• Thermal Comfort STEM Activity - demonstrates an area of engineering that keeps building occupants comfortable.

ASHRAE Recommended Classroom Visits/Projects 
They are separated by grade level (some may overlap, this is OK!).  Remember you get PAOE points for your activities!

ASHRAE Honorary Student Membership
The Honorary Student Membership card designates student participation in a Chapter sponsored K12/STEM event and does not provide actual member benefit. The card template is designed to work with an AVERY 5390 Name Badge Insert Refills that are available to purchase from major office supply retailers.

Information to share with K-12 Students, Teachers, and Parents
A brief overview of HVAC&R along with age appropriate resources

Lucy's Engineering Adventure

“How do they work? Why don’t they fall?
What lights them up? Do they need to be tall?”

In the first book of the series, Lucy visits an unfinished building, where her father uses a metaphor of the human body to explain the building's beams and columns, electrical system, and HVAC ducts.

Available for purchase in:

EnglishArabicChineseCroatianFrenchGreekPortugueseSerbianSpanish

Lucy Goes Green

In the second book of the series, Lucy goes with her classmates on a field trip to a sustainable farm, where they learn about storing energy using solar panels and windmills and recycling water through rainwater collection.

Available for purchase in:

ENGLISH

If you do not see your language listed and you are interested in translating one of the Lucy books, please contact students@ashrae.org

• • There is No Planet B Flyer (Ideal for Middle School Students)
  • Engineer Your Path Flyer (Ideal for High School Students)
  • Discover Engineering
    DiscoverE (formerly the National Engineers Week Foundation) helps unite, mobilize, and support the engineering and technology volunteer communities. Their aim is to increase their collaborative footprint in K-12 education and celebrate with the public as it discovers the value of engineering education and careers. In partnership with DiscoverE, ASHRAE is working to promote engineering to middle school aged children, particularly young girls, by being an active driver of and participant in DiscoverE programs:
  • SD Pathways – High School STEM Career Talk
  • NAWIC - National Association of Women in Construction
  • ASHRAE: Shaping Tomorrows Built Environment Today
  • Want to make a difference in the future?
  • Bill Nye Science Guy Home Demos
  • Engineer Your Life
  • GEMS
  • My College Options
  • Teach Engineering
  • Engineer Girl
  • Engineering Education
  • Girl Start
  • The Future’s Channel
  • Accredited Engineering Programs
  • FETCH
  • Kids Thirteen Online
  • Resources for Teachers
  • Teaching Guide: The Presentation
  • Teaching Guide: What to Expect in a Classroom?
  • Teaching Guide: General Description of Engineering
  • Teaching Middle School Science
  • Science for All Children, by the National Research Council