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? Contact jmccray@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 the below list of STEM kit PDF, that include instructions and materials need to complete each activity.

• 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

   Click Here to learn more about STEM K-12 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.

Learn more about ASHRAE’s Engineering Adventures Series

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.

Learn more about ASHRAE’s Engineering Adventures Series

• • 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
  • 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

Inspiring the Future: How Elise Backstrom and Her ASHRAE Chapter Are Transforming K–12 STEM Outreach

When it comes to making STEM education exciting and accessible, Elise Backstrom is a force of nature. Through her leadership and creativity, Elise has helped her ASHRAE chapter in Arizona build a thriving K–12 outreach program that’s not only engaging students but also inspiring volunteers and setting an example for chapters across the country.

A Personal Passion for STEM Access

Elise’s journey began with a love for working with kids and a desire to give them the same early exposure to STEM that she was fortunate to have. Her goal? To make sure every child has the chance to discover how fascinating and impactful fields like HVAC can be.

Hands-On Learning with a Superhero Twist

One of the chapter’s standout activities is a superhero-themed STEM fair booth featuring a transparent HVAC demo unit built by Elise herself on her kitchen floor. Kids use anemometers (wind-measuring devices) to watch their hand-colored superheroes spin in
the airflow, making science both visual and fun. The unit, made from plexiglass, a cooling coil, and a fan, is a DIY marvel that demystifies HVAC systems for students of all ages. It’s also a hit with parents and older students, who often ask more technical questions, prompting the team to bring along duct sizing tools and system diagrams.

Creative Problem-Solving in Action

Elise’s chapter also faced challenges like trying to donate STEM-themed books to local schools and libraries, only to be blocked by strict review policies. Through partnership with government officials, her Chapter was able to distribute the books during ASHRAE’s Day on the Hill events. This not only got the books into schools but also helped build stronger relationships with legislators.

Scaling Impact Through Simplicity

Not every activity requires a complex setup. Elise emphasizes that even simple projects like building anemometers from cups and pencils can be incredibly effective. These low-cost, high-impact activities are easy to replicate and perfect for chapters with limited resources.

Advice for Other Chapters

Elise offers several key takeaways for chapters looking to grow their K–12 outreach:

• Start small: Even reaching one student is a success.
• Leverage existing events: Partner with city-run STEM fairs instead of hosting your own.
• Use ASHRAE resources: Many ready-to-go activities are available through ASHRAE and DiscoveryE.org.
• Lead by example: When chapter leaders volunteer, others follow.
• Promote through social media: Sharing photos and livestreams helps attract more volunteers and participants.

Building a Culture of Engagement

To keep volunteers motivated, Elise’s chapter ties participation to recognition like the K–12 STEM Leadership Award and ensures that leadership is actively involved. They’ve also explored partnerships with local colleges, inviting students to help build demo units, which deepens engagement and builds community. Final Thoughts: Every Kid Counts Elise’s message to the ASHRAE community is simple but powerful: “Even if your outreach reaches just one kid, it’s a success. That one kid could be the future ASHRAE member who changes the world.”